Alona Kraft
The birds are chirping. The sun is shining. The days are longer. Spring is in full effect, which also means an influx of allergy season for more than 50 million Americans.
While the causes for allergies may vary from person to person, we can all agree that it sucks. Constantly running to the drugstore to pick up medication can be inconvenient, expensive, and just straight up annoying.
So if you’re hoping to breathe easy this season without dropping all your extra cash at the drugstore, below are a few natural, at-home remedies to alleviate your allergy symptoms:
Apple cider vinegar
Known as one of the most powerful natural cures for allergies, the fermented liquid is proven to be just as effective as over-the-counter antihistamine medications like Zyrtec. It can help relieve allergies because it reduces mucous production and cleanses the lymphatic system. Try putting a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in your morning water with a little bit of lemon. Not only that, it can help with sore throats, sinus infections, flu, and chronic fatigue.
Local Raw Honey
Consume local honey, and you’ll build an immunity to the allergens in your environment — it’s basically a natural allergy shot. There isn’t as much scientific research to back up this remedy, but many people attest to the success of this at-home cure. You can’t knock it until you try it! Add a little to your morning green tea or just take a tablespoon on its own.
Nettle Leaf
This little leaf kicks allergy symptoms to the curb by blocking the body’s ability to produce histamine, an inflammatory that the body releases to protect itself from invading agents, such as allergens. Nettle leaf can be used in teas and soups, but for a more immediate and effective relief, try it in capsule form. It’s also effective in curing insect bites, hay fever and even joint pain.
Neti Pot or Saline Rinse
Though it may seem strange to some people at first sight, this remedy has proven to be effective. Basically, a neti pot involves pouring a saline solution down your nostrils to flush out sinuses from any allergens or irritations. This process of clearing out nasal passages is called “sinus irrigation” and originates from India.
Eucalyptus Oil
This essential oil is a handy weapon in the fight against histamine development. The cool thing is it can be used in several different ways — either put a few drops in your neti pot, add it your diffuser at night, or use it as an antimicrobial agent (which stops the growth of microorganisms like pollen) and put it in your laundry detergent.
Quercetin
Last but not least, this allergy remedy is found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, onions and shallots, green tea, and citrus fruits. It’s so powerful that an Iranian study showed that it could even help control peanut allergies, the leading cause of life-threatening allergy attacks. Although there isn’t enough quercetin in food alone to cure allergies, you can take supplements to prevent allergies or to help with symptoms.
xx, The FabFitFun Team
