With the arrival of spring and summer comes consistent sunshine in Seattle, and if you’re like me hardly anything can stop you from getting out and enjoying the warmth and light. Unfortunately for seasonal allergy sufferers, the return of that sunshine can often mean the return of higher pollen counts which can make it harder to enjoy the great outdoors around us. More than 35 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, and fortunately, there are many natural approaches that can help you feel better faster. The next time your seasonal allergy symptoms return, consider these options to help get you out to your latest adventure:
- Spring or Summer Cleaning: While you can’t control the allergen levels outside your home, there are things you can do to reduce the amount present inside the home, which may reduce the need for medication throughout the day.
- Wash your bedding at least once per week in hot water using hypoallergenic detergents to minimize allergens clinging to your sheets.
- Change your home air filters as recommended and consider switching to filters with smaller pore sizes to catch a larger proportion of allergens. Portable HEPA filters placed in rooms you frequent can also help reduce the allergic burden within the home.
- Leave your shoes by the door to avoid tracking allergens throughout the house, making the above steps more effective.
- Nasal Irrigation: A central tenant to naturopathic medicine is removing the cause for a reaction, and in the case of airborne allergens, nasal irrigation techniques such as the neti pot are quite effective. Nasal irrigation helps flush allergens out of the nose and sinuses removing the cause for the reaction to occur and thus providing relief. The technique for using a neti pot can be tricky, but with consistent use and practice, the relief they provide can be immense.
- Natural Products: There are many nutrients and plants which can help seasonal allergy symptoms by functioning as antihistamines, or by blocking the release of histamine and thereby preventing symptoms. Some of my favorites include the following:
- Vitamin C
- B vitamins
- Quercetin
- Butterbur
These are just a few of many ways we can approach seasonal allergy relief naturally. As always, consult your doctor first for individualized recommendations. Spring forward into a summer of allergy-free fun in the sun!