Allergies stink. Big time. No one likes to sneeze, snort, and cough their way through the day all because nature decided to go into full bloom!
Most people grab an over-the-counter allergy pill to “relieve” their symptoms. Trust me – I’m guilty of this at times. But honestly, these pills aren’t really helping and in fact, can do more harm than good. Natural allergy relief is where it’s at.
Gut health, diet, and genetics all play a role in allergies. Gut health is an especially big player in the allergy scene. So are autoimmune issues and inflammation. If you have other health issues at play most likely your allergies will be bordering on out of control at times. I speak from experience on this one.
I won’t go into all that today (because healing your gut and reducing inflammation is a HUGE topic) but instead will focus on some natural ways to bring about relief for those allergy sufferers out there. Even though I am no longer afflicted with seasonal allergies like I used to be, every now and again my system does get worked up over something.
The natural allergy relief remedies I am sharing with you today are ones I have personally tried. If it isn’t on this list, it hasn’t worked for me or I have not tried it. So no sense discussing it right?
Let’s move along to the good stuff shall we?
10 Remedies For Natural Allergy Relief
Allergena
This is hands down my most trusted product for not just natural allergy relief but also prevention. In fact, I wrote an entire post about it. Read that here.
In short, Allergena uses a recognized treatment method known as sublingual immunotherapy. This means that is uses the body’s natural abilities to stimulate or restore a healthy immune system response to fight infection and disease, similar to the way allergy shots work.
Your immune system defends you against disease. When the immune system detects harmful substances, like allergens, it creates antibodies to destroy or neutralize the invaders.
Allergena contains antigens which are minute quantities of the pollen pests that cause your allergies. Regular use of Allergena allergy drops can help your immune system build antibodies against these antigens, providing relief from your allergy symptoms.
The most amazing thing about Allergena is that it is made for 9 different geographical zones in the U.S. This means the antigens in a bottle of Allergena for your zone are specific to the trees, weeds, and grasses that are causing you to suffer! This is truly a blessing because it attacks those invaders in your area which makes is very effective.
Boiron Sabadil® Tablets
I like these tablets for acute attacks. The Sabadil tablets are designed to temporarily relieve symptoms of hay fever or other upper respiratory allergies including itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and itchy throat and nose.
The active ingredients include:
- Allium cepa 5C HPUS – Relieves runny nose associated with allergies
- Ambrosia artemisiaefolia 5C HPUS – Relieves spasmodic cough associated with hay fever
- Euphrasia officinalis 5C HPUS – Relieves burning, irritated eyes
- Histaminum hydrochloricum 9C HPUS – Relieves symptoms of allergic conditions
- Sabadilla 5C HPUS – Relieves sneezing and itchy throat associated with allergies
- Solidago virgaurea 5C HPUS – Relieves abundant nasal discharge
They also have a Children’s version which we like.
Hyland’s Seasonal Allergy Relief
Hyland’s Seasonal Allergy Relief relieves common allergy symptoms including watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, nose, and throat, sinus pain and headache. Again, I like to use these for an acute attack.
The active ingredients include:
- Allium Cepa 6X HPUS – hay fever, watery eyes
- Natrum Muriaticum 6X HPUS – sneezing, itchy eyes
- Histaminum Hydrochloricum 12X HPUS – sinus pain
- Luffa Operculata 12X HPUS – sinus pain, headache Galphimia Glauca 12x HPUS: sneezing, runny nose
- Nux Vomica 6X HPUS – itchy nose & throat
While these three products are great, there are some pretty amazing herbs out there that can be used to prevent allergies, reduce the severity of allergies, and manage some symptoms from a sudden attack.
Let’s take a look at my favorite herbs for natural allergy relief.
- Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) – Used as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
- Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) – Reduces congestion and secretions. It is good for itchy eyes, sneezing, and excess mucus.
- Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) – Helps reduce allergic, inflammatory, and histaminic reactions and supports liver function.
- Red clover (Trifolium pratense) – Helps build the body’s resistance to allergies. I LOVE this one and drink it daily as a tea.
- Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) – Used as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory. I drink about a quart of nettles a day year round. It is amazing stuff really. One of nature’s finest herbs. For allergy relief, it really is powerful. I suggest you read my friend Amanda’s post on how it worked for her son. It will blow your mind!
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Reduces congestion and secretions. This also makes it great for any upper respiratory ailment.
There is one more player in the natural allergy relief medicine chest.
Local raw honey. I’m sure this isn’t news to anyone reading my site. Local honey is one of those “wives tale” type treatment that everyone mentions as soon as they see someone suffering from allergies. So does it work?
I know I said I wouldn’t mention any natural remedy that didn’t actually work for me but I have to include local honey since it seems to be such a popular remedy. I tried it on and off for years. It did NOTHING for me. Nothing for Rasta Daddy. Nothing for Tiny. Honey has a lot of medicinal properties but I am not convinced it does much for allergies. At least not for us.
My understanding of honey is that much of the pollen in honey is not the type that humans are allergic to (flowers and other blooming plants). While local honey may contain a few antigens that a particular person may be allergic to, it will likely contain many that the person is not allergic to. So, a susceptible individual who frequently consumes the honey may develop an allergy to these other allergens. I’m not saying this will happen but it made me think twice. If local raw honey isn’t truly the powerhouse that people think it is, why set yourself up for developing additional allergies.
Some friends I know swear that bee pollen is the better way to go and that raw honey indeed does nothing. I never tried bee pollen but it might be something you want to look into.
What natural remedies do you love for seasonal allergies? Any good ones out there I should consider?
Where can you find the herbs I discuss above for natural allergy relief?
I love the Frontier brand and Starwest Botanical brand available from Amazon.
CP says
May 9, 2015 at 9:37 AMraw honey may not help with allergies, but if you get some local Bee Pollen, it will definitely help. I have had severe allergies all my life, no matter where in B.C I have lived. I began eating raw local bee pollen three years ago…just a tablespoon in my plain yogurt every morning and honestly, I have no allergies. The pollen has all the things you are allergic to in it as well so many minerals and vitamins. It tastes good, it just has a waxy feel to it, so just mix it with something, even in a fresh fruit smoothy.
Jennifer says
May 20, 2015 at 8:26 PMHi CP! I like bee pollen but it made my daughter break out in hives so I stopped keeping it in the house. 🙁 But yes, you are correct! It can work much better than honey.