8 ways to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies

by Tess Pennington

When I was young and naive, I used to think allergic people are overrated. Every spring I watch my friend Lisa sneeze and look in her bag for a Kleenex, Zyrtec, and an inhaler. I’ve heard my dad complain about the Texas pine trees and how they made it impossible to breathe.

Then in 2014, she married a man who was allergic to everything. He couldn’t stand oaks, pines, flowers, grass, house dust, or my 14-year-old cat. At first, I thought “This guy just wants attention,” but then it happened to me. At 40 years old I’m starting to feel spring and all the pollen like Lisa, Dad, and Husband.

Now, not only do I struggle with them every spring, but three of our children suffer too. For two years, I ignored it, and every season, I had a bad case of sinusitis. Ultimately I wake up and realize that there are better ways to prevent a visit to the doctor. Here are eight natural ways to relieve our seasonal allergy symptoms.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies

Symptoms of seasonal allergies range from mild to severe. The most common ones include:

Sneezing
Runny or stuffy nose
Watery and itchy eyes
Itching of the sinuses, throat, or ear canals
Ear congestion
Posterior nasal drainage

Less common symptoms include:

Headache
Shortness of breath
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Coughing

During allergy season, it is important to know that there are things you can do to alleviate these symptoms and enhance your body’s ability to fight them. Here are 8 ways to relieve and reduce sensitivity.

8 ways to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergies

Vitamin C When I started feeling like I had an allergy, I fainted Emergen-C packages. When allergens invade your body, the body responds by producing histamine, which causes mucus, sore throat, runny nose, etc. When you take vitamin C, histamine cannot be formed. If you’re already feeling messy, vitamin C can shorten the time of illness. Here is an article on the topic – Does vitamin C work for allergies? | New health advisor
Immune Boosting Tea Drinking green tea before the onset of the allergy season, like vitamin C, prevents the formation of histamines. In the past, I just bought green tea in the store; However, with other viruses spoiling us, it turned into a cup of Ready-to-feed immune support tea Every night before bed. Not only does it provide immune support but it also helps me sleep.
Nasal irrigation While nasal irrigation sounds intimidating, I promise it isn’t. It requires pouring a saline solution into one nostril and allowing the nasal cavity to carry it to the other nostril, which flushes out all the allergens and mucus. You can use a simple nettie bowl or a more advanced system like SinuPulse EliteWhich is what my husband uses.
Minimize exposure to outside – I know, it’s spring, and we all want to be outside. I want to work in my garden and take my children to the park. However, common sense tells us to turn away from what hurts us. When outside, wear sunglasses to limit the amount of pollen that can get into your eyes. Also, it is a good idea not to open that window to let in fresh air. You will welcome pollen grains into your home. Pollen is highest in the morning and on windy days. If you can avoid going out and exposing yourself to allergens, then do so.
Spring cleaning Remove any mess that built up during the winter. In my home, books are stacked on furniture rather than on the bookshelf. I have one kitchen counter that becomes a place to collect school papers, broken toys, pictures, or anything that no one wants to take time to put down. Instead of walking by and ignoring him, deal with him. Dust and vacuum weekly to help remove allergens, dust mites, and pet dander. If you have a dust allergy, consider wearing a mask or hiring someone to do so.
Replace your filters – As the season changes, change the High Efficiency Air Filter (HEPA) as well. When changed four times a year, it removes most of the allergens in the air. It is important to note that not all filters are created equal. When purchasing one, be sure to get one with a minimum MERV value between 10 and 12.
Take a shower before bed Washing off the day’s worries is part of my nightly routine, but it is also helpful during allergy season. Washing your body and hair before bed removes the pollen build-up on your skin and prevents you from carrying it in your bed.
Pets Your pet can bring pollen to your home. When your dog or cat comes outside, wipe them down with a wet towel to remove pollen and dander. During the spring, it is a good idea to bathe your pet weekly to reduce the amount of pollen it is exposed to as well.