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.
How To Treat Seasonal Allergies And Get Relief Naturally
We dont suffer from many allergies anymore after our time on the GAPS diet, but I still occasionally get hit with an allergy attack from dust after cleaning though and my hubby occasionally reacts to grass or pollen.
These simple natural remedies have been very effective for allergy relief in our family. Different people seem to benefit from different remedies depending on certain genetic factors and which allergens you are reacting to, so it might be worth trying more than one of these to see which works best for you.
Ill start with simple suggestions and work up to solutions for more serious allergy problems.
What Are Some Seasonal Allergy Treatments
Prevention is key for seasonal allergy relief. The following tips can help your recovery:
- Remove any plants that could be causing your reaction. Its common for people to be allergic to hard-to-see things like pollen.
- Change your daily routine so that youre not around the source of your discomfort. Avoid the outdoors between 5:00 am and 10:00 am. Save outside activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rain, when pollen counts are lower.
- Change your clothes when you get home to avoid tracking allergens around your living space.
- Keep windows in your home and car closed to lower exposure to pollen. To keep cool, use air conditioners and avoid using window fans.
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When To See A Doctor
Allergy symptoms in the morning can also disrupt the quality of your sleep at night. See a doctor if youre unable to control allergy symptoms on your own or if you have severe symptoms.
You might need a prescription medication or allergy testing to determine the cause of symptoms and to rule out other problems.
What Are Some Other Natural Remedies For Seasonal Allergies
As a first step, gargling with salt water can soothe a sore throat.
Clearing your nose and throat of potential allergens such as mold or pollen may also be helpful. Use a saline nasal rinse or a neti pot to do so.
If youre using a rinsing device, such as a neti pot, it must be used and cleaned properly.
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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.
- gluten
How Often Should Cleaning Be Done To Prevent The Spread Of Allergens
It is a must to clean the house regularly, especially where the pet usually stays. A vacuum cleaner is the most efficient way of gathering allergens as it takes little effort to do so.
Additionally, wiping surfaces with a damp rag helps dander gather and stick easily, preventing them from spreading to other surfaces.
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Do Natural Allergy Cures Really Work
For some people, yes. Weve seen huge reductions in allergy symptoms for some when they embrace making these sort of changes and just run with it, says Dr. Young. There have been really nice results.
But treat the above recommendations as more of a potential starting point for dealing with allergies, not the be-all and end-all for treatment. Theyre also not a substitute for medical care during a severe reaction.
There are people who benefit from medications. Thats why theyre available, says Dr. Young.
But if youre looking for an alternative to day-to-day allergy maintenance, its important to know there might be simple solutions aside from medications. These approaches can help, Dr. Young assures. Its just a matter of giving them a try.
Herbal Remedies With Little Scientific Evidence
Important: Consult with your doctor before trying any herbal remedies or supplements.
Some herbal remedies that are said to help allergy symptoms include:
- Black seed oil: A small 2014 study found that black seed oil, from the black cumin plant, applied topically within the nose improved and treated mild to severe allergy symptoms. This might be due to the anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects of black seed oil, which has also been found to help treat other respiratory issues, such as sinus infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Stinging nettle: Nettle is another plant that has long been touted as an herbal remedy. A small 2017 study found that patients’ allergy symptoms significantly decreased after taking stinging nettle tablets four times a day for a month. But the scientists say more research is needed to understand nettle’s full benefits.
- Butterbur: The research looking at butterbur’s effect on allergy symptoms is not convincing enough for experts to recommend it as a treatment. What’s more, Butterbur contains chemicals that may damage the liver and lungs, and that may cause cancer. That’s why, if you do try butterbur, it’s important to buy products that were processed to remove these chemicals, called pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
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Do Natural Remedies For Seasonal Allergies Work
If you have mild allergy symptomsmeaning it feels like you have a slight cold but youre not 100% miserablethen trying certain natural remedies for seasonal allergies at home may be worth a shot before you turn to allergy medications. Here are some common ones to consider:
This is an important one! Understanding the cause of your symptoms plays a vital role in seasonal allergy management, according to Beth Corn, MD, associate professor of medicine and clinical immunology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She recommends getting a skin allergy test if possible. There are numerous allergy tests, but the common skin prick test involves scratching or poking your skin with the various allergens and waiting to see if you develop a reaction, such as redness, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It takes a minute, and within 15 minutes you know what you are allergic to, Dr. Corn tells SELF. Once you have this information, you can do your best to minimize contact with your personal allergy triggers.
