1) Showering: A quick rinse after spending time outdoors can help remove allergens from your skin and hair and prevent them from spreading to your clothes, furniture and pillowcases, and other surfaces where they are likely to bug you. Make sure to turn the shower on nice and hot, as steam is an added benefit to the rinse!
2) Steam: If you don’t have time for a shower or rinse, you can inhale steam and get some amazing benefits! Pour some boiling water into a bowl and drape a towel over your head to form a tent. Inhale deeply through your nose for five to ten minutes. Make sure not to get your face too close to the water as not to burn yourself!
3) Eucalyptus oil: Supercharge your shower or steam inhalation. This very aromatic oil can open up your sinuses and nasal passages. Eucalyptus is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial; which will help prevent sinus infections from the build up of mucous in your sinuses. Add a few drops of eucalyptus to your shower or in a steaming bowl of water. Do not ingest the oil or apply it directly to your skin; essential oils are very concentrated and can be toxic even in low doses.
4) HEPA filters: This is a no brainer. HEPA filters are not only amazing at reducing common pollutants in the air but also reduce the amount of circulating pollen in your home; making it easier to breath and sleep through the night!
5) Neti Pot: This fancy little nose vase uses saline solution to rinse out pollen and loosen mucous. You can buy premeasured saline solution kits or make your own.
Tilt your head and to the side and pour the solution in one nostril until it flows out the other; and repeat the process on the opposite side. Remember to only use boiled water that has cooled to an appropriate temp. or distilled water only. Do not use tap water.)
6) Saline Spray: Prepackaged saline nasal spray is similar acting to a Neti-pot but is a little more user friendly. Neti-pots have been studied more extensively and may give you a more complete nasal rinse. However, the prepackaged nasal spray may be gentler, portable and still provides adequate results.
7) Local Honey: Eating local honey can help relieve your allergies. Since the bees transfer pollen from flower blossoms to honey eventually you will be introduced to small amounts of the regional pollen and become inoculated to the effects the pollen used to have on your immune system. Make sure the honey is raw and unfiltered otherwise you will not get the same kick-butt allergy effects! Also, children under the age of two years old should not consume honey or honey products.
8) Spicy Food: Myth or Method? There is no conclusive data on this but eating spicy food will at the very least clear out your sinuses and make it easier to breathe for a few hours. Try spicing up your foods with chili peppers, fresh garlic, horseradish, wasabi, and Dijon mustard. These spices will have a decongestant effect and you get to eat your favorite foods with a kick!
9) Peppermint Tea: Peppermint tea not only gives you another steam opportunity but the menthol in the peppermint tea works as a decongestant and expectorant. It breaks up mucus and helps clear out your nose and throat. Green tea is another great choice; lab studies show green tea has antioxidant properties that inhibit allergic reactions.
10) Stinging Nettles (Urtica Dioica): Natures antihistamine! Stinging nettle can be used as tea, tincture or fresh. If you use fresh herb make sure you know to watch out for the nettle located on the leaves. If consumed as a tea the best results occur at two cups a day or more; and in tincture form for best results use two droppers-full three times a day.
