Spring Allergies Making You Miserable? These Natural Home Remedies Really Work
From turmeric to tea, these natural tips won't make you groggy like meds can
We love all the blooming flowers and leafy green trees this time of year, but they also bring a surge of pollen that triggers spring allergies. And while pollen is a clear culprit for itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and scratchy throats, stress can also make those symptoms worse. According to Harvard scientists, stress hormones not only ramp up your immune system’s response to allergens, they also heighten your emotional reaction to the discomfort. Allergy medicine can help, but many leave you feeling drowsy and drained. The good news? You can ease seasonal allergy symptoms (without the grogginess) thanks to these med-free tricks.
Relief from spring allergies: 6 easy tips
When the pollen count starts to climb, you want fast, effective relief. Here, science-backed, natural remedies to help alleviate your most annoying allergy symptoms:
Woman's World Answers
Itchy eyes? Grab a cold compress
When pollen gets in your eyes, it causes your body to produce histamine, a compound that can cause itchiness, redness and watering. Taking oral antihistamines can actually make the problem worse by drying out your eyes. Instead, try a cold compress. Research in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found that using a cold compress for 15 minutes, three times a day was just as effective as artificial tears in relieving dryness and itching.
Heading outside? Don a pair of sunglasses. A trial whose results were published in The International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology found that slipping on a pair of wraparound sunglasses while outdoors may help block pollen. And when you return home, you can whisk away any pollen that’s crept around sunglasses by cleansing your eyelids and lashes with warm water and baby shampoo twice daily.
Scratchy throat? Sip a cuppa
Hot tea soothes soreness by hydrating and gently warming the throat tissues. You can also boost the benefits by adding honey. Research in the National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology found that taking 1 Tbs. of honey twice daily speeds recovery from sore throat symptoms. Bonus: Honey’s antimicrobial properties also make it effective in treating upper respiratory tract infections.
If you prefer green tea, a study in Allergology International suggests that it may also help reduce symptoms such as a runny nose and scratchy throat. The brew’s EGCG has the potential to inhibit the release of substances such as histamine, immunoglobulin E and leukotrienes that trigger symptoms.
Sneezing? Take a steam break
The next time allergies trigger a bout of sneezing, try a soothing steam for fast relief. Scientists in Thailand found that inhaling steam significantly reduced sneeze-inducing nasal obstruction by soothing and opening the nasal passage. Boost the benefit by adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil—research in Scientific Reports found its anti-inflammatory properties help suppress allergic responses.
Tip: To help curb the levels of sneeze-inducing pollen that sneak into your house, keep your windows closed and switch on an air purifier in rooms where you spend a lot of time, like your bedroom. One to try: Levoit Sprout Air Purifier.
Sinus pressure? Supplement with ginger
Instead of reaching for decongestant nasal sprays, which can cause a rebound effect that worsens sinus congestion over time, try ginger. A study in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies found that taking 500 mg of ginger root each day reduced sinus swelling and pain as effectively as OTC allergy meds, thanks to the herb’s anti-inflammatory properties.
Runny nose? Cook with turmeric
Turmeric not only makes a tasty addition to meals, but the curcumin it contains may have a natural antihistamine action. In a clinical trial published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, curcumin was found to improve nasal airflow and symptoms, including sneezing and rhinorrhea (runny nose). Try adding 2 to 3 tsp. of turmeric to your diet daily.
Tip: When cooking with turmeric, add a few pinches of black pepper. A trial published in Planta Medica found that piperine from black pepper may enhance curcumin absorption.
Low immunity? Use an ancient Indian herb
The East Indian herb Tinospora cordifolia (also known as guduchi) may help combat the out-of-control immune response that triggers allergy symptoms. Plus, it lowers levels of mucus-producing goblet cells in the nasal passages. That’s why a study published in The Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that taking tinospora daily eliminated sneezing in 83 percent of participants while eradicating nasal congestion in many others. One to try: Swanson Premium Full Spectrum Guduchi.
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