Natural
Allergy Relief - If spring and fall send your seasonal allergies
into a spin, many experts say look to Mother Nature for a natural allergy
relief that can be as comforting and easy as a day at the beach. Whether
it's the long-awaited change of winter into spring, or the quiet fading of
summer into fall, for many people the changing of seasons means the start of
seasonal allergies.
Sneezing and wheezing, runny nose and itchy, watery, red eyes are
just some of the symptoms that more than 35 million Americans face each year
as the pollen from trees, grass, flowers, and plants makes it way into the
air. Drugstore counters offer a wide array of traditional medications
available to help. However, for an increasing number of allergy sufferers,
relief can be a natural allergy relief product provided by Mother Nature. A
variety of all-natural treatments that studies show can help -- often
without many of the troubling side effects ascribed to traditional care.
Using natural allergy relief products can be a very useful way to
handle mild allergies and even some more significant allergies. There are
many types of natural allergy relief products and treatments you can safely
try. Among those generating the loudest buzz right now is the European herb
butterbur. In one study, published recently in the British Medical Journal,
a group of Swiss researchers showed how just one tablet of butterbur four
times daily was a very effective natural allergy relief product as a popular
antihistamine in controlling symptoms of hay fever.
Other natural allergy relief products include the herbal supplements,
freeze-dried nettles and a tonic made from the herb goldenseal, which can be
used by adding it to still one more natural allergy relief treatment -- a
saline (salt water) nasal spray.Saline works to wash out pollen and reduce
or thin mucous while the goldenseal has astringent and local antibacterial
properties.
Even more natural allergy relief products are grape seed extract and a
flavonoid compound known as quercetin. Although both occur naturally in many
foods -- and are especially abundant in red wine -- when used in supplement
form they can be extremely helpful in reducing allergy symptoms,
particularly in conjunction with vitamin C, says James Dillard, MD.
Another good source of natural allergy
relief products can be found in your kitchen. You might want to try cooking
up some natural allergy relief in the form of hot, spicy foods. Experts say
the spicier the dish, the more likely it is to thin mucous secretions, which
in turn can clear nasal passages. Among the most frequently recommended
spices for this purpose include cayenne pepper, hot ginger, and fenugreek,
as well as the traditional onion and garlic, all of which are natural
allergy relief products.
