[ healthy strategies ]
BY KELLY MILNER HALLS
spring
allergy plan Sneezing, itching, and congestion got you down? You might have seasonal allergies. Histamines carried by seasonal pollens and grasses are the most common culprits. They cause nasal tissue to swell, making it hard to breathe. The same airborne allergens can cause your nose and eyes to run, your mouth to itch, and your skin to break out with hives or rashes. Fortunately, there are several natural options to ease common allergy symptoms.
The power of water
Tea to the rescue
Pollens cling to mucous membranes within our nasal passages, so use of a neti pot can flush away allergens and provide relief. Be sure to use distilled water or tap water boiled for 3 to 5 minutes and cooled to room temperature in your neti pot.
Breathe in relief
Type of tea
How it helps
Some scents may help reduce allergy symptoms. Peppermint essential oil can help clear sinuses, loosen and discharge mucus, and reduce coughing. Use several drops of peppermint essential oil in an aromatherapy diffuser. Other scents that may help include sandalwood and frankincense. ●
Rooibos tea
Rooibos has components that naturally block the release of histamines. Rooibos is even thought to help allergy-sensitive systems to metabolize the irritants.
SELECTED SOURCES “8 teas and herbal teas to survive the allergy season,” www.FourOclock.ca • “9 most effective natural remedies to treat seasonal allergies” by Adele Jackson-Gibson, www.GoodHousekeeping.com, 3/24/20 • “Allergies,” Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, www.AAFA. org • “Relieve allergy symptoms without drugs,” www.WebMD.com, 2021
Ginger tea
Ginger tea is a natural antihistamine that helps reduce nasal inflammation.
A wide variety of herbal teas can ease seasonal allergy symptoms. Here are a few to try:
Peppermint tea is a natural decongestant that can slow the Peppermint tea production of histamines and the symptoms that go with them.
Green tea
28
Green tea is rich in antioxidants and helps block the body’s reaction to allergens like pollen, dust, and animal dander.
Steam away symptoms If you don’t have a neti pot, you can try breathing in some steam. Turn your faucet on full heat, let the steam gather, lean toward the sink, and use a towel to create a tent over your head. Breathe deeply for three to five minutes, and your symptoms should gently reduce. If standing bent over a sink is uncomfortable, take a hot shower in a closed bathroom as an alternative method.
APRIL 2022
SM_0422_324_28_29.indd 28
2/18/22 11:57 AM
