Achoo! It’s that time of year. Allergies in Arizona are the worst when the wildflowers start to bloom and the desert pollen takes flight. As beautiful as the scenery might be this time of year, allergy sufferers dread the sneezing, sniffing, and watery eyes.
Although allergies aren’t a sickness, they can knock you on your feet. Working becomes more of a chore. Spending time outdoors with your children feels unbearable. Before you give up hope that you’ll have to cancel everything on your calendar for the next few months, here are a few tips to help you regain control over your allergies.
1. Take an Over-The-Counter Medication
When you can barely open your eyes or take a big breath of fresh air, you need relief. Over-the-counter medication is often one of the best options for alleviating allergy symptoms fast. Although the medication doesn’t always work to completely combat symptoms, it can make your days significantly better.
WebMD says that mild allergy sufferers can use nasal sprays, inhalants, or antihistamines. If your symptoms aren’t tamed by those, you might want to look into taking prescription strength medication. As always, talk to your doctor before taking any of these medications! Many of them come with some serious side effects, such as high blood pressure or drowsiness.
2. Nix the Humidifiers
Some people turn to humidifiers to try to tame allergy symptoms – especially at night. Although moisture seems like a smart natural cure, humidifiers often don’t get into your nose, making them less effective. Instead, you could be sparking more trouble with mold or dust mites.
Try taking a hot shower and inhaling the steam, or placing a towel over your head with a hot cup of tea instead.
3. Get a HEPA Filter
You keep your windows closed and you stay indoors, but you’re still suffering. That’s because one-third of what’s outside gets into your house through the ventilation system. The best way to combat allergies indoors is to get a HEPA filter that can clean the air in your home.
4. Get a Neti Pot
These pots might seem gross but they’re highly effective. A net pot rinses your nasal cavities of the pollen and other contaminants that cause your allergies to start in the first place. At the same time, it helps you coat the insides of your nose with saline solution that’ll give you relief. Studies have been done to show that neti pots are one of the most effective ways to naturally treat allergies.
5. Eat Your Yogurt
You’ve heard that the probiotics in yogurt can help with digestion, but what about allergies? A recent study showed that probiotics give your immune system a boost, which can help you maintain control over your allergic reactions.
6. Get Your Vitamin C
When allergens get into your system, your body produces histamines. These are the pesky things responsible for your watery eyes and runny nose. Vitamin C prevents the formation of those histamines making it easier for your body to regain control over your symptoms.
7. Eat More Fish
You’ve heard that fish oil helps reduce inflammation, so it makes sense that it’d help reduce your allergy symptoms too. Your nasal cavities become inflamed when histamines strike. By taking fish oils or eating more fish, you can help your body naturally lower inflammation so that you feel better.
What other natural allergy remedies have you tried?
