I absolutely love the weather right now. If you live in Southern Ontario you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s been in the mid-twenties and sunny for days, and I don’t think anybody can quite believe it. Most people are outside enjoying the weather except for the poor allergy sufferers.
My husband has seasonal allergies, and this year instead of defaulting to Benadryl or Claritin (can cause drowsiness, constipation, stomach upset, dry mouth/nose/eyes, etc.); I decided to make him my guinea pig and go the natural route. To my surprise the natural supplements work! (See how happy my allergy-symptom-free husband is in the picture above? It’s like a Claritin commercial!)
If you’re a seasonal allergy sufferer and want to avoid being on serious meds; give these natural remedies a try!
Quercetin
– A natural, plant-based anti-histamine
– Take 1-2 per day on an empty stomach
– Available at health food/supplement stores
Plant Sterols
– Seasonal allergies are actually an autoimmune disease, which means your immune system works too well, and identifies allergens such as pollen, ragweed, etc. as invaders. Your body than produces symptoms like mucous, sneezing, watery eyes to try and rid the body of the “invader”
– Plant sterols down-regulate your immune system or cause it to stop working overtime, which helps prevent the unpleasant allergy symptoms. It may take a few days to kick in, but don’t give up!
– Take 3 per day on an empty stomach
– Available at health food/supplement stores
Stinging Nettle
– It sounds kind of scary, but it’s similar to quercetin in that it’s a natural, plant-based anti-histamine
– Available at health food/supplement stores (ask health store employee which brand is best & how much to take/when)
Omega-3
– Omega-3 is an anti-inflammatory, which can help relieve inflammation caused by seasonal allergies
– Available at health food/supplement stores & pharmacies
– Make sure the side of the bottle says: “Pharmaceutical Grade and Molecularly Distilled” to ensure it’s a good quality product
Pro-biotics
– Pro-biotics are healthy bacteria, which is so important for proper digestion
– Improper digestion can cause a build-up of toxins, which can make allergy symptoms worse
– Available at health & supplement stores & pharmacies
Neti Pot or Nasal irrigation device
– It sounds & looks kind of crazy, but if your sinuses are stuffed you will love this thing. It’s basically a water & saline solution that you use to flush out your sinuses
– It won’t prevent symptoms from occurring, but It’s all-natural, and provides relief for stuffed up sinuses
– Available at your local pharmacy
Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Lauren – Excellent post! A quick question, do you take all of them or just one and experiment until you find the one that works for you?
Thanks….john
Thanks! John Jr. is just taking Quercetin & Plant Sterols together right now (morning, 11am & 6pm on empty stomach). You can add Nettle to the mix if your allergies are really severe. And you can also add pro-biotics (can take with other supplements), and omega-3 (take before bed separately from other pills). Hope that helps!
Hi Lauren – do any of these natural drugs interact with prescription drugs?
Hi Andrea,
Not that I know of, but you may want to double-check with the pharmacist or naturopath just to be safe.