Home Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

An allergy is described as what happens when your body detects a foreign substance it does not like. I don’t recall a spring that I have not had to find home remedies for seasonal allergies. Even in Tennessee there were times throughout the year that my nose plugs up, and or starts dripping, eyes become watery and or itch and lungs burns or produces a wheezing sound. If you look at the above collage of pictures and you feel your throat getting tight or scratchy; or your eyes begin to water then chances are you suffer from seasonal allergies like I do.

Usually an individual can become plagued with an allergic attack from three different categories: food, contact, or inhalant allergies. Inhalant allergies are substances that are airborne and inhaled into the body that causes irritation. These five trouble makers are house dust, pet dander, mold, pollen, and pollutants.

The latest statistics shows that allergic rhinitis affects 60 million individuals in the U.S. alone, consisting of 12 million doctors visits that have a yearly treatment cost of $11.2 billion.

The above video depicts an individual that has all three categories of seasonal allergies. In such situations there may not be just one action that can be taken to illuminate the irritants that are triggering the allergic response. Prior to taking a look at home remedies for seasonal allergies there are steps that one can take to put space between you and the allergens that make you sneeze and feel lousy. If your allergies are not serve you can take over the counter drugs to provide temporary relief for symptoms.

However, in order to help find relief from seasonal allergies one must take care of the home environment first prior to treating the symptoms. This hub will concentrate only on the changes that can be made within the home to improve air quality and reduce allergens within the home. Home Remedies for Seasonal Allergy Symptoms will discuss over the counter drugs and other things one can do to make it through the allergy season.

Surveys reveal that at least 10 percent of everyone living in the U.S. are sensitive to ragweed and it is believe that this plant causes more hay fever than all other plants combined. Unfortunately, the ragweed pollen season has been found in recent studies to be increasing annually due to climate changes resulting from global warming. One study showed that allergy season has been extended by 16 days in Minneapolis and as much as four weeks in places like Winnipeg.

Air Quality in the home for an allergy sufferer becomes very important with the onset of seasonal allergies. One must look for ways to decrease the allergens that causes the body to react to the foreign substances it is allergic to:

• Buy a dehumidifier - Keeping your home dry will help put a stop to dust mite problems by attempting to reduce humidity below 45 percent. The drier the better to fight dust mites, however some people are sensitive to dry air; in which case one should try putting a small room humidifier close to his or her bed.
• Wipe down dusty and moldy areas - Personally, I like to use Clorox to kill mold, however if prefer a “green product” or some other exotic chemicals, feel free to use that product. The goal after all is to get rid of flying dust and the mold. Wipe down the surfaces in your bathrooms, kitchen, clean floors, vinyl, tile, woodwork, appliances, and any other place mold might be trying to hide.
• Clean your air condition unit – You are the air you breathe. If you are a seasonal allergy sufferer then you realize the importance of a good working A/C unit. Air-conditioning helps to keep humidity low, the allergy sufferer cool, and can assist in filtering air that flows through one’s home. Change your filters often and keep the area around your unit clear and clean of dust and pollen; this action will discourage the growth of mites and molds.
• Install an air cleaner - Research and invest in a good air filtering system. Do research and purchase one of the best industrial-quality models that bolt into the air intake or outlet of your central heating and cooling unit. Or if money is an issue buy a portable system that takes particles out of the air to help keep the air clean in your home to bring relief from pollens such as ragweed, molds, and pet dander.

Changes to make within the home that will assist in reduce the pollen, dust mites, mold and mildew, pet dander, and other allergens that become trapped within the home.

• Isolate your pets - Many people are allergic to pet dander (usually cat dander) and may not know it. Once this is discovered the simplest solution would be to give your pet away. However, I know that is NOT going to happen. So here’s an alternative solution to give a try – Seal you’re your bedroom and make it a safe haven for you and an absolutely forbidden terrain for Ms. Fluffy. If you are allergic to your pet it will only have to enter the room once to set off the dander allergy again.
• Cover and seal bedding in plastic - Dust mites love your mattress and pillows in order to discourage these little bugs try encasing bed items in plastic. An even better alternative is to purchase pillows and mattress covers that are allergenic-free and prevents the growth of dust mites. Luckily within the past few years such items are less expensive than they use to be.
• Wash mattress pads and synthetic pillows - If purchasing bedding that is anti-dust mite proof. You can buy synthetic pillows and wash them in hot water. However, pillows are not the only problem. Mites hatch in your mattress pads as well. So purchase items that can be ran through a hot-cycle wash weekly to get rid of these little critters.
• Get rid of carpets - Highly allergic individuals that are sensitive to indoor allergens (house dust, pet dander, or mold, and carpets) should throw the carpets out whenever possible. Tightly woven modern carpet holds on to allergens and steam cleaning is not hot enough to kill the mites.
• Purchase throw rugs - If you like the feelings of carpet beneath your feet then purchase throw rugs that can be washed in hot water and kept allergen-free with routine cleanings.

Eliminate more allergen by taking extra precautions whenever possible. With a little planning you can help reduce the pain and suffering that usually comes with severe allergies.

• Wear a face mask - When all else fails wear a mask. If you are going to be exposed to a material that you know you are allergic to; an easy solution can be to wear a mask. Simple chores like vacuuming can throw huge quantities of dust, pollen, and other foreign materials into your home. These allergens can linger and resettle into a room. When gardening outside one can wear a small mask that covers nose and mouth. The 3M Company makes an inexpensive version known professionally as a dust and mist respirator, which can prevent the allergen reaching your lungs.
• Run the A/C in your car - On days that walking outside makes you start sneezing and wheezing run the A/C in your car to prevent the circulation of all those dust and pollen clouds in and out of open windows on the car. In the springtime this may be a little more costly on gas, however you are doing this for your health and safety.
• Don’t forget you can hire help - Rather than run the risk of making yourself sick; if you're allergic to house dust or pet dander that hides in your carpet. Hire a teenager or professional cleaning service to clean carpet, wipe down blinds, and other household duties the might set off an allergic reaction.
• Create at least one room sanctuary - In today’s economy it might not be economical to do some of the above suggestions. However, one can start by making just room a sanctuary by making it allergen-free. Since at times allergens can make you sick enough to require a need to lie down and rest; I suggest you start making as many changes as possible to your bedroom and bed linen. One should whenever possible have this room air-conditioned in the summer; and be able to seal it from the rest of the house by keeping the door closed in order to enjoy it as a sanctuary.

I hope you found the information for Home Remedies for Seasonal Allergies helpful. I realize that you may have came here to read about drugs that will eliminate your symptoms and provide relief immediately. Unfortunately, as with other things in life there are not any instant magical solutions to seasonal allergies. However, if you attempt to make some of the changes suggested above to put some space between you and the allergy irritants that are bothering you; there should be a decrease in your allergic reactions. Please be sure to read my next hub that addresses seasonal allergy symptoms.

Disclaimer - This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Before engaging in any complementary medical technique, including the use of natural, herbal,or home remedies, you should do your own research, and then consult your present physician.