Allergy season is a miserable time for millions of sufferers of watery eyes, sneezing, sniffling and itching. It’s a time for many to resort to medications of various types in the hopes of reducing these symptoms from exposure to allergens. If you’re looking for alternatives to the prescription or over-the-counter options in your fight against allergies, read on. The following are 10 home remedies against allergies.- Dehumidify – Dust mites are a common source of allergens in the home, and don’t do well in a dry climate. Try using a dehumidifier to rid your home of these pests.
- Launder Linens in Hot Water – A water temperature of at least 130 degrees will kill any dust mites that have taken up residency in your bedding.
- Spice it Up – Spices in your diet can help keep air passages clear, which can become congested by allergens. Try adding some horseradish, hot mustard, chili peppers to your food.
- Add some Lime – A solution of a half-lime and some honey in warm water will flush toxins out of your system. It will also act as an anti-toxin to prevent allergens from gaining a foothold in your system. Drink a glass daily beginning just before allergy season.
- SLIT – a therapeutic technique begun in Europe, Sublingual Immunotherapy has shown to be an effective means of combating allergies. SLIT therapy involves placing a small dosage of the allergen under the tongue, then swallowing it. By way of introducing the allergen to the body daily, in very small doses – on the order of about one part per thousand water dilution – it acts as a sort of immunization to the ill effects.
- Castor Oil – For allergies of the skin, nasal passages or digestive tract, try a mix of castor oil in water or fruit juice. A few drops in a half cup dilution can flush out those allergens.
- Baking Soda – For hives, add a half-cup of baking soda to a warm bath, and soak for 30 minutes.
- Tea Time – Drinking hot tea not only helps keep nasal passages open, but certain types of tea act as anti-inflammatories and ant-bacterials. Peppermint tea, for instance, contains essential oils that work as a decongestant. Green tea also will work to resist the effects of allergens in your body.
- Butterbur – This herb has been shown to work as an antihistamine when taken. More common in Europe, butterbur (Petasites hybridus) can alleviate allergies without the side effect of drowsiness that traditional antihistamines can cause. It is taken in tablet form 3 times daily.
- Keep it Clean – Much of the battle with allergens can be won with some basic cleaning measures such as using bleach in a water solution on hard surfaces to kill mold; removing carpet in favor of hard floors or area rugs to limit breeding areas for dust mites and mildew.
Allergies don’t have to spoil the season for you, and fighting them doesn’t have to mean taking a lot of medication. A few common sense cleaning tips and a handful of natural or household items is all you need to say good-bye to those allergy symptoms.
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