We love the weather but hate the allergies that come with it. Spring in North Carolina means flowers blooming, grass getting greener, and days getting longer. But all of our favorite things about the spring in the Tar Heel state can’t come without our least favorite thing: yes, we’re talking about pollen.
So how can you enjoy the weather without toting tissues and allergy medication everywhere you go?
Here are five home remedies for allergy relief so you can get up and go, leaving the the nuisance of allergies behind.
DIY Allergy Relief: Home Cures for Allergy Symptoms
Neti Pots
What? A metal, glass, ceramic, or plastic pot filled with a saline solution of salt and warm water. You can make your own solution.
How? Fill the Neti pot with your saline solution. Tilt your head and stand over the sink. Pour the solution in one nostril until it flows out the other. Repeat on the opposite side.
Why? Rinsing your nasal cavities clears out allergens and loosens up mucus to relieve your sinus pressure and make nasal breathing less of a chore.
Eat Local (Honey)
What? Yep. Regularly ingesting the honey produced by bees in your region can help build your immunity and protect you from allergies to pollen in your area.
How? Try websites like Local Honey Source for North Carolina honey vendors or a local farmer’s market. Drink lots of tea with honey.
Why? Much like a flu shot, infecting yourself with a little bit of the irritant will help your immune system build up a tolerance over time. A simple equation: honey by bees protects from pollen by those same bees.
Eucalyptus Oil
What? Distilled oil from the leaves of a Eucalyptus tree with a strong, piney aroma.
How? Put a few drops of Eucalyptus oil in a steaming bowl of water. Sit with your head over the bowl. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale, exhale. Is it getting easier to breathe?
Why?
The aroma of the oil can make steam inhalation easier and open your nasal passages further, providing allergy relief. The vapor of the oil and steam can also provide a menthol-like effect to make breathing seem easier.
Spicy Foods
What? Turn up the heat and let sharp, sinus-clearing foods work their magic.
How? Order your meal extra spicy and say yes to wasabi, horseradish, and garlic as your new favorite condiments.
Why? The active ingredients in these tear-inducing foods have a decongestant effect in your nasal passages, though the allergy relief may be temporary.
Apple Cider Vinegar
What? Apple cider vinegar has the ability to reduce mucus production and cleanse the lymphatic system, making it a great home remedy to try to combat seasonal allergies.
Why? Mix a spoonful of apple cider vinegar with a cup of warm water and drink three times a day.
Allergies can be a pain, but you can find allergy relief in your own home with these five home remedies to combat seasonal allergy effects. Try these tricks and you’ll be breathing easier and enjoying the sunshine in no time.