Exercises to Relieve Seasonal Allergies
Seasonal allergies are often the result of an abnormal reaction by the immune system to harmless pollens and plant particles. Exercises which stimulate the lymphatic system such as tapping and self-massage will help to encourage a proper immune response and minimize seasonal allergic reactions.
Lymphatic Tapping Sequence
- Sit on a chair for this sequence. Perform the tapping movement with relaxed wrists, spending 5-10 seconds on each area of the body.
- Begin tapping with the fingers of both hands on the area directly beneath the collarbones.
- Move to the thymus (located behind the sternum, between your collarbones)
- Next to the sides of your chest, directly below the underarms, to stimulate the spleen.
- Tap gently on the cheekbones below your eyes, then move around the eyes themselves, tapping gently in a figure-eight shape around each eye. This movement is great for relieving congestion in the eye area.
Hand and Feet Massage to Stimulate the Lymphatic System
- Massage the fleshy area between the bones of the big toe and the second toe. Spend about one minute on each foot.
- Massage the fleshy area between the thumb and the index finger on each hand. This exercise is great for relieving allergy-related stuffiness of the nose and head.
Lymph Flow Forward Fold
- Stand with feet hip-width apart, toes pointed inward, in a pigeon-toed stance.
- Clasp your hands in front of your sternum, with the fingers of the right hand pressing into the flesh between the thumb and first finger of the left hand.
- Take a deep breath and bend your upper body slowly forward, stopping once it is parallel to the floor.
- Hold for one breath, then stand upright.
- Reverse the hand clasp, with the fingers of the left hand pressing firmly into the flesh between the thumb and first finger of the right hand.
- Bend the upper body for one full breath then release to standing position.
Repeat 2 or 3 more times. This exercise stimulates proper flow of the lymphatic system throughout the whole body.
