Living with seasonal allergies can be a burden. The constant sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, congestion… it’s like being sick for months on end. It is estimated that over 35 million Americans suffer each year from seasonal allergies related to pollen from trees, grasses, and flowers. Many find relief from prescription or over-the-counter medications, but if these medications are not sufficient or you prefer to take a natural route, there are alternative methods of dealing with these allergy symptoms. These methods may be sufficient to treat mild seasonal allergies, while those with moderate to severe allergies may find them to be helpful as a supplement to traditional medical treatment.
Take a steam! If you don’t have access to a steam room, try holding a washcloth soaked in warm water over your face.
Avoid Dairy. Casein, the naturally occurring protein in dairy products, promotes the production of mucus.
Try rinsing your sinuses with a Neti Pot containing a saline solution. Neti Pots are small ceramic devices that look similar to a teapot. They originate from the Ayurvedic/yoga medical tradition. Neti pots work by rinsing out the nasal passages and removing contaminants and congestion. You can find a Neti Pot at most natural foods and supplements stores as well as many pharmacies.
Equip your home with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) Filter. These filters remove allergens from the air before you breathe it in, thus lessening the occurrence of allergy symptoms.
Talk with your doctor or naturopath about using herbal supplements such as butterbur, freeze-dried nettles, or butterbur.
Photo By: Lucy Hill
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I also have lived in NYC and Northern Virginia, and I will say this. When I was little I lived IN Manhattan, then we moved out to the Bronx, also a swamp. My aliergles were insane, puffy eyes, drippy oozy eyes, so bad once I woke up, and I’ll never forget this, I couldnt open one eye because of all the crust over night, I had sore throats, clogged ears, stuffed noses and mounds of pressure. Then we moved to Queens, near the water, and I was FINE. Nothing, never a problem, an occasional sneeze attack every now and again, but the other symptoms, gone. Then I moved to Northern Virginia, and almost immediately my body rejected the climate. Stuffy, running nose all the time, sore throat, right near the nasal passage opening, not so much my throat, but it was/is haha sometime uncomfortable to swallow in the early early spring. My ears have gotten it the worst though, because my nose plugs up so easily, the pressure builds up and collects, and just pops my ears all day and night long, it has gotten so bad that it actually hurts. All these things never last long though, 2 or 3 nights or uncomfy sleeping, but then I am fine. Reason why I am posting this : you are not alone!! I see move to the beach.