The Summer That Allergies Failed to Appear

When I lived in California I had no idea what hay fever was. By my second summer east of the Mississippi I was downing enough Contac to sedate a horse — and coffee to stay awake through the antihistamine. Desensitization injections for three years helped, but I still could not enjoy even so much as half a beer during ragweed season or my antihistamine-aided relief would be violently replaced by sneezing and dripping. Then I moved south and that dreaded season got longer!

Fortunately a friend alerted me to the natural benefits of aloe vera. I had known of the gentle anti-inflammatory benefits of this “burn plant” for the skin, but never thought of consuming it! Actually, you don’t chew on the cactus leaf, but drink the juice, filtered. Hearing about others’ success, I started one March on a regimen of 4 oz. (that is: 1/2-cup) of aloe vera juice daily, and kept it up into the summer. Ragweed season never came for me that year. Or future years. Years later, when I had hint of a partial return of ragweed sensitivity, a few weeks back on the juice got me straight again.

I share this experience because it was so easy, so safe, and others have found the same benefit. The results are gradual, so start early: before the season comes, if possible. Be patient over the days or weeks. The relief is not instantaneous like that of harsh medications like cortisone. But it may work magic for you, too. And food allergies also often respond.

How does it taste? If you get a high quality juice from a natural food store, there’s very little taste at all. Add fruit juice if you like. [To preserve potency, keep it in the fridge — it is a vegetable juice after all.]

A second hint: I did discover one way to negate the wonderful benefits that aloe gave me. In mid-August of that first Contac-free summer I got overconfident. At a friend’s birthday party I thought I could then safely imbibe a little alcohol. I enjoyed a small cup of lightly-spiked punch. The subsequent sneezing attack required the hostess to scour her house for a magic antihistamine pill. You may not be as sensitive to the histamine effects of alcohol as I; just be alert to the possibility. —rp