I developed allergies in my early twenties. I lived in Northeastern Ohio for a few years and was miserable (grass mostly). Northern California was horrible as soon as the grass began to flower. Couldn’t breathe in Portland. Thought I was going to die in Vancouver,BC. Started to develop asthma.
The only thing that helped anywhere was air conditioning. I was also told about chewing local honeycomb (spit out the wax) starting about a month before pollen season begins. This actually worked for everything except the grass (bees don’t go for grass I guess 
(
Makes sense. The pollen is in the honey and by eating the local kind, one slowly assimilates the local pollen. But what to do about grass?
I’m on Maui now. Different grasses but the Waddle trees here leave enough pollen to coat a house! Shorter season than grass though, and not quite as bad. Cost of living here is killing me instead!
Still looking for comfort. I’m considering Arizona. Any comments??? — BGS, Hawaii
Arizona worked for me. I grew up on Oahu and when I was about 7 I started experiencing allergic reactions. I developed asthma and everything went downhill from there. First I developed really bad bronchitis and this turned into pneumonia. We moved to Yuma, AZ…a little extreme I think, but I’ve lived all over Arizona, including mountainous and forested Flagstaff, and have had very little if any problems.
Arizona can be beautiful, but I’m having difficulties really loving the desert region. I really miss the ocean and wetter climates.
i’ve been trying to fugure out if i can move each year for two months (in spring) to avoid allergies! last year i went to hawaii which i think is the best place to avoid allergies. this year i cannot due that so i’m thinking about a coastal town, maybe arcata? …because i hear from people the oregon coast helped their allergies). i now live in portland now which i hear will kill in spring. it’s only february and i think i’m already feeling it. i fast, and cleanse and clean the blood and body a lot ahead of spring and watch my diet (wheat, most flour, and things like that generally aggrivate allergies) which helps a lot. my friend tipped me on to this a few years back and it’s made a huge difference.
anyone know where to go to avoid this stuff?!? (i’ve considered arizona too)
Hi Allergy Nurse,Summer and Casey,
I lived in the big Island and Oahu in the 90′s. Allergy Nurse, if you can handle the prices you might consider as a temporary fix moving to Oahu. It’s much more crowded than Maui, but I found it to be pretty good for me allergy-wise. We moved there as the mold in Hilo and the Vog in various places on the Big Island were too much for me. On Oahu I did fine. There were occasional days where I’d need to take an inhalor, but only a handful of times in a few years. You might also consider finding an environmental allergist who can help you build your immunity to allergies. These doctors are specially trained and more thorough than regular allergists. A good source for learning about this type of treatment would be to read some of Dr. Sherry Rogers’ books or google Dr. William Rea. He has a clinic in Texas and is big in the field. Not suggesting you go to Texas, but you can get the info on their site or from Rogers’ books like “Detox or Die” about how to find someone credible. Keep in mind you could have mold issues too, or even vog. You might think too of moving to the dryer part of Maui or Oahu where mold and pollen would be less. You’d still have access to the beaches, etc. Casey, the environmental allergy treatments migt help you too. I do have a friend who’s lived in Oregon for many years, he swears by the fact that no matter where in Oregon, it is very moldy and that could be what is affecting you more than the pollen. You need to be tested to see what the underlying causes are. If either of you had problems with mold or chemical sensitivities or there was something else depressing your immune system, it can manifest in greater sensitivity to allergies. Some other underlying immune issues could be: suppressed adrenals (read James Wilson’s book “Adrenal Fatigue”, underlying infections from dental cavitations or tooth, gum infections, sinus infections, use of steroids for asthma, arthritis also suppress immune function. Also having a plugged toxic liver is known as a great cause of allergies. Google “liver cleanses” and start reading about them. People have been known to get totally over allergies by doing them. Ideally you would do them under a practtioners supervision but you can do it on your own. You just need to prepare carefully and thoroughly. If any of you can find reputable alternative care that would be a big leg up to resolving some of these issues and Summer, you might some day be able to return to your beautiful home in the Hawaiian Islands. As per Arizona, I have heard very good things about it as far as being away from molds, that may be Summer what might have been aggravating your system. I hope this helps and I wish you all Aloha.
Allergies are always and will continue to be a problem for every person. I guess if you go to the arctic in the dead of winter the pollens would not be an issue – but the cold would, and most likely some type of fungus.
It is interesting that there are a whole different set of pollens to contend with in Maui
Hi there,
My husband and I just bought a home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Not only is it great for allergies, but it is rated as the town with the best air quality in all of the U.S. We love it. The bad part for me is coming back home to Ontario for the summer. I go right back to foggy head and these headaches where my head feels like it is going to explode. I need to find a place for the summer. Arizona is blazing hot! Has anyone tried northern Alberta? Claudia