Spring is the perfect season to get outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. But millions of Americans greet spring with dread – the pollen in the air means that spring days bring sneezes, sniffs, red eyes, fatigue, congestion, and coughing. Pollen and grass allergies can be difficult to deal with, and medication for treating allergies can cause side effects. If you are looking for a more natural way to soothe allergy symptoms then read on.
What is an Allergic Reaction?
If you suffer from allergies your immune system overreacts when it encounters a substance it perceives as a threat – pollen or grass, for example. This overreaction produces allergic symptoms like a runny nose, congested sinuses, and sneezing. Anti-allergy medication works to block this allergic reaction by preventing the body releasing histamines. Natural allergy remedies may work in the same way.
Natural Remedies for Allergies
- Butterbur. In studies, butterbur was shown to have the same effect as an antihistamine medication but without the side effects. Butterbur is available in supplement form.
- Quercetin. The flavonoid quercetin is a histamine-blocker that helps prevent runny noses, weeping eyes, and sneezes.
- Bromelain. Taking bromelain helps limit the severity of swelling in the nasal passages and it also helps thin mucus and soothes congestion.
- Stinging nettle leaf. Try taking a supplement containing an extract of the leaf of the stinging nettle. Nettle is a natural antihistamine, without the drowsiness side effects.
- Herbal combinations. You may find relief by taking a supplement made up of a mixture of herbs and natural substances – although some people find that the combination therapies dilute the overall effect and that better results are achieved by taking single supplements.
If you don’t have any success with the remedies above, try Echinacea, vitamin C, pine bark extract, grape seed extract, cat’s claw, or goldenseal. If you want to take natural remedies for allergies and you are already taking medication for another health condition, it is best to check with your doctor to rule out interactions. Try to take the remedies before the start of pollen season and continue throughout the spring to have the best chances of success. You may not be able to cure your allergies but you should be able to find some relief.