Wool Socks Can Reduce Congestion

Allergy sufferers need no reminders that this year has been one of the worst in terms of misery. Allergy medication is flying out of stores and pharmacies as pollen counts spike and sufferers try to stem flowing noses, itching eyes and scratchy throats. But what if modern medication doesn't always work? What's the next step?

There are some unlikely treatments that practitioners swear by that don't include lots of long chemical names or pharmacy visits - but you do need some wool socks.

Dr. Marnie Loomis, a homeopathic physician specializing in treating illness with natural remedies, says an allergy attack is the body's way of reacting to what it perceives as a foreign invader, similar to getting a cold or the flu.

Loomis said there are several natural, non-pharmaceutical approaches to controlling allergies. She recommends allergy sufferers take an over-the-counter medication and also a healthy dose of Vitamin C and wait 15 to 20 minutes before going outside. She also recommends nettles tea and using a neti pot before going out into a pollen-rich area.

But what about those wool socks? Loomis explained how wool socks can reduce congestion before going to bed.

"I find this best for the kids when they're having an allergic response at bed time, and are all stuffed up. It can help for colds as well," she said.

First, warm the feet in the tub and then put on cold, wet cotton socks. Next, pull dry, wool socks over the top of the cotton socks. The body automatically reacts to cold toes.

"And the body says, 'hey, we need to warm that part of the body up' and it increases circulation to warm up this part of the body, and by doing that [it] just pulls the congestion right away from the head."

In the morning, the socks are dry (wool pulls out the moisture) and the congestion is relieved.

Reprinted from KATU.com

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