Natural allergy remedies to try this Spring!

For the majority of the population, allergies are simply an unfortunate fact of life. They’re there and we must deal with them, as quickly and efficiently as possible, if we hope to be in any way productive throughout the day.

As is the case for most illnesses and ailments the initial advice is generally to take some sort of medication, like an antihistamine, and power on through the day. However, if you’d prefer to take the more wholistic approach that’s been tried and tested, take note of these natural allergy remedies.

Bee Pollen

As counterintuitive as it may sound, bee pollen actually works wonders as a natural antihistamine. Recent research indicates that pollen has an anti-allergic activity that protects mast cells of the organisms (so, us if we’re ingesting it) from releasing histamine, the exponent of allergic reactions.

You can buy bee pollen as a powder and add it to juices and smoothies in the same way you do spirulina or açaí.

Apple Cider Vinegar

If there were a prize for the number one achieving product in your home it would surely go to apple cider vinegar. As you’re probably already aware, this magical elixir is useful in countless areas, including relief from allergies. It’s thought that acv is able to cleanse the lymphatic system and reduce mucous, therefore soothing a sore throat caused by breathing in too much springtime pollen.

Mix a tablespoon of ACV in a glass of water in the morning or whenever you feel that niggling sore throat coming on.

Just breathe

It might sound silly to prescribe breathing to someone already subsiding on one airway but scientists have backed this free, anywhere-anytime relief. As a reaction to the intensified inflammation stress has on us, our bodies release histamine, which is what worsens our allergy symptoms. Taking a moment to breathe and lower your stress levels can be a useful start to lowering those pesky symptoms.

Nettle Tea

Stinging nettle, as it’s commonly known, is actually a powerful anti-inflammatory. Research has proven that nettle is effective in reducing seasonal allergy symptoms. Of course it’s not something you’re about to start tossing through your salad, hence enjoying the nettle in a cup of infused tea instead.

Plain nettle tea isn’t the tastiest concoction so be sure to steep it with another more pleasant tea or buy a blend that includes nettle.

Probiotics

Allergies are strongly linked to the health of our immune system with research showing that gut imbalances cause our bodies to overreact to stimuli like dust, pollen and certain foods. According to scientific studies, by keeping our inner ecosystems in balance with beneficial bacteria from probiotic sources, we can reduce cases of allergies.

With products containing beneficial gut bacteria having their moment in the sun at the moment, it’s not difficult to find one that suits your tastebuds. Sources include yoghurt, sauerkraut, tempeh, kombucha, kefir and miso.

Ingesting probiotics to strengthen your immune system over time can have far more health benefits than just creating a barrier for allergies, providing more reason for you to add it to your diet asap.

With the research to prove these natural remedies’ efficiency, along with countless instances of anecdotal evidence, it’s worth trying one of them next time the pollen count is high or you’re feeling the beginnings of a sore throat. After all they are all natural so they only serve to do good for our bodies.