Proactive health and wellness for the spring season.
April may in fact be the cruelest month, therefore spring is a crucial time to focus on immune health because of seasonal changes, such as fluctuating temperatures, increased pollen levels and increased outdoor activities.
“Spring is a season when people stop focusing on immune health and are often caught off guard by immune challenges. Springtime involves a confluence of challenging factors with an ongoing high incidence of the common cold combined with the onset of seasonal allergies,” said Erin Stokes, ND, medical director at WishGarden Herbs (Louisville, CO).
“As pollen and allergens are in the air, the body faces additional stress that can weaken the immune system,” added Nicole Bourdeau, vice president of marketing at Sovereign Silver (Sarasota, FL). “It’s critical to keep your immune system functioning well during this time. With warmer weather, people also tend to be more active outdoors, and staying healthy is key to enjoying those activities to the fullest.”
Many customers end up using pharmaceutical drugs to treat their symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pollen-related medical expenses surpass $3 billion annually with almost half attributed to prescription medication costs.
The CDC estimates 25.7 percent of Americans experience seasonal allergies. As a result, natural product manufacturers and retailers understand the importance of keeping people healthy during seasonal transitions, in a less expensive and more convenient manner.
“With allergens in the air and changing weather patterns, the body becomes more vulnerable to colds, allergies and respiratory discomfort,” said Slawomir Gromadzki, MPH, nutritionist at HealthAid America (Sunnyvale, CA). “Prioritizing immune health during this season helps maintain overall well-being, reduces allergy-related symptoms, and ensures a smooth transition into the warmer months.”
Springtime
Immune health is important year-round, but the prevalence of allergens during seasonal transitions highlights the importance of springtime wellness.
“Folks end their winter hibernation and begin to enjoy spring weather with walks in the park, hiking in the mountains, playing baseball, softball and T-ball, or just sitting on the porch and watching the chickens peck the ground. Then, amid the happiness and joy, comes the sneezing and snorting with watery eyes and running noses,” said Marge Roberts, BSN, MSHP, DAHom, CEO and president of Newton Homeopathics (Conyers, GA) and the American Academy of Clinical Homeopathy.
“While winter is notorious as the ‘immune season,’ spring brings its own challenges to our immune system: changing seasons and weather, increased activity as people are getting out of the house more often as the days get longer, sleep may suffer and more,” added Retailer Rosanne Reinartz, co-owner and general manager of Wayne and Mary’s Nutrition Centers in Sioux Falls, SD. “And of course the big one: springtime allergies! Our systems face some new onslaughts, so building and protecting our immune systems in the spring is so important.”
According to Liz Smith, RN, co-founder and owner of Natural Path Silver Wings (NPSW, Nashville, TN), in springtime, allergies flare up more than any other season. With many people, their bodies create an allergic response, causing the immune system to automatically react to what it believes is a threat.
“In simple terms, an allergy is also known as a hypersensitivity and is a reaction to an antigen or allergen that though most people can tolerate, it causes a reaction form the immune system,” Smith said. “So, supporting your immune system during this season is a wise idea.”
Carl Germano, CNS, CDN, vice president of Verdant Nature, board certified clinical nutritionist and a consultant for Bluebonnet Nutrition (Sugar Land, TX), said spring brings fluctuating weather—warm one day and chilly the next. These shifts can stress the body as it adjusts and make you more susceptible to colds or other infections. Allergens like pollen can exacerbate symptoms by triggering inflammation in many people.
“After winter, when people tend to stay indoors more and might slack on fresh foods or sunlight (vitamin D), spring is a chance to reset,” Germano said. “Your immune system may not be as responsive if you’ve been low on nutrients or cooped up indoors. Spring offers more fresh produce and outdoor time, which can rebuild those defenses.”
Germano added, “While flu season peaks in winter, spring can still bring respiratory viruses or early seasonal challenges. A primed immune system can fend them off better and prepare you for the transition. It’s about timing—spring sets the tone. Get your immune health solid now and focus on immune supportive supplementation.”
Retailer Travis Lemon, co-owner and herbalist at Tulsi at the Market in Huntington, WV, added, “Springtime always brings its own need for immune support. The changing weather comes with new allergens and immune challenges. And we all want to stay as healthy as we can to be able to do our spring cleaning and still get a little enjoyment of the springtime weather.”
Trends, Changes and News
In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift toward holistic immune health, particularly during seasonal transitions, according to Gromadzki.
“Consumers are increasingly embracing natural remedies such as elderberry, quercetin and adaptogenic herbs to support their immune systems and alleviate seasonal allergies,” Gromadzki said. “Additionally, the connection between gut health and immunity has gained widespread attention, leading to a surge in interest in probiotics and fermented foods.”
Reinartz has seen new blends of herbs and nutrients in this category that seem to work well for customers who want support and relief quickly. She is seeing more options for quercetin and bromelain paired with zinc, as well as colostrum, shilajit, oregano and medicinal mushrooms. Lemon said there are many great allergen support and general immune system supporting formulas available these days.
