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Spring brings with it the promise of exciting times ahead with thoughts of spending more time outdoors thanks to the warmer weather, long strolls in the parks amidst rows of blooming flowers, and plenty of fresh produce in the local markets.
Unfortunately, that beautiful floral display is accompanied by an abundance of pollen, which can trigger off seasonal allergies.
For those who are prone to seasonal allergies, spending time outdoors can quickly turn into a painful experience as their symptoms flare up.
What Causes Seasonal Allergies?
Allergies are the result of an over-active immune response. Dust, pollen, and dust mites are common allergens that are not really harmful like pathogens are. But these same substances trigger an extreme immune response in those who are sensitive to them.
Spring allergies, also known as hay fever, are triggered by excessive pollen. When pollen particles enter your body through your eyes, mouth, or nose, your immune system kicks into high gear. Immune cells start producing protein particles called anti-bodies. These anti-bodies pick up the pollen particles and transport them over to white blood cells, which immediately release histamines.
Histamines are a type of chemical that trigger distinctive allergy symptoms of sneezing, coughing, and phlegm, in an attempt to expel the pollen from your body. These symptoms persist as long as pollen continues to enter the body, or until the pollen sensitivity subsides.
From nonstop sneezing to itchy, watery eyes, inflamed skin, and headaches, allergy symptoms can make for an uncomfortable experience. And for those who are severely allergic, the symptoms can be downright painful.
If you know that certain seasons trigger your allergies, it’s a good idea to resort to a few tried and tested natural remedies for seasonal allergies, even before your symptoms start. This will help to prevent a severe flare-up of the symptoms. And with natural remedies, you don’t have to worry about any adverse reactions.
Raw Honey
Raw honey is one of the best natural remedies for seasonal allergies. The key here is to consume raw honey, not the refined variety. Here’s why.
Pollen particles stick to the legs of honey bees as they dart about among the flowers. Some of these pollen particles get into the honey during the honey-making process. Raw honey that is not filtered and processed still contains some of these pollen particles at relatively low levels. Exposure to these low levels of pollen in the raw honey lowers your body’s sensitivity to pollen, reducing the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
Besides soothing your current allergy symptoms, consuming raw honey all year round can also help shore up your tolerance to seasonal allergies.
Read more about the Benefits of Raw Honey and the difference between Raw Honey and Regular Honey.
The best raw honey available is Nature Nate’s 100% Pure & Unfiltered Raw Honey. This particular raw honey has received over 4,400 reviews on Amazon, most of which are over 4.5 stars. Read my detailed Nature Nate’s Raw Honey Review.
How to use Nature Nate’s Pure, Unfiltered Raw Honey to reduce allergies – Take a tablespoon or two of raw honey once or twice a day, every day to reduce your allergy symptoms. You can eat it directly from the spoon or stir it into any beverage. Start doing this at least a month or so before the allergy season starts. This is a slow process so don’t expect to see results overnight. It takes time for the raw honey to have significant allergy-reducing effects.
Cautionary note – Never give raw honey to children under 1 year of age. Although rare, raw honey may contain botulism spores, which can lead to severe illness and even death in under one-year-olds. This is because their immune system is not yet sufficiently developed to handle botulism.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another effective natural remedy for seasonal allergies. Apple cider vinegar works by cleansing your lymphatic system and reducing mucus production, which helps to calm the coughing and sneezing that are symptomatic of spring allergies.
To get relief from seasonal allergies, mix a teaspoon of organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink this at least two to three times a day.
Some things to keep in mind when using apple cider vinegar for seasonal allergies:
Always use organic, unfiltered ACV that still has the ‘Mother’ in it. The ‘Mother’ is what contains the beneficial bacteria that provide relief from seasonal allergies.
Read the list of ingredients on the label before buying. If the list does not say The ‘Mother’ look for another brand that does.
If you don’t like the taste of plain apple cider vinegar in water, stir in a teaspoon of raw honey before drinking it. Not only will raw honey improve the taste of the ACV solution but it also one of the more effective natural remedies for seasonal allergies.
Essential Oils
Using essential oils for allergies can also help. Read all about the best essential oils for allergies and how to use them.
Neti Pot
A Neti Pot works to relieve seasonal allergies by flushing away those pollen particles from the nasal passages.
To use a Neti Pot for allergies, dissolve 1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt or Neti Pot Salt in ¼ liter boiled and distilled water. When the solution is completely cooled, put it in the Neti Pot. Tilt your head to one side, pour the solution into one nostril and let it drain out the other. As the water drains out, it will also flush out the pollen particles.
If you’ve never used one before, read about how to use a neti pot for allergies and sinus relief.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Following an anti-inflammatory diet that includes foods such as broccoli, ginger, avocado, chia seeds, beetroot, pineapples, and nuts can do much to ease your allergies.
You want to avoid foods that tend to cause extra inflammation and might worsen seasonal allergy symptoms, including dairy, fried foods, corn oil, and processed foods.
Sticking to a diet mostly of clean and fresh ingredients will make a big difference in how you feel.
Quercetin
A natural bioflavonoid, Quercetin works to relieve seasonal allergies by stabilizing mast cells, which inhibit the release of histamines and reduce allergy symptoms. Quercetin is also a powerful antioxidant and helps to reduce inflammatory reactions that are typical in allergic reactions.
Garlic, onions, broccoli, and citrus fruits are rich in quercetin. However, you would need to eat large amounts of these foods to get the amounts of quercetin necessary to prevent allergies. To get relief from seasonal allergies, you may need to take Quercetin supplements.
Things to keep in mind when using Quercetin as a natural way to relieve seasonal allergies:
- Only use supplements from a quality source
- Start taking Quercetin supplements at least 4 to 6 weeks before allergy season as it takes a while to see the effects.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
