Spring allergy season is almost upon us. Before you run out and buy over-the-counter allergy medicines or symptom-managing supplements, consider telling your brain not to bother with the histamine response in the first place. Kristine Jelstrup, a clinical nutritionist and owner of Central Square Health and Wellness, in Cambridge, says she can help. “I use an allergy elimination technique that resets a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which is also known as the ‘brain of the brain’. This technique allows the hypothalamus to regain control over the allergy reaction centers of the body, so they don’t see pollen and other environmental allergens as a problem.”

Dr. Jay Wilson, an allergy specialist in Minnesota, explains, “There is hardly a symptom or condition that is not either caused, aggravated or accelerated by allergies. Allergies should not be dismissed or ignored. Just trying to ‘manage’ allergy symptoms is not the answer. Knowing and understanding the trigger for allergies and resolving them is very important to maintaining long-term health.”

Through a technique called Muscle Response Testing, Jelstrup identifies allergens, then through allergy elimination techniques, the allergens can be neutralized so the body does not need to mount a reaction to them, eliminating the need for antihistamine medications and supplements. Results are immediate and often last for several months and even years. Depending on the severity of the allergy, multiple treatments may lead to better and longer-lasting results. Over time, the brain remembers, and periodic tune-ups are all that is needed to keep allergies in check.