Spring Allergies? Try These Ideas...

Do you struggle with seasonal allergies? If so, you are among over 35 million Americans who suffer from allergies during springtime, due to various pollens in the air triggering allergic reactions like runny noses, watery eyes, sneezing and coughing. 

While medications are readily available and generally affordable to fight allergies, there is a big price to pay for their convenience. Synthetic medications come with a number of side effects that can negatively affect your health – some of which can be as bad or worse than the allergy symptoms themselves.

Potential side effects include, but are not limited to: headache, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, insomnia, drowsiness, loss of appetite, anxiety, depression and irritability. Try the following natural remedies to get relief:

Raw, local honey

Locally produced, raw honey is known to alleviate allergy symptoms. As the bees become covered in pollen spores when flying from one flower to the next, the spores are transferred to the honey. Eating just one spoonful of honey a day is believed to help build immunity through gradual exposure.

Getting local honey is best, since the pollens that are most common in your area will be present in the local honey, helping you build up the immunity to what you encounter in your environment.

A recent study of patients who were diagnosed with birch pollen allergy found that taking the honey during birch pollen season was able to reduce 60 percent of their allergy symptoms and decrease days with severe symptoms by 70 percent. The soothing and expectorant qualities of honey make it a great natural treatment for easing a cough or soothing a sore throat, as well.

Chamomile

Chamomile offers potent anti-inflammatory properties that can provide relief to dry, itchy eyes. Place a cold, wet chamomile tea bag over your eyes for 3 to 5 minutes for best effect.

Garlic

Clinical studies have discovered that a natural compound found in garlic, known as quercetin, mimics the antihistamine effect of certain drugs. It was shown to prevent immune cells from releasing histamines, which are the chemicals that cause an allergic reaction. Researchers believe that quercetin may help reduce allergy symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes, hives, and swelling of the face and lips.

If you’re worried about garlic breath, chewing on a piece of fresh parsley will help to counteract the odor – and as an added bonus, parsley is one of the healthiest greens on the planet.

Cayenne pepper

Cayenne pepper also contains quercetin, in addition to offering powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can prevent throat and nasal irritation. The natural heat it produces in the body is also known to comfort allergy irritations and ease the pain of a sore throat.

Thyme

Thyme is known to naturally relieve congestion that frequently occurs during the onset of spring allergies. It also offers potent antimicrobial properties to help fight infection caused by phlegm. There are even some medications that include thyme to boost their effectiveness. To derive its benefits, sip a tea made from fresh, organic thyme twice a day.

Exercise

Physical activity can naturally soothe allergy symptoms. When you have allergies, the blood vessels in your nose swell, which causes congestion. During exercise, however, the body directs blood flow to the parts of the body that need it most.

Since the blood vessels in the nose are not a top priority, they constrict, and as a result, congestion is reduced. The effect generally occurs within five minutes of starting an activity and can last for several hours afterward.

Happy Spring! Get out there and enjoy the great outdoors - allergy free!!!