How To Get Rid Of Cat Allergies Naturally
Cat lovers want to be around and play with their pets as much as possible. However, some experience challenging allergies. From itchiness and red skin to swelling, watery eyes, and uncontrollable sneezing. No matter the effects, it is essential to identify the symptoms and look for ways how to get rid of cat allergies naturally.
Most often than not, our initial response is to seek fast relief by purchasing over-the-counter medications to get over cat allergies.
However, it is better to seek out natural remedies for cat allergies in humans. Medications can manage the allergies for a while, but we shouldnt be dependent on them for the long haul.
Move Your Outdoor Workout To Dusk
Save outdoor exercise for the evening, advises H. James Wedner, MD, of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Not only do many people with allergies experience more sneezing and itching in the morning, but many trees release their pollen at first light, and ragweed pollen tends to fly most thickly at middayso stick to end-of-day strolls.
# 6 Licorice For Your Dogs Allergies
Licorice is an easy to find herb. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine have used licorice as a harmonizer for allergy patients for thousands of years. In traditional Chinese medicine , licorice tonifies the spleen, benefits the Qi, moistens the lung stops coughing, clears heat, detoxifies Fire Poison and soothes spasms .
A study of a substance in licorice called glycyrrhizic acid showed that it has a codeine-like effect. Licorice can also relieve inflammation in the digestive tract and helps remove mucus from the respiratory tract. Just what the doctor ordered for allergy sufferers!
Giving Licorice To DogsTilford and Wulff recommend working with your vet. This is because dosage varies widely, depending on your dogs condition. But they suggest starting with 12 to 20 drops per 20 lbs of body weight twice daily, using a low alcohol licorice extract. If youre using a tea, triple that dose.
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What Is Allergic Rhinitis Its Types And Symptoms
Allergic rhinitis is a condition that affects the nasal passage, sinuses, and ears or throat. It occurs when an allergic person inhales something they’re sensitive to. This can lead to pain in those areas and shallow breathing due to inflammation caused by swelling around allergy sites.
The causes of allergic rhinitis can be difficult to determine since there are two types: seasonal and perennial. Seasonal allergies develop during spring or fall when exposed to airborne pollen and outdoor mold spores. On the other hand, perennial or year-round cases result from indoor allergens like house dust, mites in your home, and pet dander which is picked up on clothes as you walk around town.
This can cause a wide range of seasonal allergy symptoms, from just itching and sneezing to more severe issues such as postnasal drip or congestion. The severity varies per person, too – some might only feel fatigued during an attack while others have difficulty breathing because dust particles in the air block their nose.
So, what to do now? Consult a professional. An allergist will help you identify your triggers to be avoided. You may think the problem is apparent, but an appointment with a dermatologist is always good to perform accurate tests for allergy done on skin cells from various parts of the body. After that, you can start the treatment according to their advice, but a natural and herbal remedy is always preferred.
Does Local Honey Help Allergies
Local honey is rich in the very same pollen youre suffering from.
The reason is that the bees are pollinating whatever is around their hive. So when you choose local honey thats from a nearby area, it will have the same pollens in it youre breathing.
Thus it acts as a natural vaccine building up your resilience to the specific allergens in your area.
While its true that theres no way to know for sure what plants the bees pollinated, the closer the honey company is to where you live, the greater the likelihood that the pollen is, in fact, whats in your air.
Not sure where to find local honey? Your local Whole Foods Market, health food stores or farmers markets should have lots of options.
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Make Adjustments At Home
If indoor allergies are getting you down, a few tweaks to your home environment can make a huge difference. To start, Dr. Wright recommends placing HEPA filters throughout your house. They help filter out some of the allergens like dust mites and pet dander from the air, she says. Along those same lines, dehumidifiers can help remove moisture from the air in damp areas like basements and prevent the growth of allergens like mold. Youll probably have to do some extra cleaning, too. If you have carpets or rugs, you want to vacuum weekly, advises Dr. Wright. You also want to wash your bedding weekly in hot water and dry it in high heat because that will kill off dust mites. Another thing my patients dont realize is the mattress can be a harbor for those dust mites so you really want to change out that mattress about every seven years. She says encasing your mattress and pillows in allergen-proof covers can also help. Lastly, if youre allergic to your pet, Dr. Wright recommends bathing them weekly to decrease their dander.
Allergy Products That Do Not Work
- Processed garlic, pre-minced
- Be cautious with supplement companies that do not have quality control procedures that are monitored by a 3rd party. There are many companies that when contents are evaluated, have failed to contain ingredients or quantities claimed on label. Seek professional help to guide with choices for quality supplements and proper dosing that is therapeutic. Look for organic, non-GMO, allergen and contaminant free products.
- OTC allergy meds, like diphenhydramine or other antihistamines, or pseudoephedrine, have side effects and do not address root cause of allergies. Not great long term solutions.
