What to Do when Seasonal Allergies to Grasses, Weeds, Mold, and Tree Pollen Make You Symptomatic

Experts report that one in 5 Americans suffers from allergic reactions. These allergies range from allergies to food and drink to sensitivities to dust, air quality and environmental elements. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, in particular, you know how challenging it can be when you seem to react to everything around you several times a year. Indeed, seasonal allergies can result from reactions to ornamental grasses, weeds, tree pollen, flowering plants, and mold, causing itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion, and more.

Allergy Capitals of the US

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), 40 million adults, adolescents and children suffer from seasonal allergies, costing over $7 billion per year in lost productivity. Among the worst American cities for springtime allergies, according to AAFA? Knoxville, Louisville, Chattanooga, Dayton, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Greensboro, Jackson, St. Louis, and Wichita. If you live in one of these allergy capitals, spring's fling may put you inside for awhile.

Alternative Treatments & Home Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

If you've tried over-the-counter (OTC) medicine or allergy shots and find them ineffective, there may be other things you can do to manage your seasonal allergy symptoms. Experts encourage you to keep your doors and windows closed when pollen counts are at their peak and stay indoors during high pollen count days. Among the alternative treatments and home remedies for allergies? Movement therapies, including Tai Chi and yoga. Manipulation therapies, including massage and chiropractic manipulation. Mind-body techniques, including acupuncture, biofeedback, and meditation. These and other strategies will help you keep seasonal allergies and miserable allergy symptoms in check.

Experts report increasing interest in alternative treatments for allergies, noting that medical specialties in allergy and immunology have seen their second largest increase in the popularity of complementary and alternative medical approaches (second only to specialty practitioners who treat lower back pain). That's pretty amazing when you consider that alternative and complementary medicine has only gone mainstream in recent years.

Laser Treatment for Seasonal Allergies

More and more, doctors are experimenting with other techniques to manage seasonal allergies. Among them, laser treatments where doctors use bright lights to shrink nasal passages and unblock sinuses. Studies continue on the effectiveness of these and other approaches for treating springtime and seasonal allergies. In the meantime, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, see your doctor or other health care professionals as needed or if outdoor allergy symptoms get worse.

RESOURCES

The Most Challenging Places to Live with Spring Allergies
Allergy Action Plan (2010)
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
www.aafa.org

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
www.aaaai.org

Complementary and alternative interventions in asthma, allergy, and immunology By L. Bielory in Annual Allergy Asthma Immunology. 2004 Aug; 93(2 Suppl 1): S45-54.