To do this, keep your windows closed and, if its too warm, use air conditioning to stay cool if you can. We know this is a bummer, but letting air in also invites allergens into your homewhich is exactly what you dont want. Be sure to also check your window sills and frames for condensation, which can contribute to mold growth.
Common Causes Of Home Allergies
The most common indoor allergens are found in the form of tiny particles that float around in the air of your home. These particles are so small that you breathe them in and they infiltrate fabrics so that they are constantly in contact with your skin. In short, they end up everywhere. The most common of these are:
- Dust and dust mites. The dust mites live wherever there is dust from human dead skin flakes.
- Mold spores. Many people are highly sensitive and very little mold can trigger an allergy.
- Pet dander. This can be found even in homes without pets, because it clings to clothes.
- Cockroach droppings. Almost 63% of US homes have cockroaches, so you may have a houseguest and not know it.
- Pollen. Its very easy for pollen to travel inside, and it happens throughout the year depending on your area.
- Fragrance. While a respiratory symptom from fragrance is categorized as an irritant rather than an allergy, any reaction to a fragrance can be prevented in your home.
- Latex. An allergy to latex can be quite severe, causing breathing problems.
- Household products.Cleaners are the major culprits. Many contain fume-causing chemicals that often come in contact with the skin.
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Dust Your Home At Least Once A Week
Make An Appointment With An Acupuncturist
Researchers aren’t sure why it works, but, according to a 2015 meta-analysis, acupuncture was found to improve the symptoms and quality of life of allergy sufferers.
Note: Make sure you go to a certified acupuncture practitioner. You can search the registry for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to find a certified acupuncturist in your area.
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# 4 Nettles For Dog Allergies
A herb called nettles can help manage your dogs allergies.
In their book Herbs for Pets, Gregory Tilford and Mary Wulff explain that nettles contain histamines. The histamines work in a small dose. Think like cures like the plant stimulates the body to protect itself from allergens. Nettles also contain quercetin, which boosts nettles anti-allergy effects.
How Much Nettles Should Dogs Get?
If theyre growing nearby, you can pick nettles yourself but wear good gloves because they sting!
You can dry the herbs, or make nettle leaf tea. Or, as herbalist Rita Hogan recommends, sauté fresh nettles in a pan with MCT oil until tender, then add to your dogs food. You can also use a pre-made nettle tincture. Give 2 drops per 10 lbs of your dogs body weight per day.
Dr Jodie Gruenstern also likes to use cooled nettle leaf tea topically for itchy skin or even as a rinse for itchy eyes.
How Cat Allergies Are Diagnosed
There are two ways to test for any allergy, including to cats: skin testing and blood tests. There are two types of skin allergy tests. A skin prick test and an intradermal skin test. Both tests give fast results and tend to cost less than blood tests.
Certain medications can interfere with skin testing, so talk to your doctor about which test is best for you. Skin testing is usually done by an allergist due to the possibility of severe reactions during testing.
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What Causes Cat Allergies
Somewhere around 10% of the population of the US has allergies to pets, but the true cause of these allergies is unknown. Many people incorrectly assume that they are allergic to pet hair, but this isnt the case. Understanding what causes allergies to cats can help you make informed decisions about finding ways to decrease the allergens in your home.
Allergies to cats are actually allergies to specific proteins that cats produce. These proteins are present in saliva, urine, and dander. Pet dander is often associated with hair, but it is in fact, small skin flakes. This means pet hair can have dander present on it, but it doesnt have to.
