Home Remedies that May Help Seasonal Allergies

Spring and summer bring more than just warmer weather and sunshine. For around 50 million people in the U.S., it also comes with nasal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Those budding flowers and pretty green leaves are at the heart of many runny noses each year. The good news is you don’t have to take seasonal allergies lying down. For serious reactions, you’ll want to seek emergency medical attention, but for minor afflictions, home remedies can help you get through the season.

Herbal Supplements

Mother Nature may offer you the best option for fighting allergies. Herbal supplements may work as natural antihistamines to ward off the worst of the symptoms. Try drinking green tea each morning — you’ll need about two cups. Start this ritual at least two weeks before the season begins, and keep it going throughout the warm months.

Butterbur may be effective herbal supplement. The extract from this sunflower may work just as well as many over-the-counter allergy products. Licorice root is a possible choice, although there are no studies to back it up. It may help loosen mucus, so you breathe a little easier.

If you are being treated for a chronic medical condition or taking prescription drugs, talk to your healthcare provider before trying any supplement, though. Dietary supplements may interfere with your current care plan.

Flushing Your Sinuses

One of the most proactive home remedies for airborne allergies is something Ayurveda practitioners have been prescribing for centuries. Nasal irrigation washes away potential allergens.

You can buy pre-made solutions and delivery systems at your local drugstore or make your own at home. Just bend over the sink and gently rinse the top nostril. The fluid will push through your nasal cavity and then flush out the other nostril. Another great option? Irrigation not only removes season allergens like pollen, but dust and pet dander, too.

The Common Sense Approach

You can supplement any remedies with a little common sense. Monitor your local news to see when pollen counts are high and take precautions. Purchase face masks to wear on heavy days or just try to stay in as much as possible. Other tips include:

• Rely more on the air conditioner than the open window to keep your home cool.
• Stay indoors on days that are hot and dry, when the wind is whipping things up like dust and pollen. If you need to get outdoors once in awhile during allergy season, wait for a nice rain storm to wash everything clean.
• If you must go out, change your clothes when you return and shower if possible. That will remove any pollen and dust from your skin so it doesn’t continue to irritate you.

Allergy season is inevitable, so look for ways to beat the sniffles instead of suffering this year. If home remedies aren’t enough to keep you comfortable, then make an appointment with your closest MedPost urgent care location for help battling more persistent or challenging allergy symptoms.