Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

According to WebMd, over 50 million Americans experience some type of allergy. That means that around 1 out of every 5 Americans experience the sometimes debilitating symptoms that accompany allergies. Additionally, it is estimated that more than 18 billion dollars are spent each year treating allergies in the American healthcare system. 

Many people assume the only way that seasonal allergies can be treated is through pharmaceutical products. That is not always the case, though. Oftentimes, symptoms like runny nose, itchy eyes, headaches, etc. that are caused by seasonal allergies can be treated naturally.

First, it is important to understand what an allergy even is. An allergy is when your body reacts or becomes hypersensitive to an antigen. Your body’s immune system becomes hypersensitive, and as a result, your body experiences a damaging response. Most often, allergies are caused by pollen, dust, certain foods, or animal fur. 

When your body responds to an allergen, your body produces a chemical called histamine. This is why many people immediately jump to taking “antihistamines” when they experience allergies. This chemical, histamine, works with your body to counteract the allergen. Allergies can range from being seasonal allergies that most often get worse when pollen levels rise during the spring and fall; food allergies; indoor allergies to dust; pet/animal allergies; and allergies to medication. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction to an antigen.

While anaphylaxis and other allergies should be treated with medical care, seasonal allergies can be treated with natural remedies. It is important to understand that when your body produces an allergic reaction, it is because it senses that something is not right within your body.  Instead of only addressing symptoms you experience, it is very important to understand the root cause of WHY you are having allergies and then build your natural defense system to that. 

That being said, here are a few natural remedies that can treat the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies:

• Avoid inflammatory foods. Remember that an allergic response is an inflammatory response. If you try to avoid foods like gluten, refined sugar, dairy, etc. that are highly inflammatory, it will help alleviate your inflammatory response. Incorporating Vitamin D into your daily routine can also help. Vitamin D is very important to immune functioning. Make an effort to get outside in the sunlight and incorporate Vitamin D into your daily intake. 

• Consume local, raw honey. Taking a spoonful of local, raw honey every day can dramatically improve how you are feeling. Raw honey contains bee pollen. Bees that live in our area go from flower to flower collecting the pollen that you are actually suffering from. Eating this pollen actually helps build up your immune system to that local pollen. Make sure you are consuming raw, LOCAL honey. This is important to it being an effective treatment. 

• Use a Neti Pot. Neti pots are a natural remedy for allergies as well as many other respiratory conditions. They literally clear out the sinus passage and remove congestion. It improves your quality of life while causing little to no side effects whatsoever. Neti pots are very reasonably priced. Using a neti pot daily flushes out your nasal passage and clears out allergens and pathogens in the process.

These are just three, easy and cost-efficient solutions to alleviating symptoms caused by seasonal allergies. Call 712-464-3301 today if you’d like to learn more about natural ways you can help treat your seasonal allergies!