If you have allergies, then you have a love for anything that brings relief.
You’ve probably tried Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines. These medications prevent your body from releasing histamine, a body protein responsible for sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and itchy eyes.
With time experts have realized that OTCs are not a sustainable solution for allergy relief. They are associated with short-term side effects such as drowsiness and headaches and more serious long-term ones.
Allergy sufferers are now resorting to natural alternatives to treating their conditions. We’ve highlighted some of the best and safest natural allergy treatment options as you navigate the path to relief.
- Quercetin
Quercetin comes first for a reason. This antioxidant flavonoid is a favorite among natural remedies due to its ability to stabilize histamine release and control allergies.
Plus, it’s the most natural remedy found in various foods like fruits, herbs, and veggies. You can obtain quercetin from:
- Broccoli
- Grapes
- Cauliflower
- Berries
- Apples
- Red onions
- Black tea
- Citrus fruits.
- Ginkgo biloba.
Quercetin is safe as it’s naturally occurring and may already be part of your diet. You may only experience issues if you’re taking supplements made from the antioxidant, which may cause a tingling in the legs and arms.
Consult your doctor before getting on the supplements, as high doses carry a risk of kidney damage.
- Exercising
Working out has proven to be effective, especially with respiratory allergies.
The best part is that exercising is beneficial to the whole body, with varying degrees of difficulty to suit everyone.
Hiking, running, biking, snowshoeing, and other mild to vigorous exercises can help improve breathing and counter respiratory allergies.
Consult your doctor before taking on exercises for allergy relief, especially if you have respiratory conditions like asthma.
- Cannabidiol
These days it’s not possible to dismiss the health benefits of cannabis as an old wives’ tale.
New studies show that cannabidiol (CBD) could help fight chronic and seasonal allergies. Long before the research, however, marijuana users still attested to the effectiveness of cannabis on conditions like asthma.
As a natural solution with barely any side effects, weed is a promising allergy treatment. If you’re going to use weed, though, this Veriheal post will teach you more about cannabis potency and expiry.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture might be the oldest technique that has been around for ages practiced in China for over a thousand years.
The practice involves stimulating specific parts of your body by applying pressure using special needles. These pathways are crucial energy points that have been associated with healing effects for things like allergic rhinitis.
Although acupuncture isn’t proven to be the ultimate allergy relief, controlled trials have shown effectiveness in relieving certain allergic reactions.
Feel free to go for this conventional therapy at least three times a week if your allergies are acting up.
- Nasal Irrigation
Once the pollen sticks to your mucus membranes, it can easily cause havoc.
The mucus membranes are glands inside your nose that produce mucus. These membranes work overtime when allergens are present.
There are a few ways to clear the nasal passage. But the most recommended natural remedy is the Neti pot.
The Neti pot is a common nasal irrigation technique where a small container with a tiny pore is used to clean the nasal passage.
You can use distilled, saline, or sterile water placed in the neti pot to wash away the pollen.
Tilt your head during nasal cleansing for the water to pass through all corners. Note that you may need to repeat the process twice or more in a day to keep your nasal passage pollen-free.
You should, however, consult your doctor for the best way to perform nasal irrigation without hurting yourself.
Final Thoughts
Living with allergies is challenging, especially when the condition is chronic and you have to be conscious of it at all times.
It’s so relieving when you find a solution.
However, over-the-counter meds have negative side effects even though they’re more effective.
It’s a good thing that we have natural remedies that are readily available and, most importantly, safe.
If you’ve been looking for a natural solution for alleviating allergy symptoms, consider the ones we’ve listed.
However, you should keep in mind that you may react differently to these remedies compared to someone else. It’d help to talk to your doctor about your intentions.