Home & Garden

Rock the Neti Pot and Beat Allergy Season Naturally

Going green can extend into how you handle seasonal allergies. Here are some tips from EarthShare.org.

 

From EarthShare.org:

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, if the onset of spring also ushers in your allergy sypmptoms, you’re one of nearly 40 million Americans who have indoor/outdoor seasonal allergies.

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The biggest culprits of seasonal allergies are trees and grasses, and are blossoming earlier and sticking around longer because of climate change, which means allergy season is expanded, as well.

If you’ve yet to find an over-the-counter remedy that really helps, here are some tips for natural relief:

  • First, get tested for regional allergies. The seasonal allergies you have depend on where you live and what kind of allergens are in the air. If you live in an area with high humidity, your allergic reaction will likely be stronger as pollen thrives in these areas. Getting tested for allergies can help you determine what’s causing your symptoms and how best to treat them.

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  • Go local for your allergy remedies. You may have heard the old wives’ tale that eating a spoonful of honey a day will cure your allergies. Well, it won’t cure them but it can significantly decrease your susceptibility to local allergens. Eating small, regular doses of honey or bee pollen that are produced in your region can help your body build up a tolerance to pollen allergens, reducing the havoc they wreak on your sinuses. You can find locally produced honey and bee pollen at farmers’ markets in your area, as well as in many organic chain markets.

  • Some allergy specialists suggest that your diet plays a role in controlling symptoms. If you suffer from weed pollen allergies, what you don’t eat can make a difference. New York University allergist Dr. Clifford Bassett recommends avoiding melon, banana, cucumber, sunflower seeds, chamomile, and any herbal supplements containing Echinacea, as these can make symptoms much worse. Click here to check out more tips about foods and herbs like garlic and 'butterbur' that may help relieve or ward off symptoms.

  • Have you ever rocked the Neti Pot?: Some experts swear by nasal rinses to wash out the allergens that get in your nose. Irrigation with neti pots, hydrating irrigating units, and squeeze bottles are becoming more mainstream – some experts think the treatment is even more effective than medication. Nasal irrigation – rinsing the nose and nasal passages, typically with a salt water solution – is a cheap and easy way to alleviate allergy symptoms. You can even do the rinse yourself at home. Check out this how-to video from the University of Michigan Health System.
  • Then, watch this How-to Music video by Squirm and Germ with Drop 6: "The Neti Pot (Have You Ever Rocked It)" It won't necessarily help your allergies, but it's a fun video.
  • Clean your home regularly to reduce indoor allergies. Twenty percent of Americans have not just one, but two kinds of allergies, so staying indoors isn’t always the best option when you’re trying to escape those irritants. Check out these green tips for cleaning your home in an eco-friendly way and make sure to get rid of all of those dust mites that make you sneeze.

From a green perspective, tissues you use during allergy season can’t be recycled - used tissues just aren’t recyclable, despite being paper product. So consider buying tissues and toilet paper made from recycled paper or use a cloth handkerchief.

Got your own natural, effective allergy reliever? Tell us about it in the comments field below.


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