8 Natural Ways to Fight the Allergy Season

During the spring season, flowers, birds, and the sweet-smelling air are not the only things that you get to witness. Spring, unfortunately, is also the time when allergies emerge. If you suffer the seasonal allergy symptoms including sinus congestion, itchy nose, throat, red eyes, fatigue, and watery eyes, it can make it really hard to enjoy the season. Do not let the high pollen count stump on your energy, below are 8 ways you can fight the allergy season:

Build Your Defences

A research that has been conducted by the scientists at the School of Medicine of Osaka University found that there are certain probiotics that are effective in treating sinus and nasal symptoms. According to the same study, specific strains that have been found to be effective are Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacilli casei, Bifidobacterium longum, and L. acidophilus. You should take a high-quality probiotic. Also, remember to do it when your stomach is empty.

Drink Alkaline Water

Drink at least eight cups of alkaline water daily in order to support the natural cleaning process of your body. Several studies have shown that being well hydrated helps relieve allergy symptoms. Bottled and tap water don’t count because they are acidic, and acidity is linked to allergies. By switching to pure water, you will be reducing allergies.

Sea Buckthorn

Asthmatic symptoms are aggravated by spring pollens, which means there is a need to supplement using sea buckthorn. It has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine. It’s also been used for treating asthma and lung conditions.

Drink Green Tea

Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant phytonutrient that blocks immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine. Both chemicals are linked to allergy symptoms, yet they are produced naturally. EGCG blocks the production of IgE and histamine. Thus, allergy symptoms will be reduced. If you don’t like the idea of drinking green tea because of its taste, mix your daily dairy-free fruit smoothie with matcha powder. Matcha is powdered green tea. Make sure your smoothies are dairy-free because dairy products can aggravate allergies as they are mucus-forming.

Take Quercetin

Quercetin is a phytonutrient that is not just antioxidant, but also anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory. Quercetin is excellent in reducing allergy symptoms and improving lung function. Onions and apples are sources of quercetin. Studies show that people who eat apples every single day have reduced the risk of lung problems and improved lung function. Other sources are berries, nuts, cauliflower, cabbage, and green tea.

Choose Nettles

Stinging nettles have been used by Native Americans for years in treating several health conditions. Now, modern science has proved that the Native Americans are wise as they knew from experience that nettles can be used as an allergy treatment. Pharmaceuticals can cause drowsiness and heart problems. Nettles, on the other hand, do neither.

Pick Pineapple Enzyme

If you take Bromelain, the enzyme that can be extracted from pineapple, it can help with bronchitis, pneumonia, and sinusitis. Just make sure that you take it before your first meal of the day. Bromelain can act as an anti-inflammatory, which means it can reduce lung swelling. It is recommended that you take a maximum of two 500 mcg capsules daily. If you are already showing allergy symptoms, you can have the two capsules before every meal.

Flush Nasal Passages

With a neti pot, flush your sinuses using a salt-water solution. Neti pot is a ceramic dish that is shaped similar to a gravy boat. Health food stores will sell you saline packets that can be mixed with water. You can also get neti pots from there. Follow the directions that come with the package. If you buy sea salt, mix it with warm water.