As the flowers bloom and trees begin to bud, allergy sufferers start to sneeze! No one likes the watery eyes, the itchy skin, and the stuffy nose that often come with Spring, but with these tips and natural remedies for allergies, you’ll no longer be a victim to pollen.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #1: Prevention
Minimize your allergen exposure. If your eyes get really itchy and watery, try wearing glasses or sunglasses when outdoors so that less pollen reaches the eye. Keep the windows closed during peak allergy season, and clean often using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. When you come in from outdoors, shower to wash off pollen spores, and put on fresh clothes. Although it’s great for the environment, line drying clothing or bedding during the height of allergy season may increase your allergen exposure. Keep pets out of the bedroom, as their hair or fur may collect pollen.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #2: Local Honey
Local honey is one of the most popular natural remedies for allergies as it helps your body build up resistance to local pollen. Take a teaspoon or more daily of the most local, raw honey you can find. If possible, begin using local honey at least a month before the onset of allergy season.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #3: Homeopathics
VAXA Allersine is a homeopathic formula designed to ease seasonal allergy symptoms such as congestion, watery eyes, exhaustion, and breathing difficulties. VAXA also makes a homeopathic formula specifically for sinus issues, with allergy-fighting herbs such as quercetin and stinging nettles.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #4: Nasal Irrigation
Nasal irrigation is excellent for cleaning out the sinus cavity. Fill a Neti pot (available at your pharmacy or health food store) or a syringe with sterile saline solution, tilt your head over the sink, and pour the salt water into your nostril. This moisturizes the sinuses and rinses out mucus, debris, irritants, and allergens from the nasal cavity. The saline solution formula is 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt or Kosher salt per 1 cup of water. Be sure to use distilled, boiled, or filtered water.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #5: Probiotics
By improving gut health and improving the immune system, probiotics have been found to reduce the incidence of allergies. Studies have noted that taking probiotics can lower the blood level of IgE, an antibody produced at high levels in response to allergen exposure.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #6: Fish Oil
Increased EPA and DHA intake is associated with fewer instances of hay fever and allergic rhinitis, so this is a good time to increase your fish oil consumption. Fish oils such as fermented cod liver oil are anti-inflammatory, which is exactly what you need, as allergies are the result of an overactive or inappropriate immune response.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #7: Spirulina
Spirulina appears to stop the release of histamine and lead to allergy symptom improvement in both in vitro and in vivo studies. At least 2000mg of spirulina a day is needed for significant improvement.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #8: Cross Reactivity
Be aware of any food allergies or food-pollen allergies (oral allergy syndrome) and strictly avoid those foods you are sensitive to. Consuming food allergens can increase your body’s total allergen load and, along with all that pollen in the air, will leave you feeling more miserable than ever.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #9: Lung-Supporting Herbs
If respiratory problems top the list of your allergy symptoms, try AllerTrex, a lung cleansing solution that can help you start to breathe well again.
Natural Remedies for Allergies #10: Hydration
Keep a water bottle with you at all times. This is one of the simplest and cheapest natural remedies for allergies. When you are dehydrated, your body increases histamine production, so it’s very important for allergy-prone individuals to drink lots of water.
