Allergy Alchemy

A simple story to retrain your immune system

Once upon a time, in a lush garden buzzing with life, there lived a bee named Beatrice. Beatrice was a diligent worker, tirelessly collecting pollen to nourish her hive. However, Beatrice had a secret struggle.

Every time she ventured out to gather pollen, her body reacted inappropriately. Her eyes began to water like dew on the morning grass. She began to experience a slight irritation on her skin like rough sandpaper. No matter how much she tried to do her work without complaint, her bodily reactions made her work difficult and uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, back in the house, Dusty the vacuum cleaner was just starting his work. He diligently worked to clean up dust and pet dander when he suddenly began to sputter and cough uncontrollably. Dusty also struggled to perform the very thing he was designed to do.

As he rolled back and forth over the carpeted floor, he hummed and thrummed all the while trying to hold back the discomfort he felt. As he continued to work, he wondered to himself, “What can I do to make myself better?”

And that brings me to a true story that happened to me.

For years, after moving to Kentucky, I began to react poorly around pollen and pets.

I was a veterinary technician, and whenever I would work with animals, I could feel an irritating sensation in my eyes and an itchy sensation at the back of my throat. Sometimes, I felt pressure around my cheeks and forehead.

Then one day, I went to the mirror and talked with the part of me responsible for keeping me safe from things in the environment.

I said, “Thank you for keeping me safe from harmful things in my environment. But pollen and pet dander are not dangerous. How would you like to do a better job protecting me from things that are really dangerous?”

The man in the mirror agreed that it was far better to protect me from truly dangerous things rather than overreacting to things such as dust, pollen, and pet dander which are not serious at all.

He looked at me and said, “Breathe freely and feel fantastic whenever and wherever you are.”

Just then, Dusty the vacuum, found it much easier to clean; after all, it’s what he was designed for. And he went on cleaning happily with a smile on his face and a gleam in his eye, while Beatrice the bee discovered pollen isn’t so bad. She decided it’s rather enjoyable and is suitable for making honey. So she flew from flower to flower, collecting pollen effortlessly as she went, all the while feeling fantastic and carefree.

And just then, she locked the door to the cellar and threw away the key, never to go down there again.