Spring allergies affect millions of people around the world. Dealing with them can be very difficult, because it’s extremely hard to get away from the irritants. Most of the things that irritate people and bring about their allergies are the pollen from the plants flying around in the air. Even if you lock yourself in the house, the microscopic plants can still get inside and end up irritating you.
People with spring allergies often find it difficult to sleep as they have difficulty breathing. During the day, they may have runny noses, sneeze a lot and even end up with sore throats and nasty coughs. Because of the lack of sleep, they may be fatigued and tired and their immune systems could become compromised, allowing viruses and the flu to take hold.
All in all, spring allergies are a very difficult thing to deal with for most people who are suffering from them, but there are several steps and remedies you can take to make things a lot easier for you.
Medical ways to treat spring allergies
There are a number of ways that spring allergies can be treated, either with a prescription or with over the counter medicines.
You can use an antihistamine to cut back on your sneezing, itching and sniffling. The way this works is to reduce the levels of histamine in your body. Histamines are created when your body is suffering an allergic reaction. There are also nasal sprays available with cromolyn sodium that can be used to stop histamine causing spring allergies.
Decongestants can be used, as the name suggests, to unblock your nose or sinuses from mucus. These drugs will also reduce any swelling in your sinuses. You can use this in a pill or tablet form, but fast acting nasal sprays are also available.
Both of the above drugs are also available in eye drop form as well. This is especially useful if you are suffering from itchy or watery eyes.
If these over the counter methods are not working at all, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids which can reduce inflammation. You may also consider taking allergy shots, which are a bit like immunizing yourself against allergies.
Natural herbal ways to treat spring allergies
Many spring allergies have been with humans for thousands of years and it’s no surprise that we also have herbal remedies for a lot of the allergies caused by pollen in the spring.
The most popular herbal method of combating spring allergies is by using the stinging nettle in all its forms. Both the roots and leaves of this ancient plant have been brewed into tea that can be drunk, or more effectively, used as an inhalant to decongest your sinuses and nasal passages. Another very effective herb with its antihistamine properties is the butterbur. This can also be used as a tea. The natural flavor found in onions, black tea and apples (quercetin) is also effective as an antihistamine.
Make sure that you talk to your doctor about spring allergies and work out the best method for you to combat them.
Summary: There are both medical and natural ways to combat the effects of spring allergies. Read on to find out more.
