Naturopathy Treatment For Allergies

Allergy Season Ahead – 10 Natural Remedies to Banish Seasonal Allergies

Don’t let Achoos and Sniffles Keep you Locked Indoors!

Runny nose? Itchy eyes? Sore throat? Welcome to Allergy Season!

Seasonal allergies can be pretty annoying, forcing you to stay indoors and miss out on the captivating beauties of Mother Nature. What more, the drugs you pop to relieve the symptoms tire you out and make you feel grumpy.

The American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAI) estimates that nearly 40% of the global population* suffers from seasonal allergies and climatic changes have further compounded the problem further.

Some of the common allergens include animal dander, insect bites, pollen from trees and grass, air pollution, fecal particles of dust mites and many more. While controlling the pollen content in the air is beyond your powers, you can indeed reduce the number of drugs you take in response.

As prime allergen season approaches, here we share with you a few natural remedies to tackle your allergy and reduce the symptoms long-term.

Let’s get started.

#1: Boost your Immunity

Did you know that your allergy symptoms increase significantly when your immune levels are low? Allergy symptoms flare when your body produces histamines in response to an allergen attack. A robust immune system is the best way to protect yourself from seasonal allergies. Include plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds in your diet to increase your immune levels.

Other ways to improve immunity include getting adequate sleep (6-8 hours daily) and keeping your stress levels in check with the help of yoga, meditation or Pranayama.

#2: Use a Neti Pot to Wash your Nostrils

You can reduce the intensity of the symptoms by spritzing saline in your nose, as soon as you notice the first signs of an allergy or as soon as allergy season starts. This is a great remedy as it prevents the offending allergen from entering your system.

Usage Tips: Make a saline rinse by dissolving one teaspoon of sea salt or rock salt in boiled and distilled water. Let the solution cool completely and then pour it into the neti pot. Using the pot’s spout pour the solution into one nostril and let it drain out through the other. Repeat on both sides.

#3: Try Acupuncture

According to recent studies, acupuncture helps to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other seasonal allergies. It helps to curb inflammation, thereby reducing your body’s reaction to allergens. When it comes to acupuncture sessions, make sure to consult reputed acupuncturists, and not do it on your own.

#4: Spice it Up

Be generous with the spices and seasoning you use on your food. Turmeric is one of the most widely used spices in Indian cuisine. The curcumin in it acts as a decongestant, helping you reduce allergy symptoms while keeping colds and other infections at bay. The best way to include turmeric is in your regular cooking, for curries, gravies, and other vegetables. An alternative approach is to mix a pinch of turmeric with warm milk and pepper and consume it daily.

While turmeric is one, other spices that are effective against allergy symptoms include ginger, garlic, onion, mustard, peppers, horseradish.

#5: Shift your Outdoor Workouts to the Evening

Do you go for a run or a walk first thing in the morning? Then, it’s time to switch your outdoor workouts to dusk during allergy season. This is because most trees and plants release their pollens at first light, and the pollen content reaches the peak during mid-day. This means your early morning outdoor workouts cause itching and sneezing. So, it pays to stick to end-of-day strolls during this season.

#6: Hop in the Shower as soon as you come home

While several allergy sufferers make sure to keep the windows and doors shut and avoid spending time outdoors of pollen-infested days, many forget that they drag pollen indoors via their clothes and shoes. So, ensure that you toss your soiled clothes into the laundry hamper as soon as you reach home at the end of the day. Better still, hop into the shower to rinse off, all invisible pollens and other allergens from your body.

#7: Stay Hydrated

If your nose feels stuffy or you have a postnasal drip, then the key to ease the symptoms is to stay hydrated. Sip on water, juices, or other non-alcoholic drinks throughout the day. This extra liquid intake helps you to thin the mucus, providing you instant relief. Hot beverages like herbal teas, soup, and broth work even better.

#8: Go Steamy

An alternative way to reduce a stuffy nose is to inhale some steam. This simple home remedy helps you to breathe easier and feel better. Use a towel or a blanket to trap the steam, and bend your head over a pot or sink full of hot, steamy water and inhale deeply. You can even purchase a steamer that is available on the market to simplify the process.

#9: Increase your Vitamin C Intake

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, antihistamine, and antitoxin and helps to reduce allergy symptoms and flare-ups. Some of the best sources of this vitamin include cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, kimchi, sauerkraut, broccoli, bell peppers and citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits, and other fruits like kiwis, pineapples, cantaloupes, and strawberries.

#10: Give Aromatherapy a Try

Essential oils are a great way to relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Mint oils or mint tea is an excellent way to relax your airways and helps you breathe easier. Other essential oils like lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and rose oil help you reduce hay fever. Mix a few drops of the essential oil with a carrier oil and apply it on your sinuses and the bottoms of your feet. Alternatively, you can pour this solution into a tissue and sniff it throughout the day.

With these ten natural remedies, you can enjoy the beauty of outdoors, without having to worry about sneezes, sniffles and runny noses.

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