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Allergy Season Hits Coloradans Hard

Allergist Blames Longer Seasons

POSTED: 5:13 pm MDT May 13, 2008
UPDATED: 10:40 am MDT May 15, 2008

Runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing -- the symptoms of spring allergy season hit Colorado with a vengeance.

"It's been pretty intense," said Denise Wuensch. "I've had allergies for a few years now and this is the worst that it's been."

Dr. Richard Weber, an allergist with National Jewish Medical Center, said this season people are suffering a bit more, since three types of trees have had high pollen counts over the last week. In part, global warming could be to blame, he said.

"What we've seen over the last several years is that the individual seasons seems to have been expanding," said Weber. "The trees have been starting a little bit earlier. They've been going a little longer, and so we've been seeing much more overlap between the different types of trees."

For some people, it means there is little relief, and they are turning to alternative treatments for help.

At Whole Foods stores, an entire section of homeopathic and herbal allergy treatments is attracting more attention.

"People want something fast, something effective, that they can take all day," said Annissa Buchancan, a Whole Body team leader. "A good homeopathic nasal spray will work immediately for most people."

People with severe allergies would try just about anything to find relief.

Fallon Carter, of Denver, said she had all but given up hope.

"I just surrendered to being stuck with it for the rest of my life, being miserable for the rest of my life," Carter said.

But a few weeks ago, she decided to try a holistic approach, involving acupressure.

"Next thing I know, I'm feeling better than I’ve felt in years," she said.

Steven Schwartz, a holistic doctor with Advanced Health Solutions, said his allergy practice has doubled in the last two months.

"We use the muscle reflex testing as a form of diagnosis," said Schwartz. "We can then reprogram the body through acupressure of the spine."

Weber said clearly people are looking for any way to feel better.

The good news, he said, is tree season is almost over.

The bad news is grass season should start in about a week.

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