By Orla, July 30, 2014
With the arrival of spring and summer brings more flowers, more pollen and unfortunately, more allergies. Although we can’t completely cure you of your allergies, if you take some of the following advice on-board you could significantly reduce your symptoms.
Anti-histamine medication is the most common treatment but while these medicines are very effective at first, your body builds up a level of resistance to them the more you use them. A lot of them are also not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, so here are the alternative remedies:
Nettles
The extract from stinging nettles increases the body’s defense against allergens due to the natural anti-histamines in it. Not only can it reduce the symptoms of hayfever and allergies, when consumed on a regular basis it can also prevent futures attacks of hayfever.
Raw Honey
Raw unprocessed honey contains various types of pollen which when consumed on a regular basis can help desensitize the sufferer’s immune system to pollen. This makes it a very effective remedy for allergies because the severity and number of hay fever attacks are significantly reduced.
Chilies
A compound named capsaicin that is found in chili peppers is a natural decongestant and is often used in nasal sprays for allergic reactions. Chop up a few chili peppers and add them to a cup of hot soup to relieve congestion.
Aromatherapy Oils
Aromatherapy oils such as menthol, eucalyptus and lavender can clear the nasal passages and relieve the symptoms of hayfever when used in a vaporizer.
Herbal Remedies
Smearing chamomile and lemon oil on a tissue and inhaling it can reduce the irritating symptoms of allergies. Ginger tea and raw honey loosens phlegm, decongests the chest and boosts the immune system. Green tea stunts the production of histamine and strengthens the immune system due to it’s high quantity of oxidants, and peppermint tea soothes irritating coughs and clears the nasal and sinus area.
Butterbur
Butterbur is Eurasian plant that stems from the daisy family and studies suggest that is effective for relieving sneezing, itchy eyes, sinus congestion and headaches. It also reduces inflammation and blocks the production of histamines and leukotrienes.
Don’t Blow Your Nose
Probably the hardest remedy to get behind but it supposedly really helps to reduce the symptoms of hayfever. Blowing your nose disturbs the pollen that has already settled in your nose, respreading it and making symptoms worse.
If you feel a sneeze coming on place your finger horizontally above your upper lip and apply pressure. This will deaden the nerves in the nasal area and the urge to sneeze will finally fade away.
