Ease Your Allergies With These Natural Remedies

With the burst of flowers and sunshine come the allergies! Like spring, the biggest summer allergy trigger is pollen. Summer air pollution can make allergy symptoms worse. Since 3 people in my family including myself suffer from seasonal allergies I’ve resorted to natural methods to minimize symptoms etc. Although I pop the occasional pill when my allergies get really bad, I’ve found these natural allergy cures seems to alleviate symptoms and make me feel better. These natural allergy remedies help especially on those days when the pollen count is higher than usual.

NATURAL ALLERGY REMEDIES

Tea

Nettle tea has antihistamine properties and can prevent allergy attacks from happening. It also relieves annoying allergy symptoms like stuffy nose, sneezing and itchy eyes. Find it at most health food stores on online. Mint tea is also good for clearing out nostrils and stuffy noses. I find myself addicted to mint tea all year round and my allergies have been lot less severe since I last started drinking it.

Omega 3

Omega 3 oils found in fish oil or cod liver oil and flax oil can be extremely helpful for reducing allergies because of their potent anti-inflammatory effect. Omega 3 oils have a systemic effect on the body and can reduce both allergic and cardiovascular inflammation.

Eucalyptus oil

Helps to relive chest congestion and throat irritation. It also clears nasal passages and improves breathing. Dab a little on your throat, under your nose and on your chest. You can also use a few drops in your steam pot and breathe it in. Alternatively you can dab it on your chest before a hot shower.

Neti pots

To soothe allergy attacks, consider using neti pots. They are a mild and effective way to treat seasonal allergies. They provide effective nasal irrigation. They clears the throat, nose and can alleviate congestion. A neti pot thins mucus and helps flush it out of the nasal passages.

Local Honey 

Science behind this is that the pollen collected by bees that is made into honey provides natural immunity from allergies. Eating local honey may work like an allergy shot, exposing you to small amounts of allergens and helping your body build immunity towards environmental triggers. Since seasonal allergies are different from area to area, honey must be locally made too to give you the immunity benefits you need. Check with your local farm to see if they sell local honey.

Bee pollen 

Known as the food of the queen bee this potent nutrient can help the body build up a resistance to allergens by lowering the body’s sensitivity to pollen. It is like vaccination of some sort. You can get bee pollen at most health food stores. It’s easy to incorporate into smoothies and warm teas.

Water therapy 

Plain water will flush allergens out of your system and is often the most effective therapy for seasonal allergies. The more water you drink, the quicker you get relief from symptoms. Increase water input to at-least 10 glasses/day. Having a shower and washing away outdoor allergens as soon as you get indoors can be effective in minimizing symptoms.

Quercetin 

Powerful bioflavonoid found in fruits and veggies which reduces inflammation and acts as an antihistamine. The best fruit sources of quercetin are the deep, dark red and purple fruits. Red grapes, blueberries, red apples, red cherries and blackberries are all great sources. Wine is a good source too. Load up on these red and purple goodies to arm yourself.

Commonsense therapy 

Staying indoors as far as possible on high pollen count days, washing bed linen in hot water often, wearing a mask while mowing the lawn or vacuuming the home, cleaning air filters and parts of home where pollen can collect are some methods that can be taken to minimize and alleviate symptoms.

Please note that these natural allergy remedies are not meant to replace any medication you may be on, but more to help alleviate and decrease dependency on medications. If you have natural allergy remedies that you use, please share! I would love to hear from you.

Sunithi Selvaraj is a Registered Dietitian with a sweet tooth and a passion for eating healthy ( quite a combo!). She says, “Welcome to my space where I rate Nutrition Bytes that catch my eye.” See www.suesnutritionbuzz.