- Antibiotics or cold and flu remedies when in fact they have allergies
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Food Allergies Treatments & Natural Remedies
Because food allergies can be severe, plus contribute to other health problems, I strongly encourage you or your loved ones to pursue these natural food allergies treatments.
1. Avoid All of These Foods
The following foods increase inflammation within the body, weaken the immune system and lead to digestive issues.
Packaged foods Packaged, ultra-processed foods may contain GMOs like corn, soy, canola and vegetable oils that cause food allergies and intolerances. They can also contain hidden ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction thats why its important that people with allergies are taught how to read labels carefully and avoid offending foods.
Sugar Sugar can cause bad bacterial overgrowth, weaken the immune system and increase food intolerances. Because sugar consumption leads to inflammation, it can exacerbate food allergy symptoms and restrict your bodys ability to tolerate foods normally.
Artificial flavorings Artificial flavorings can exacerbate food allergies. Experts are convinced that dyes used in packaged foods can cause adverse health impacts in children and possibly adults. There is evidence that cochineal extract may cause allergic reactions and asthma.
2. Sidestep These Allergen Triggers
Eggs A recent meta-analysis of the prevalence of food allergy estimated that egg allergy affects 0.5 to 2.5 percent of young children. A protein in egg whites, called ovomucoid, has been shown to be the dominant allergen in eggs.
Fend Off Mold With A Dehumidifier
If an indoor mold allergy is more your problem, Mehdizadeh says you need to lower the humidity in your home, since mold thrives and grows in humid areas. In this case, Mehdizadeh recommends using a dehumidifier.
Mehdizadeh says to always use a dehumidifier that is adjustable, so you can control how dry the room gets. You don’t want the nasal passages to get too dry, since this can cause discomfort as well.
According to the EPA, humidity should be between 30% and 60% to stunt mold growth, so you can adjust the settings accordingly. Mehdizadeh says you should not go below 30%, since this can be irritating to the nose.
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What Are Some Common Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
When your body is responding to an allergen, it lets you know. According to the mucus
Sometimes these symptoms can feel like a cold or another respiratory infection like COVID-19. If youre not quite sure what youre dealing with, pay close attention to other symptoms that might be surfacing. A cold or flu-like infection may also cause additional warning signs such as fever, chills, and body aches, Ratika Gupta, MD, an allergist and immunologist with New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, tells SELF. Allergies should not cause any of those things, Dr. Gupta says.
Whats more, seasonal allergy symptoms tend to last longer, according to the National Library of Medicine . If youre unsure about whats going on and youve had symptoms for longer than a week, scheduling an appointment with your doctor can help you figure out whats driving your discomfort.
Can A Neti Pot Help With Allergies
I swear by my neti pot.
There are many times throughout the year where I just use it preventatively each morning. But when my allergies are under attack, its not uncommon for me to use it twice a day.
There are some fancy battery powered ones, but for me, I like the simplicity of the basic Ceramic Neti Pot . Great price, free Prime shipping and hundreds of awesome reviews too.
If you arent familiar with nettie pots, you pour warm water into your nettie combined with sea salt and mix.
You turn your head sideways over a sink and gently pour into the top nostril. The water and salt solution goes through your sinuses and back out the other nostril providing instant sinus relief!
Personally I boil my water first to ensure its pure and then let it cool enough to go through my passages. But you could also buy distilled water too. I would personally not just use tap water due to possible bacterial concerns and the delicate nature of the sinus passages.
Want the best neti pot salt on Amazon? Its Himalayan Chandras Neti Pot Salt . 99.99% pure, almost 5 star reviews and hundreds of them, and certified Kosher.
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Cure : Herbal Remedies For Allergies
Herbs are naturally occurring substances which originated from plants or plant derivatives. They have shown immense potential in curing a lot of diseases effectively including allergies. Herbal remedies are easily accessible and dont bear any kind of side effects.
Some of the best herbs for treating allergies include:
Can Spirulina Cure Allergies
Spirulina, the protein-rich algae is an amazing supplement you can use in your smoothies, or take it in pill form.
A recent study by the National Institutes of Health found called spirulina great as an anti-inflammatory and they go on to say that Spirulina activates cellular antioxidant enzymes, inhibits lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, scavenges free radicals.
But numerous other studies mentioned by Medical News Today have linked spiralina to having positive impacts on:
- Improved cholesterol
So consider adding spirulina to your diet for a variety of great reasons!
But if youd rather have a powder to add to smoothies or sprinkle on other foods, Micro Ingredients Pure Organic Spirulina Powder is the way to go!
It too has almost 5 stars, hundreds, of reviews, and is also an Amazons Choice product.
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What About Allergy Diets
If your dog needs relief from his allergies, your vet will probably recommend expensive prescription dog foods. But according to pet food formulator Meg Smart DVM PhD, these diets contain a lot of harmful ingredients that can make your dogs allergies worse.
