Relieve Allergies the Natural Way
Acupuncture
This ancient Chinese procedure has been used to treat a number of allergy symptoms, from sneezing and runny nose to puffy eyes.
During a session, a trained practitioner gently places hair-thin needles under the skin at different parts of your body.
“It’s common to see improvement even after the first treatment,” says Thomas Burgoon, MD, president of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. If you have ongoing (chronic) allergies, you might need two sessions per week for 6 weeks.
Nasal Rinses
Use a Neti pot to flush dust and pollen from your nose. You can buy one from your local drugstore. This gadget looks like a little teapot with a long spout.
Fill it with distilled or sterile water and rinse one nostril at a time. Do this twice a day to relieve allergy symptoms, Mainardi says.
Allergy-Proofing
The easiest way to avoid an allergy attack is to get rid of things in your home that make you sneezy.
- Vacuum at least once a week to remove allergens from rugs and furniture. Use a HEPA filter if possible.
- If you have dust allergies, buy dust-proof mattress covers and pillow-case covers, too, Mainardi says.
- Close windows and doors during peak allergy season.
- Take off your shoes before you go inside.
- Wash any clothing that might have come into contact with pollen. “A quick rinse in the shower before bedtime, especially after being outdoors all day, will ... help keep pollen out of [your] bed,” Mainardi says.
Remember, you can always ask your doctor for more help. He’ll be able to find out what you’re allergic to and how to treat it.