“When I started in this industry it tended to be folks leaving the shop with quite a few different bottles of supplements. These days you can often get one immune supporting formula and one allergen support formula and be good to go with only a bottle or two,” Lemon said.
Stokes said the immune health category has evolved with expanded offerings to meet the different phases and stages of immune challenges.
“Another shift in this category is that people have become more proactive in recognizing and addressing the interconnected nature of immune health, specifically how it is negatively impacted by high levels of stress and poor sleep habits,” Stokes said.
Roberts agreed with Stokes, stating that one does not need to wait for the “need” to arise before addressing it. She is also proponent of a healthy diet and believes clean, organic food is the greatest remedy for seasonal allergies and allergies in general. Seasonal allergies are an immune response, so remedies should target the immune system and decrease inflammation.
“A diet lacking in essential elements (vitamins, minerals and trace minerals) calls for the addition of these elements in the form of supplements,” Roberts said. “I don’t profess to be an expert on supplements or herbs, but I do know that foods or supplements that support the immune system and decrease inflammation are integral to a healthy body and a healthy body is best to deal with allergies.”
Smith also agreed that consumers are being more proactive. A larger general population is embracing preventative immune support measures and year-round support as opposed to just the colder months. Immune stress via allergies and respiratory-related symptoms are surfacing in an ever-growing age range.
“There is an increasing openness to alternative medicine and natural health products that align with individual wellness goals. This trend is fueled by movements like ‘Make America Healthy Again,’ as well as growing consumer awareness of natural and holistic health approaches and the demand for ingredient transparency,” Bourdeau said.
Germano added consumers aren’t just reacting to the cold season but are stocking up year-round. This has led to increasing demand for various immune supplements such as vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, mushrooms, homeopathics, echinacea and elderberry.
“Think products combining nutraceuticals, herbs, probiotics and adaptogens aimed at boosting not just immunity but overall vitality. Consumers want a one-stop wellness shop in a single capsule,” Germano said. “Considering many dietary supplements contribute to immune health in different ways, so no single magic bullets here and a complex of ingredients to address the many pathways to immune health is in order!”
The Market
The immune-supportive dietary supplement market has undergone significant changes in recent years, driven by various factors such as heightened consumer awareness, evolving health priorities and the COVID-19 pandemic, Germano noted.
According to Gromadzki, consumers are shifting from temporary quick fixes to year-round, holistic wellness solutions, and are increasingly prioritizing prevention, leading to a surge in demand for immune health supplements.
“Perhaps the most notable change is the broader perspective on immune health—once mainly associated with cold and flu season, it is now recognized as a year-round priority,” Gromadzki said. “With a growing focus on gut health, stress management and overall lifestyle balance, today’s consumers are taking a more proactive and informed approach to strengthening their body’s natural defenses.”
Roberts believes consumers are focusing more on prevention, not just treatment. People are exercising more, switching to organic foods and using vitamins and supplements as preparation rather than treatment.
“It is often said that our health care system has nothing to do with health but instead is a sick care system. There is a movement to make the health care system about preventative health,” Roberts said.
According to Smith, people are looking at familiar products, such as vitamin C and zinc, but she noticed colloidal silver has seen a surge in both retail and online. Many shoppers are also looking at herbal ingredients, such as elderberry, mushroom, echinacea, olive leaf and oregano oil.
“In particular, colloidal silver formulas with higher strengths ranging from 50 ppm up to 500 ppm are gaining popularity because these varying dosage strength options provide people with customizable immune support throughout the year,” Smith said.
For Manufacturers
It is important for manufacturers to consider certain factors when formulating their products. “Consumers aren’t interested in just popping a pill. They want to understand why they’re popping the pill,” Roberts said. “They want to know what else they can do to address their condition outside of having to buy their healing. Along with each product development should be information about the product, its uses and benefits.”
According to Germano, some of the key preferences for manufacturers include consumer preferences and innovation such as personalization, innovative formats and clean labeling.
“There’s a growing trend toward tailored nutrition with supplements designed for specific demographics (e.g. children, seniors, women) or based on individual health data,” Germano said. “This is supported by advancements in digital health tools, like apps and wearables, that recommend personalized dosages.”
He added consumers are embracing capsules, gummies, powders and liquids due to “pill fatigue,” and transparency, with demand for natural, organic and minimally processed ingredients.
“Consumers’ unmet needs and wants are at the epicenter of innovation efforts, with an objective to simplify, enhance and improve their health and wellness journey,” Bourdeau said. “The overarching goal is one of delivering quality, efficacious products that will truly support consumers’ health and wellness journey.”
Products
There is a wide array of products geared toward immune health especially as people are growing more interested in year-round support.
Lemon said he likes to see customers coming back with great results without a ton of work on their part. He is a fan of “great formulas” and “simple and easy-to-use” is often the best choice for customers.
“Better compliance equals better results and if it’s possible to meet the customers’ needs with only one or two products then that’s what we try to accomplish,” Lemon said. “Of course, we only carry well tested products and love to share that info with our customers. Well tested supplements of any kind builds trust and keeps the customer coming back for that product and many more.”