One of these harmful ingredients is hydrolyzed protein. The process needed to make these hydrolyzed proteins is the problem as it creates monosodium glutamate and MSG can cause brain damage. According to Dr Smart, hydrolyzed proteins have not been effective in fighting allergies in clinical trials and have even caused more skin problems.
Most allergy or hypoallergenic dog foods are also full of starch and starch aggravates allergy symptoms. Finally, most prescription dog foods your vet recommends contain low quality oils that become rancid. And they contain fillers like powdered cellulose which is basically sawdust.
Instead of prescription allergy diets, Dr Smart recommends preparing your own dog food. Then you know exactly whats in it.
So, if you want to actually fix your dogs allergies long term without the harmful side effects, then check out these top natural options for allergy relief for dogs:
Are You An Allergy Sufferer
Before delving into the world of natural allergy remedies, you should make sure you actually suffer from allergies. Typically, its easy enough to self-diagnose allergies. The symptoms are fairly universal, and they usually only appear during certain seasons . If youre unsure if allergies are causing your irritation, you can always get a test. Even if youre certain that allergies are the source of your issues, its worthwhile to find what specifically youre allergic to. Get Wyndlys at-home allergy test now to discover your allergy profile!
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Does Butterbur Help Allergies
Butterbur is made from a flowering plant which has been used for thousands of years to a variety of health ailments.
According to Professor David Rakel, MD, of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Butterbur capsules have the BEST track record of all herbal supplements in helping maintain and regulate a healthy pollen tolerance.
Rakel goes on to say Butterbur is the Singulair of the herbal world, I think of all the allergy supplements, it has the best evidence behind it.
WebMD claims that Butterbur may be just as effective in treating allergy symptoms as Allegra or Zyrtec. If you are looking for the 1 thing to try in learning how to cure allergies naturally, this could be it!
The Reviews on WebMD also support that many are finding Butterbur effective in managing allergy symptoms.
Want the best Butterbur Capsules on Amazon?Vitanica Butterbur Extra has almost 5 stars, 0 1-star reviews , and also contains ginger and feverfew both of which help promote lower levels of inflammation and headache support.
Keep Allergens Out Of Your Home
If you get seasonal allergies from plant pollen, it’s important to make sure those outside allergens don’t make it inside your home.
Mehdizadeh recommends keeping your windows closed if you’re allergic to outdoor irritants.
Here are a few more suggestions to pollen-proof your home:
- Use a HEPA filter to keep the air circulating in your home clear of allergens.
- When you enter your home from outside, change clothes and bathe to ensure that you don’t spread allergens within your home.
- Try to bathe your pets regularly to keep them from spreading allergens throughout your home.
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Is Your Child Suffering From A Runny Nose Sneezing And Itchy Eyes Help Them Feel Better With These Natural Allergy Remedies You Can Try At Home
Allergies happen when your immune system overreacts to a certain trigger, such as pollen from weeds, grasses, or trees. As a result, the body makes antibodies and histamine, which are released into the blood stream to fight off the foreign substances. This starts an inflammatory reaction that causes symptoms like sneezing, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes.
Anyone can experience allergiesbut they generally start after age 3, peak in late childhood or the teen years, and subside in adulthood. Depending on your location and allergen, symptoms may begin in February and last until the end of September. Medications such as antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays can provide relief, but some natural DIY methods may also be worth a shot. Here are some of the best home remedies for seasonal allergies to try yourself.
Look Into Alternative Treatments
Some allergy sufferers swear by alternative home remedies for seasonal allergies. These include butterbur , acupuncture, spirulina , stinging nettle, eucalyptus oil, and bromelain . There isn’t too much evidence on these treatments, so it’s best to conduct your own research and consult a doctor with any questions.
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Regularly Take Local Honey
Local honey is thought to help mitigate seasonal allergies by offering some exposure to pollen.
One small 2013 study found that high doses of honey might help reduce allergy symptoms. But other studies, including one small 2002 study, found no evidence that honey helps with allergies.
Ultimately, the research is inconclusive. But there’s little harm in trying this method to see if it works for you.
Moreover, honey has been found to ease coughing and other symptoms of upper respiratory infections, and it offers a number of other health benefits.
Test For Seasonal Allergies In Kidsand Avoid Triggers
Allergy tests can help distinguish which specific environmental allergens your child may be allergic to, which is useful to know when trying to prevent exposure.
Then, the name of the game is avoidance. If your child is allergic to a certain type of pollen, keep an eye on pollen counts in your area, and on high-pollen days, be sure to keep windows closed or shift outdoor play to just the evening hours .
If your little one is over 2, try having them wear sunglasses and/or a face mask during outside time to create a pollen shield and block particles from getting into their eyes and nose.
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