There’s so much to enjoy about spring and summer—the beautiful weather, the bright green grass, all the outdoor activities, and of course, the sniffling and sneezing that you deal with every single year if you have allergies. If you’re ready to be done with allergies, use our techniques to sail through the season effortlessly.
Why Your Body Hates Allergy Season
Allergies are an extremely common ailment in the United States, so at least you’re in good company if you suffer from seasonal allergies. Some estimates indicate that 35 million Americans deal with seasonal allergies.
When your immune system overreacts to a perceived threat—like pollen or dust—you suffer an allergic reaction. If your allergy trigger is something that’s present all season long, you may deal with allergic symptoms for months at a time. Symptoms include sneezing, sniffling, and puffy eyes.
Preventing and Protecting Against Allergies
Over-the-counter allergy medications can cause grogginess and discomfort. Prescription medications have even worse side effects. Instead of reaching for a bottle of pills, try these natural remedies as you head into allergy season.
- Change your diet: Surprisingly, many different foods can trigger allergic reactions. If any of these foods are a regular part of your diet, drop them! Foods to avoid include sugar, wheat, milk, chocolate, alcohol, and shrimp
On the other hand, certain foods can boost your immune system and help it function well during allergy season. Increase your intake of apple cider vinegar, local seafood, fruits and vegetables, pineapple, spicy foods, and probiotic-rich foods.
- Get new bedding: Bedding can hold on to dust, irritants, and toxins. Organic bedding is often more hypoallergenic than conventional bedding, so consider investing in a new set of spring and summer sheets.
- Keep it clean: Cleanliness is extremely important when it comes to allergies. Cleaning your whole house and all of your linens on a regular basis can prevent the buildup of allergens in your environment.
- Add supplements to your daily routine: Sometimes your body needs a little help to run at maximum efficiency. Support your immune system with supplements like butterbur, quercetin, spirulina, and stinging nettle. These may reduce your body’s immune response, allowing you to more readily enjoy the outdoors.
- Diffuse essential oils: Several popular essential oils have naturally cleansing properties. These oils can clean your air and kill toxins in your environment. Try diffusing peppermint oil, mint oil, or eucalyptus oil throughout your home.
- Try acupuncture: Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of medicine in the world, so why not give it a try? Many allergy sufferers have reported success with this treatment.
Don’t spend allergy season drugged up on over-the-counter medications or sniffling every day. Definitely don’t spend spring and summer indoors, missing out on everything summer has to offer! Try any of these remedies to enjoy some relief from your allergy symptoms. You can even mix and match treatments to find a routine that works for you.
http://draxe.com/seasonal-allergy-symptoms/
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/allergy-relief/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/natural-allergy-remedies-zmaz06aszraw.aspx