Reinartz said she gets great feedback on Wayne and Mary’s private label products, All Season Support and Immune Support.
“We really love the Hybrid Remedies products—HybridCR and HybridAR—specifically, for well-researched ingredients and fantastic customer testimonials,” Reinartz said. “Additionally, building the microbiome with diverse probiotic species and prebiotic fibers can make a big difference. Finally, fast actors like Xlear nasal sprays can provide that quick relief many customers are looking for.”
HealthAid offers two products for springtime immune support, AllergyProbio and ImmuProtect. According to Gromadzki, AllergyProbio is a powerful probiotic blend featuring condition specific strains that promote a balanced immune response to allergens.
“Since a well-balanced microbiome plays a crucial role in regulating immune function, this probiotic may help reduce sensitivity to environmental triggers while also supporting optimal digestive health,” Gromadzki said.
ImmuProtect combines key nutrients and ingredients, such as vitamin C (1,000 mg), zinc, rutin, quercetin, propolis, astragalus extract and maitake mushroom, Gromadzki added.
Newton offers several products including Pollen~Weeds, Detoxifier and I-Walker. The homeopathic approach to allergies is to include remedies made from actual offending pollens, foods or substances.
Bluebonnet’s Just Breathe is a multicomponent, targeted functional formula directed as seasonal immune support. The ingredients in the formula contribute to seasonal wellness, particularly during times like cold and flu season. The formula consists of quercetin, stinging nettle, NAC, cordyceps, bromelain, turmeric and schisandra.
“Together, these compounds target multiple aspects of immune health—antioxidant protection, inflammation reduction, respiratory support and stress adaption,” Germano said.
WishGarden offers several seasonal wellness formulas including Daily Immune Builder, Kick-Ass Immune and Get Over It! According to Stokes, Daily Immune Builder is for day-to-day immune function and is a blend of astragalus and elderberry, Kick-Ass Immune is a blend of respiratory and immune supporting herbs and Get Over It! is expertly crafted with herbs for immune, lung and lymphatic support.
“WishGarden’s immune-boosting formulas are crafted with organic, sustainably grown herbs, skillfully blended to amplify their healing benefits,” Stokes said. “Over proprietary blends unite herbs with complementary compounds for a well-rounded approach to immune support, and we have three lines available for different phases and stages of life.”
NPSW is well-known for its colloidal silver supplements, which are available in both liquid droppers and spray bottles. The products range from 50 ppm, 250 ppm and 500 ppm, as well as mixed silver and herbal blends. Smith elaborated on how colloidal silver contributes to immune health.
“It’s a dietary liquid mineral supplement containing a mixture of pharmaceutical-grade ultra-fine silver particles suspended in pharmaceutical-grade, ultra-pure water. Silver provides immune support that is safe to take with mechanisms that are different and complimentary to most herbal immune products,” Smith said. “Additionally, recent research has shown that silver does not disrupt the gut microbiome’s diversity of species.”
Sovereign Silver also makes silver-based products including immune support, a sinus formula and a throat spray.
“Silver has been known for its health benefits for thousands of years and it is exciting to see that it is regaining its rightful place in supporting immune health,” Bourdeau said. “Our silver hydrosol products have the smallest particle size and being Bio-Active, the silver stays evenly dispersed (instead of clumping together), which is what makes even a low dose so powerful.”
For Retailers
It is important for manufacturers to help retailers by providing strategic support, innovative marketing and educational resources.
“In today’s competitive wellness market, brands must go beyond simply supplying products—they must equip retailers with the tools to effectively market and sell them,” Gromadzki said.
Roberts believes manufacturers support retailers not only through promotions, but also education. Smith added NPSW provides staff education training, in-store merchandising tools, schedule promotions, free product samples and local sales associates for in-store servicing.
“As an educator, I believe the most important way to support retailers is through education. Some health food stores are not comfortable taking consumers to the homeopathy section because they don’t feel they can adequately explain it,” Roberts said. “In addition to manufacturing high-quality homeopathics, Newton is dedicated to education both professionals and non-professionals in the use of homeopathy.”
Reinartz and Lemon elaborated on how they talk with customers about seasonal wellness products. “We like to show customers there are a variety of options to help support their immune system in the spring, and sometimes it can take a little trial-and-error,” Reinartz said. “This sometimes leads us out of the immune section to also discuss how they can support their body through the stress and sleep changes that can come with a new season and challenge their immune system. Supporting the whole person is so important when it comes to immune health!”
“We try to see what they are interested in and then suggest a companion product if needed. Give the customer a couple of options without overwhelming them with every option on the market and let them decide the right product for their needs,” Lemon said. “We do try to talk to them about the difference in formulas as far as one that may be better suited for overall immune support versus one that might be more focused on allergen or respiratory support.”VR
For More Information:
Bluebonnet Nutrition, www.bluebonnetnutrition.com
HealthAid America, www.healthaidamerica.com
Natural Path Silver Wings, www.npswsilver.com
Newton Homeopathics, www.newtonlabs.net
Sovereign Silver, www.sovereignsilver.com
WishGarden Herbs, www.wishgardenherbs.com
