[ quick tips ]
BY KELLY MILNER HALLS
hay fever hacks
your guide to fighting allergy symptoms, naturally The ragweed allergies of August and September can feel unbearable. Over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants, and inhalers are often used to quiet symptoms, but side effects can be troublesome—everything from drowsiness to blurred vision to dry mouth to nausea and beyond. Fortunately, there are natural options available.
Time for tea A wide variety of herbal teas help ease seasonal allergy symptoms. ✔ Rooibos tea, a red tea from South Africa, has components that naturally block the release of histamines. ✔ Ginger tea works as a natural antihistamine to help reduce nasal inflammation. ✔ Peppermint tea is a natural decongestant that can slow the production of histamines and the symptoms that go with them. ✔ Green tea, an antioxidant, has a pigmentation that helps block the body’s reaction to pollen.
Rinse for relief Pollens cling to mucous membranes within nasal passages. Use of a neti pot can flush them away. Use distilled water or tap water boiled for 3 to 5 minutes and cooled to room temperature in your neti pot. Otherwise, you may add to your allergens rather than reducing them. Saline nasal sprays that contain xylitol are a convenient and effective option. A couple of quick squirts will wash your nose, rinsing out pollens and also interfering with how allergens adhere to tissues in the nose and sinus cavities. An added, significant bonus is that research shows xylitol can reduce the severity of viral infections and pneumonia and help prevent ear infections in children. ●
SELECTED SOURCES “Allergy facts and figures,” Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, www.AAFA.org • “Antiadhesive effects of xylitol on otopathogenic bacteria” by T. Kontiokari et al., Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy • “Do I need antihistamines for allergies?” www.WebMD.com, 1/24/22 • “How xylitol can help fight fall allergies,” www.Xylitol.com
Kelly Milner Halls has been a full-time freelance writer for the past 30 years. For more about her work, visit www.wondersofweird.com.
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