Navigating Fall Allergies: A Guide for Individuals Living with Multiple Sclerosis

As summer fades into fall, a new challenge arises—an increase in environmental allergens like ragweed, mold spores, and leaf dust. Even if you're not sneezing or dealing with a runny nose, these airborne irritants can aggravate inflammation and trigger autoimmune symptoms. This is especially true for those of us living with chronic conditions like MS (multiple sclerosis), RA (rheumatoid arthritis), and AS (ankylosing spondylitis). Other inflammatory states, from digestive issues to mood swings, can also be affected.

Since this impacts many of us, let’s explore how it works—and more importantly, what you can do about it.

🦠 What Are Fall Allergens and Why Do They Matter?

Fall is peak season for various allergens, including:

• Ragweed pollen

• Mold spores from damp leaves

• Dust stirred up by dry, windy weather

• Particles from wildfire smoke in many areas this year!

  
  

These allergens are antigens—substances that your immune system identifies as foreign invaders. For most people, they may cause mild seasonal allergies. But if you’re living with an autoimmune disease, your immune system is already on high alert. When you add a spike of antigens from the environment, your immune system can shift from cautious to chaotic.

🔥 Autoimmunity and Inflammation: A Delicate Balance

Autoimmune conditions like MS, RA, and AS involve an immune system that’s already on high alert—mistaking the body’s own tissues for threats. When extra environmental antigens enter the mix, they can:

• Overwhelm immune tolerance

• Increase systemic inflammation

• Aggravate neurological or joint-related symptoms

• Trigger fatigue, brain fog, and digestive distress

  
  

This can happen even without typical allergy symptoms, making it harder to identify the cause of that “flare-y” feeling.

🦰 The Lung–Gut Connection: Breathing in, Flare Up

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is a foundation of Naturopathic Medicine, the lungs and large intestine are connected systems. Western research is now confirming that the gut-lung axis plays a central role in immune function. Here’s how fall allergens come into play:

1. You breathe in mold spores, pollen, or smoke.

2. The immune system reacts—especially in the lungs.

3. This response communicates with the gut lining.

4. Gut inflammation rises, impacting digestion, immune balance, and neurological function.

   
   

The result? A whole-body inflammatory response that can affect your symptoms, energy levels, mood, and even your mobility.

🧠 Why Fall Can Worsen Inflammation and Autoimmune Symptoms

Have you noticed that you feel “off” in the fall—slower, stiffer, foggier? There’s likely a connection to what’s in the air. Here are some common fall-triggered symptoms in autoimmune conditions:

• Fatigue and energy crashes

• Muscle stiffness or joint pain

• Increased brain fog or mood shifts

• Digestive changes (bloating, constipation, gut discomfort)

• Sleep disturbances

  
  

These symptoms may come on gradually, and you might not even realize they correlate with your environment. But paying attention can help you take action before they escalate into a full-blown flare.

✅ How to Support Your Immune System During Fall Allergy Season

Whether or not you experience classic allergies, your body may still be reacting to increased antigenic burden. Here are some strategies to reduce inflammation and support immune balance this season.

1. Prioritize Gut Health to Regulate Immune Function

Your gut is the command center of your immune system. When it’s inflamed or imbalanced, your entire body becomes more reactive. Support your gut this fall with:

• Warm, easy-to-digest meals (soups, cooked veggies, bone broth)

• Anti-inflammatory foods (ginger, turmeric, steamed leafy greens, flaxseed)

• Probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, or non-dairy kefir

• Reduce or avoid refined sugar and simple carbohydrates—especially gluten-free baked goods, dairy, and ultra-processed foods

  
  

Pro Tip: If you suspect leaky gut or deeper dysbiosis, it may be time for a custom plan. (We can work on that together.)

2. Clean Up Your Indoor Air (Where You Spend 90% of Your Time)

Airborne allergens don’t stop at the front door. They settle in carpets, furniture, and air ducts. To reduce indoor antigen exposure:

• Use a HEPA air purifier in your bedroom, home office, or main living space.

• Crack windows open daily for at least 10–15 minutes (not when wildfire smoke is about).

• Vacuum with a HEPA filter and wet mop floors regularly.

• Remove shoes at the door.

  
  

If you’re feeling sinus congestion, unexplained fatigue, or brain fog that doesn't lift, air quality might be a hidden trigger.

3. Support Your Lung–Large Intestine Axis

Fall is a great time to tune in to the rhythms of your respiratory and digestive systems. Try these daily practices:

• Diaphragmatic breathing (belly breathing)

• Gentle movement outdoors (walking, yoga, tai chi)

• Stay hydrated to support mucosal membranes

• Use a neti pot or nasal lavage daily

• Apply a castor oil pack on your abdomen for 30-60 minutes per day

  
  

4. If You’re Struggling—Let’s Make a Plan

Sometimes your system needs more than a therapeutic self-care tune-up. If you're experiencing heightened reactivity or inflammation this season, I’m here to help you:

• Assess your current inflammatory load

• Support your gut, detox, and immune pathways

• Build a personalized fall health strategy

  
  

Whether you’re living with MS, RA, AS, or any other health condition, we can get ahead of the curve and reduce seasonal flares before they escalate. If you'd like to book a seasonal follow-up, click here.

🧘‍♀️ Final Thought: You’re Not Overreacting—Your Immune System Might Be

If your symptoms feel more intense this time of year, it’s not just in your head. Your body is likely responding to a very real increase in antigenic stress. But the great news is, you’re not powerless. By supporting your gut, lungs, and nervous system, you can create a calmer internal environment—even when the air outside is anything but.

🌿 Here's to feeling strong and steady through the season.