Sipping water could minimize your allergy symptoms by keeping your immune system strong. Hydration also keeps your nose, mouth and throat moist, which could help keep allergens out of your body. Dehydration can increase the production of histamines that try to protect you from allergens, which cause many of the allergy symptoms you experience.
Carrying a water bottle with you makes it easy to stay hydrated. Another option is to add food to your fall diet that has a high water content. Many fruits and vegetables contain lots of water. Broth-based soups also work well and hit the spot on cool fall days.
Rinsing your nasal passages with a saline solution helps wash allergens out of your nose before they enter your body. It also helps clear mucus, which can make you more comfortable. A neti pot is a common tool used for nasal irrigation, but you can also buy nasal irrigation kits with rinse bottles that help you direct the saline solution into your nostrils. If you make a saline solution at home, use distilled water, which doesn't have particles that could irritate your sinuses.
Seasonal allergies happen when your immune system has a strong reaction to an environmental factor. Strengthening your immune system could help minimize that reaction. One method to try is adding probiotics to your diet. Probiotics help support the good bacteria in your digestive system and may boost the immune system, potentially improving your seasonal allergies.
While there isn't much scientific evidence to support it, honey is often used as a natural remedy for seasonal allergies. Specifically, the recommendation is to use local honey. The idea is that local honey is made by bees that collect pollen from the plants in your area. Exposing your body to the pollen in small amounts through local honey could help desensitize you to the pollen and reduce your reaction to it. Adding honey to your diet is a sweet option to potentially help your allergies.
Some vitamins, herbs and other natural components may help reduce your seasonal allergy symptoms. Many of these nutrients are available naturally through food or as a dietary supplement.
Quercetin is a common recommendation for allergies. It has a natural antihistamine effect and helps reduce inflammation. Taking it could help control your body's histamine production. It's available as a dietary supplement and occurs naturally in some foods, including apples, citrus fruit, raspberries, onions, red grapes and green leafy vegetables.
Increasing your vitamin C intake supports your immune system, which could minimize your allergic response to environmental factors. Consider a vitamin C supplement along with consuming more foods that are high in the nutrient.
Some people recommend using stinging nettle to reduce histamine production. However, some studies show it isn't effective. Check with your doctor before trying herbal supplements like stinging nettle to make sure they're safe based on your health history.
Another possible dietary supplement is a blue-green algae called spirulina. While there aren't many clinical trials for spirulina, it may help reduce inflammation and the release of histamine. Still other options include butterbur, which may work as a natural antihistamine, and bromelain, found in pineapple, to thin your mucus and cut down on swelling in your nasal cavity.
Certain essential oils may help keep your seasonal allergies in check. Peppermint, eucalyptus and frankincense are three oils to try. Add a few drops to a diffuser to reduce your allergy symptoms. It's not recommended to consume essential oils. If you apply them to your skin, you typically need to dilute them with a carrier oil.
By making changes to your home, you reduce the number of allergens inside, which could minimize your allergic reaction. Here are some options:
The services at Cambridge Court include housekeeping to help keep allergens at bay, but you may want to clean more often and make other environmental changes if you have seasonal allergies.
You can also make changes to your routine to improve your seasonal allergies, including:
Talk to your health care provider about seasonal allergies if you experience severe symptoms. While many natural remedies seem safe, your personal medical situation could make some options risky. Even dietary supplements and natural products could interfere with medications you take or affect a health condition. Always ask your medical provider about remedies you're considering to ensure they're safe.
