Seasonal allergies can be really annoying!
Even though spring brings flowers and warmer weather, and autumn offers pumpkin-spice lattes and romance in nature, these seasonal changes are not welcomed by everyone. For many people, they are eclipsed by sneezing, itchy red eyes, and sniffling. So, what to do?
Allergies are caused by an overreaction of the immune system to a harmless substance, as pollen or animal dander.
If you have allergies, there are numerous remedies to choose from. But you may not want to use medications, or perhaps you are really tired of using not-so-effective natural remedies every time the allergy comes.
Therefore, in this article, the Your Health Tubers prepared you a list of choices (based on the greatest medical and alternative reports) that you can read more about, and find what is good for you and your allergy.
Here they are:
Nutrition
A proper nutrition is one of the most important things for every allergy. In order to reduce the symptoms of your allergy, you need to consume a moderately low-calorie, high-complex-carbohydrate diet. You should also drink a half of the body weight in ounces of water a day. For example, a person who weight 100 lb. should drink 50 oz. water.
Vegetables are perfect for allergies. Here are the best ones that you can consume:
- Dark green and leafy vegetables
- Orange and deep yellow vegetables
- Cabbage, carrots, beets, beet tops, bamboo shoots, nettles, yams
- Garlic, onions, cayenne, ginger, horseradish
Remove the following ingredients from your diet:
- Chocolate
- Caffeine, alcohol, and dairy products
- Citrus fruits
- Bananas
- Peanuts
- Sugar
- Red meat
- Wheat
- Food colorings
Natural remedies for seasonal allergies
Following, you can check the most popular traditional remedies for allergies:
- Local honey
Consuming honey produced by bees in your local area may help relieve allergies. The bees transfer pollen from flower blossoms to honey. So, if you eat 1 tablespoon of honey every day you will gradually become immunized against the irritating effects of the pollen.
- Eucalyptus oil
Eucalyptus oil has a strong and piney aroma that can supercharge vapor inhalation, and help to open the nasal passages and sinuses further. Many studies suggest that the extracted essential oil of the leaves of the eucalyptus tree has amazing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, if nothing else the steam provides a menthol-like, bracing sensation that can make breathing easier.
You should just add 4-5 drops of oil to a bowl of steaming water and breathe it. You can also put a few drops of eucalyptus essential oil on the floor of your shower before you get in.
Note: Do not swallow or apply the oil directly to the skin. It is toxic in concentrated amounts.
- Stinging Nettle Leaf
The stinging nettle lead can be found in many combo allergy products. The best way to consume it is in tea form. Just put a boiling water over a tea bag of stinging nettle leaves and leave it for about 15 minutes before consuming it. You can drink this tea twice a day.
Herbal Medicine
You can find most of the natural allergy supplements in tablets, capsules, or liquids, available in health food stores or drugstores. You can also take certain vitamins and minerals to reduce the allergy symptoms, such as: vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, multivitamin, flaxseed oil, bioflavonoids, and probiotics.
According to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), some of the herbs used to treat allergy symptoms, are the following:
- Dong Quai
Used as an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine.
- Eyebright
Reduces secretion and congestion, especially helpful for itchy eyes, sneezing, and excess mucus.
- Gingko
Contains bioflavonoids, it is used as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
- Milk thistle
Supports liver function and reduces allergic, histaminic, and inflammatory reactions.
- Red clover
Helps out body to build resistance to allergies.
- Stinging nettles
Used as an anti-inflammatory and antihistamine.
- Yarrow
Reduces secretions and congestion.
Use these herbs to prepare yourself a nice anti-allergic tea. You can make a tea of one particular herb or a combination of 2-3 herbs. Consume 3 – 4 cups per day.
Homeopathic Allergy Treatments
If you choose homeopathic therapy to help you reduce the allergy, you will be offered 2 homeopathic remedies for allergies:
- Euphrasia (especially good for itchy and burning eyes), and
- Allium cepa (great for drippy nose)
These remedies are in a form of tablets and are taken orally. Experts suggest trying one remedy at a time (not together) in order to see which one will work for you.
Colon Hydrotherapy for Allergy Treatments
It is a procedure that eliminates toxins from the bowels and stimulates the immune system of the body to hold off allergies in a natural way. It includes:
- Hot foot baths
- Castor Oil Packs
- Cold cloth to the forehead
- Nasal lavage
Other Approaches to Relieve Allergy
According to the University of Oregon Health Center, you should wear glasses/sunglasses while outside to help you keep pollen out of the eyes. Take a regular shower and change clothes each time when you get at home, mostly before going to bed or laying down on the sofa. However, washing your hair will not probably be enough to get rid of the pollen completely, that’s why you should use a saline nasal rinse to remove the pollen out of the nasal passage. Further, try to keep the windows closed, because the breeze is blowing pollen straight into your living room.
Conclusion
Experts agree that pharmaceuticals often work a little better, but there are thousands of people who tried various natural remedies, homeopathic, or hydrotherapeutic treatments as well and find the perfect remedy for their own condition.
The above strategies are mostly helpful in treating the ‘typical’ symptoms of allergy, like itchy eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat. But, there are some allergies that are severe and require the attention of a doctor, or other professionals.
