Prevent and treat allergies without medicine
It’s that time of the year again. Time for congested sinuses, headaches and watering eyes. Allergy season is upon us, and millions of Americans are going to turn to Benadryl, Claritin and other harmful chemicals to get relief.
The good news is that natural allergy relief remedies such as frankincense, eucalyptus and quercetin can effectively rid you of your allergy symptoms. Here are eight amazing, all-natural remedies that can give you quick allergy relief:
8 natural allergy relief remedies
1. Neti pot
To clear the nasal passages of allergens and irritants, sinus irrigation originated in the Ayurvedic medical tradition, and people in India have been receiving astounding results for centuries.
Thankfully, this alternative approach has reached mainstream and the medical community has all but welcomed it with open arms. Dr David Rabago has conducted several studies on the subject and has clinically proven that using a neti pot is effective to prevent and treat several upper respiratory conditions, including chronic and acute sinusitis, the common cold and seasonal allergies.
When you use a neti pot, make sure that the water is distilled and sterile as possible. Tap water is full of chlorine and fluoride and can actually aggravate your sinuses.
If you don’t want to use a neti pot, you can do a salt water sinus rinse by mixing sea salt with warm water and sucking it up one nostril.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar is the best and you can now find it almost everywhere! It’s USDA and Kosher certified organic, GMO-free, unfiltered, raw (not pasteurized) and contains the amazing “Mother” of vinegar.
Drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of ACV in your water with some fresh lemon juice is the best way to wake up every morning. At the first sign of an allergy attack, put one teaspoon of ACV in your neti pot solution for a fantastic sinus flush.
3. Quercetin
Naturally found in cruciferous vegetables, onions, shallots, green teas and citrus fruit, quercetin is a bioflavonoid that stabilizes the release of histamine and helps to naturally control allergy symptoms.
A recent study out of Slovakia shows that quercetin is so effective that it can help calm down allergic asthma by reducing the hyperactivity of airways. It is so powerful that Iranian researchers’ data shows that quercetin can help control peanut allergies, the leading cause of life-threatening and fatal allergy attacks.
Various sources suggest that it is best to use quercetin as a long-term remedy, and people prone to seasonal allergies should start to take them a few weeks before spring arrives and plants start to bloom.
4. Local raw honey (bee pollen)
Telling you to eat something like raw honey for seasonal allergies may sound too easy because it is so sweet, but don’t discount this ancient remedy. Taking a tablespoon of local, raw honey every day will help your body build a tolerance to the local pollen that is running amuck on your sinuses.
The International Archives of Allergy and Immunology published an article in 2011 that tested pre-seasonal use of birch pollen honey on people with birch pollen allergies. Those patients “reported a 60% lower total symptom score, twice as many asymptomatic days, and 70% fewer days with severe symptoms, and they used 50% less antihistamines compared to the control group” that took conventional meds.
I recommend taking one tablespoon of raw local honey daily.
5. Stinging nettle
Stinging nettle has a rich history of medicinal use dating back to medieval Europe where it was used as a diuretic to relieve people of joint pain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, studies suggest that it can effectively treat a wide range of health concerns including:
- Urinary problems, such as urinary tract infections
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Hay fever – allergic rhinitis
- Joint pain, sprain and strains
- Insect bites
Research has specifically shown that nettle leaf naturally controls histamine, which is why a growing number of doctors recommend taking a freeze-dried preparation before hay fever season begins. It can also be used as a tea or tincture.
6. Eucalyptus Oil
You can use eucalyptus oil for season allergy relief in a variety of ways. You can put several drops into your neti pot, inhale it via a diffuser or use it in your laundry detergent as an antimicrobial agent.
An interesting study out of Egypt evaluated the effect that various essential oils had in killing the highly allergic house mites, indicating that eucalyptus oil ranked amongst some of the most potent.
For an eco-friendly, biodegradable addition to your natural detergents, add 25 drops of eucalyptus oil to each load of wash during allergy season – especially if you or the kids are running around outside.
Also, if your allergy symptoms are going strong, mix eucalyptus oil with coconut oil and rub it on your chest and behind your ears and diffuse it in the air during the day and while sleeping.
7. Frankincense essential oil
The almost unbelievable cancer-killing capacity of Indian frankincense has been well established in scientific literature for several years, but its life-giving power doesn’t end there.
In a study published by Phytotherapy Research – for instance, when mice took one to ten milligrams of frankincense orally – it was discovered that multiple levels of their immune systems were stimulated including IgG, IgM, and interferon.
In layman’s terms, frankincense can boost the immune system like no other, and if you suffer from seasonal allergies, make sure you implement it into your natural health regimen.
Simply rub frankincense behind your ears or on your chest or diffuse frankincense essential oil in your home or office three hours daily.
8. SBO probiotics
It is becoming common knowledge that the immune system starts in the gut. In fact, more than 80 percent of your immune function is stored in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract! It should be no wonder that research keeps surfacing that links probiotic use to reduced risk of allergies.
They are so effective that a study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that women who regularly take probiotics during pregnancy significantly reduce their child’s risk of developing allergies! I highly recommend getting your soil-based organisms through probiotics in a supplement form or from food at farmers’ markets and your local garden.
Keep these side effects and natural remedies in mind as we approach what many are claiming will be one of the worst allergy seasons we’ve had in a long while!
This article originally appeared on DrAxe.com and is republished here with permission.
For additional references, see Dr Axe’s website.
