Natural Solutions for Allergy Season

Spring is an incredible season. Everything that has been dormant for the winter starts to wake up. Flowers and trees start to bloom. But for every bloom, comes pollen. And with pollen comes… sneezing, itchy eyes, and coughing. If you suffer from a pollen allergy, you may deal with these pesky symptoms every spring. Where others see beautiful flowers, you see a mortal foe. 

There are plenty of over-the-counter options available to allergy sufferers, but they’re not without side-effects. Drowsiness, dry mouth and dizziness are all possible when using antihistamine medicine. (1) 

There’s another way. 

First, what many people don’t know is that a seasonal allergic reaction is the response of an over-active immune system. There is nothing inherently dangerous about pollen. However, if your immune system is working in overdrive, it can respond to normally harmless things (like pollen) as though they are a foreign enemy. This prompts an immune response - hence the sneezing, coughing, and itching that ensues. (2)(3) 

Natural solutions give a little extra support to your immune system so that it can handle environmental factors more easily (read: without all the sneezing). 

8 Natural Solutions For Tackling Allergy Season

1. Stinging nettle. This perennial plant has been used medicinally for centuries. The leaves contain anti-inflammatory properties that act as a natural antihistamine and can provide relief from allergy symptoms and hay fever. (4)

2. Local honey. There are countless anecdotal accounts of local honey helping with seasonal allergies. The theory is that the small bits of pollen in the honey help your body build up a tolerance over time. If you decide to try it out for yourself, your best best is to snag a jar of unprocessed local honey from a nearby farmer’s market or apiary. (3) 

3. Apple cider vinegar. Consuming raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (make sure it contains “The Mother”) can reduce allergy symptoms by blocking the body’s production of histamines and boosting the immune system. 

4. Magnesium oil. Essential minerals are crucial to a properly functioning immune system. In particular, adequate levels of magnesium chloride (the primary ingredient in our magnesium oil), stimulate immune function. (5)

5. Vitamin C. Most people reach for vitamin C when they feel a cold coming on, and for good reason. This vitamin is known its antioxidant levels and ability to boost the immune system. 

6. Invest in a neti-pot. You walk outside, breathing in the warm spring air, and with every breath you fill up your sinuses with the pollen you’re trying to avoid. Rather than leaving your body to deal with the ingested pollen, you can rinse it out with a neti-pot. This allows you to flush out your sinuses, leaving them squeaky-clean and pollen-free. (2) 

7. Lighten the load. Think of your immune system as a filter. It lets through the good stuff and blocks out unwanted pathogens like pollutants, viruses, bacteria, and more. If your immune system is dealing with too much, the filter can get clogged and that’s when it can become overactive and create immune responses to harmless things like pollen. If you know that your body overreacts to allergens, try lightening its load. Dairy, gluten, and sugar often trigger an immune response. Some people find that avoiding those foods can help the body manage allergy season easier. (6)

8. Wash, rinse, repeat. Avoid bringing outside allergens into your home by showering daily, and washing your hair. Similarly, this is a good time of year to give your indoor/outdoor pets more frequent baths. The soft snuggly fur of cats and dogs can be a haven for unwanted pollen. Inevitably, some pollen will get inside, so washing your sheets regularly can also be quite helpful, since you’ll be laying in them around 1/3 of your day. (7)

Mix and match the above recommendations to see what combination works best for you and your family. Have another tried and true remedy for beating allergy season? Let us know on social or leave a comment below!

1. https://www.webmd.com/allergies/antihistamines-for-allergies

2. https://draxe.com/8-natural-allergy-relief-remedies/https://draxe.com/8-natural-allergy-relief-remedies/

3. https://wellnessmama.com/8370/allergy-relief-remedies/

4. (https://draxe.com/stinging-nettle/)

5. (http://drsircus.com/general/how-to-boost-your-immune-system/)

6. https://commonsensehome.com/home-remedies-for-allergies/

7. https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/natural-allergy-remedies/

Written for magnumsolace.com