Use An External Eyewash With Turmeric
Curcumin, a compound present in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory effects and can inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells.4 Animal studies have found that this compound can suppress eye allergies.5
Try this simple ayurvedic remedy for your eye allergy: Mix in ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder into ¼ cup of distilled clean warm water and use the solution to clean eyelid and your outer eye. Add this flavorsome spice to soups and curries or have a cup of turmeric tea to fight inflammation from within.6
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When Should You Consider Using Seasonal Allergy Medicine
Theres no cure for seasonal allergies , but taking over-the-counter medications, such as antihistamines2 can help when natural remedies for seasonal allergies arent enough. If youre using allergy medications, its often helpful to take them before your symptoms even start. Most people take medication when their seasonal allergies begin to cause trouble, but you can get a leg up on things by starting earlier, Purvi Parikh, MD, an allergist and immunologist with NYU Langone, who is allergic to grass pollen herself, tells SELF. Grass pollen starts becoming bothersome in springtime, so Dr. Parikh begins using allergy meds like antihistamines two weeks before the season starts. This helps her reduce symptoms or even avoid them altogether, she says. You can also try OTC nasal corticosteroids, which are sprayed or inhaled into the nose to help relieve your stuffy nose and irritation caused by allergies.
Its important to talk to your doctor, preferably an allergist if you have access to one, before trying any other natural remedies for seasonal allergies, like herbs or supplements. For example, some people who are allergic to ragweed, daisies, and marigolds can also be allergic to chamomile tea, according to the NCCIH, which could do more harm than good in that case.
Organic And Local Honey
Yet another one of the potent ayurvedic treatments for dust allergy is with the usage of local and organic honey.
Majority of these is believed to have a minimal concentration of ocal pollen which has been found to have beneficial impacts in managing the signs and symptoms associated with dust allergy.
The antimicrobial properties of the honey also further fights off the infestation of the dust mites, thus helping boost the body functions even more so.
What to do?
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Fermented Cod Liver Oil
The omega 3 fatty acids in cod liver oil help with controlling inflammation, allergies and asthma.
There are also other important nutrients in cod liver oil such as Vitamin A and D. Both are fat-soluble vitamins that help to reduce in the mucus membranes .
I personally love and use Fermented Cod Liver Oil because we originally began using it to help with dental health and saw an amazing improvement. The fact that it also helps with allergy and asthma made us life-long customers. Weve been using it since for about 9 years now!
Initially we used it daily, but after several months we have periods where we take it and periods where we dont. Our bodies just dont need as much since we also include plenty of other foods rich in vitamin A & D.
Home Remedies For Dust Allergy
Coming on to the ayurvedic treatment for dust allergy, the prospects are quite extensive. Whatever the condition be, there are quite an extensive range of things lying around in your house itself that can effectively help get rid of the symptoms associated with the condition.
In here, we are going to be discussing about the extensive range of home remedies for dust allergy that work wonders.
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What Is Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the nasal passages, sinuses, ears, and throat. Also known as pollinosis and hay fever, it occurs when an allergic person inhales an allergen to which they are sensitive.
There are two types of allergic rhinitis. Seasonal allergy sufferers develop symptoms during spring, fall, or both seasons when they become exposed to airborne pollen and outdoor mold spores. Perennial allergic rhinitis, which is year-around, is caused by indoor allergens such as house dust, pet dander, dust mites, and indoor molds.
Symptoms:
The symptoms of this allergy include itching, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, as well as congestion of the nose, ears, and sinuses. There could also be fatigue and a general feeling of being “unwell” during an allergy attack. These symptoms vary in severity from person to person.
Herbal Treatment Options for Allergies
Herbal remedies could provide an alternative way to treat allergic rhinitis. If used sensibly, these natural medicines can not only reduce allergic symptoms but also prevent them altogether. They can also strengthen the body’s tissues and organs, thus improving your overall health. Here are some of the herbs best suited for treating allergies and various respiratory issues.
Natural Plants can be Effective Medicine:
Lipkowitz, Myron A., and Tova Narava. The Encyclopedia of Allergies. Facts on File, Inc., 2001 , pp. 13-14.
