Natural Help for Allergies

With the seemingly endless winter weather, the warmth of spring has been eagerly awaited here in northeast Ohio. However, the arrival of pleasant weather also means the beginning of allergy season for many. The season has come on very strong this year, as the delayed spring means everything has blossomed at once.

Here are some natural ways to manage your allergies this spring- several of them can be found in our May products of the month:

1. Nasal irrigation: This comes in the form of Netti-Pots, Nasopure, and other small bottles with saline solutions. Using these helps rinse out nasal passages, and restores moisture and reduce inflammation of mucous membranes.
2. Take one tablespoon of local honey per day. This helps your body build resistance to pollens that are polluting local air.
3. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that stabilizes the release of histamines in your body. They can be naturally found in cruciferous vegetables, onions, green tea and citrus fruits. It is also available in supplement form. 
4. Essential oils such as eucalyptus and frankincense can help reduce inflammation and improve detoxification. They can be used with diffusers, or mixed with coconut oil and rubbed on the body.
5. Stinging nettle is an herb that can be found locally, but its needle-like edges make using it nearly impossible. Try it in capsule form to benefit from its natural histamine-blocking abilities. 
6. Vitamin C has the double benefit of cutting histamine levels and boosting the immune system.