Green Ways to Alleviate Seasonal Allergies

An allergy is the body's immune system reacting aggressively to substances that are normally harmless to other people. These substances might be pollen, animal hair, food, dust and insect bites.

If you find yourself sneezing for no apparent reason or your eyes start streaming and are itchy and sore, or your skin breaks out in a rash you may be allergic to something in the environment or something that you are eating. Common seasonal allergies are hayfever, asthma and eczema and these are triggered by allergens such as airborne pollen. Symptoms of hayfever include coughing, sneezing, a runny nose and nasal congestion, red eyes and headaches.

Ways to Alleviate Allergies ~

The best treatment for any kind of allergy is to avoid the allergen. This is often easier said than done especially for those suffering from a seasonal allergy. It is hard enough to stay away from dogs, horses or cats for those allergic to animal hair but even harder, during the spring and summer, for hayfever sufferers to avoid pollen!

There are medical treatments for allergic reactions including eye drops, nasal sprays, inhalers and antihistamine tablets, depending on the allergy, but these sometimes cause drowsiness and now more people are turning to alternative forms of therapy to treat their allergy.

Foods that may help allergies include foods that contain Vitamins C, A and E and Zinc, fresh Garlic, Cayenne pepper and dark green vegetables. Vitamin C for instance will help the immune system cope better with seasonal allergies; it also helps to reduce inflammation in the body.

Herbal medicine ~ Chinese herbal tea has been found to help ease the allergic reactions of those suffering from atopic eczema and Butterbur is said to help ease hay fever symptoms.

Acupuncture ~ An ancient Chinese health treatment that involves inserting needles into specific areas of the body. Acupuncture has been found to ease allergic symptoms although there have been no extensive clinical trials.

Homeopathy ~The principles of homeopathy is 'like cures like'. Homeopathic remedies for allergic reactions to:

* Bee, wasp and hornet stings: Apis, Arnica, Cantharis, Hypericum, Ledum, Utica Urena

* Jellyfish stings: Apis, Hypericum, Ledum, Medusa

* Pollen: Take Allium Cepa 6 for frequent sneezing and watery eyes pr belladonna 6 for a sudden, pounding headache.

When choosing a practitioner of alternative therapies in order to seek a way of alleviating seasonal allergies, it is worth checking first that they are qualified, they have a good reputation and their premises are clean and hygienic. Herbal and homeopathic remedies should not be taken without supervision as although most are harmless some can cause poisoning and liver damage if taken in large quantities.

Ionization ~ Ionizing machines release electric charges into the air and are thought to help alleviate the symptoms of people who suffer from hayfever and asthma.

Lifestyle ~ Although seasonal allergies cannot be avoided altogether, there are ways a person might help ease the symptoms. After being out in the open, they should wash their hands and face and any exposed skin so as to rinse away the allergens (pollen.) Saline nasal sprays help rinse out the pollen and rubbing a small amount of Vaseline into the skin around the nostrils will help ease the discomfort and itchiness around the nose.

Keep doors and windows closed when the pollen count is high and wash clothes and bedding regularly to avoid breathing in the pollen that has been brought in from outside.

There is nothing more discomforting than suffering from an allergy during those seasons when most people are out appreciating and making the most of the beauties of nature. It is ironical therefore that there are ways however to help alleviate this suffering by tapping into and at least finding some relief through the alternatives nature (the root cause of the allergy) has to offer.