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Tag: Natural treatment allergies

  • Allergy Relief: Some Tips to Avoid Feeling Miserable

    Few would argue that it’s about time Spring has sprung in the U.S. However, for allergy sufferers, this time of year has its own short-comings.

    Allergies can certainly sap the joy of Spring right out of a person. But, there are some great advice out there to make the season bearable for sufferers.

    Tree pollen — which can travel through the air up to 200 miles — is typically the first to emerge after the long winter and many areas in the U.S. are currently registering ‘very high’ readings.

    Here are some tips to reduce the affects of allergies:

    It’s a good idea for allergy sufferers to switch allergy medications frequently, as long-term use of the same medication can build up the body’d tolerance, making the drug ineffective.

    It’s also not a great idea to take antihistamines everyday. It’s better to wait until it’s really needed — again, the effectiveness of the drug loses its potency if taken everyday.

    Nasal sprays can take a couple of weeks before the medication begins to work, so don’t give up on them if you feel like it’s just not working and start using them early-on so they can build up in your system.

    Some foods should be avoided to alleviate symptoms. Some fruits contain similar proteins to pollen, which can cause allergy symptoms. It might be a good idea to avoid apples and melons, for example.

    Although it’s impossible to avoid allergies entirely, people can reduce the effects of allergies by avoiding them as much as possible.

    It’s good to avoid the outdoors between 5 to 10 a.m as pollen counts are typically the highest during these hours. If you must be outdoors in the morning, take frequent showers and change your clothes often to wash off the pollen.

    You can also check daily pollen counts and avoid stepping outdoors too often if the count is extremely high.

    Keeping the inside of your home pollen-free is important. You can ensure a lower interior pollen count by keeping your windows closed and changing your air conditioning filters often.

    Some natural alternatives might be effective as well. According to several studies, a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce allergy symptoms.

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  • Seasonal Allergies: Natural Alternative Treatments

    Seasonal allergies plague more than 26 million Americans each year. As the harsh winter subsides and spring begins to warm the air and stimulate flowers and trees to bloom and grass to grow, it can be a bittersweet change for these allergy sufferers.

    For many, a trip to the corner drugstore for antihistamines and decongestants is usually the first step to take when the eyes start itching and the running nose and sneezing comes on. However, that relief can sometimes be short lived and even ineffective.

    In fact, at a recent meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Dr. William E. Berger reported that nearly a third of allergy patients think their medications don’t work.

    This can be because of the severity of symptoms or because your body has simply built up a tolerance to your favorite allery medication. Also, many drugs only take care of the itchy/sneezing and do little to decongest. The same goes for those who only take care of decongestion. Medication costs can also add up, especially if you have a whole family of allergy sufferers.

    In a time when people are becoming more aware of what goes into our bodies, it only makes sense that many are seeking a more natural treatment for allergies. Here are a few suggestions that could help alleviate or even stop those sniffles, wheezes and sneezes.

    Quercitin is a supplement that has been counted on for years as a natural, plant derived bioflavanoid that helps prevent mast cells from releasing histamine. The earlier you start, the better, as it can take a few weeks to see results. The recommended dosage for allergy sufferers is 1,000mg daily, taken between meals.

    Stinging Nettle is also a popular herb that inhibits the body’s release of histamine. The most convenient form is sold as a freeze-dried extract in capsule form. The recommended dosage is 300mg daily. The capsules may only bring a few hours of relief, but if you’re concerned about taking drugs or side effects, this could be an great option.

    Butterbur is also an herb that is gaining popularity quickly as a great natural seasonal allergy treatment since the results of a Swiss study, published in British Journal of Medicine, found that butterbur was as effective as the drug cetirizine, the active ingredient in Zyrtec. It may still be hard to find in the US, but as it gains recognition and popularity, hopefully it will become more widely available.

    And of course there’s the good old Neti Pot, for those who aren’t fearful of pouring water up your nose. It is a time-tested treatment for allergies and completely logical as it simply rinses your sinuses, clearing them of pollen, mold and other microscopic irritators.

    Good luck to all you sneezers and wheezers out there as spring takes over.

    Image Via YouTube