It’s that time of year again. The weather is warming up with the arrival of spring, and increased pollen in the air is an inevitable side effect of this season. I’ve recently moved into a new city and currently my allergies are not happy with it. Granted, allergies aren’t just a sign of what’s going on externally.
Allergies, also known as hay fever, are indicative of a malfunction with your body’s immune response.
Now, I’ve suffered with allergies my whole life, and I’ve learned some tips along the way. No one should have to moan and groan over seasonal allergies, especially since there are so many holistic remedies and natural ways of relieving them. I love spring, and I love applying these hacks and remedies to stay sniffle-free all season long.
Tips For Relieving Seasonal Allergies
Don’t bring shoes into the house.
I can’t stress this one enough, although it’s easier for me since I was raised this way. My mom suffers from severe asthma, which meant my whole family wasn’t allowed to walk into the house with shoes on. Little did I know, pollen is actually tracked inside homes via the bottoms of our shoes. And not just pollen: but dander, dirt, bacteria, chemicals, pollutants, and feces. Gross! So please do yourself a favor and leave your shoes at the door. Or at the very least, tucked away inside the closet closest to your front door.
Clean regularly with non-toxic products.
Banishing shoes inside your home will certainly help you with cleaning. However, since pollen and dirt can easily make its way into every part of your home, make it a priority to step up your spring cleaning game this year and clean your space regularly. To add to this, make sure your products are non-toxic and all-natural. You don’t want to mask what you’ve cleaned by layering toxins on top! My go to solution is equal parts white vinegar with distilled water plus several drops of essential oils, like eucalyptus or tea tree. Both are antifungal and antibacterial, and have the added aromatherapy benefits of helping to alleviate congestion.
Use a neti pot.
I still don’t understand why people are so afraid of using these miraculous devices. I’ve been using my neti pot for years and it’s made a big impact. Although the feeling can be weird and slightly akin to sniffing water up your nose, the relief is worthwhile. Neti pots can be found online or at drugstores and need to be used with a special premixed sodium chloride packet and distilled or filtered water. I like to use the neti pot right before my shower because of the nasal drainage that follows. Plus, the added benefits of the steam from a hot shower will help open up your nasal passages and sinuses even more.
Drink more teas.
I’m a huge fan of teas, so whenever I have an excuse to drink teas I’m happy as can be. Drinking teas are great at relieving the pain from sore throats that are usually caused by post nasal drip. Even more so, staying hydrated during allergy season also helps to thin mucus. Ginger, green tea (especially matcha) and nettle leaf tea have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antihistamine properties, respectively.
Eliminate foods that produce mucus.
Dairy products will only exacerbate your allergies because they promote inflammation and increase phlegm. So if you haven’t already, try to avoid all dairy products. Also, limit the amount of processed foods and cold foods you consume. These will also worsen congestion. Instead, stick to antioxidant rich plant based foods like citrus fruits, broccoli, berries, onions, and probiotics (kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha).
If all else fails, turn to the metaphysical component behind hay fever.
According to Louise Hay, the author of several books on metaphysics and healing, she states that every physical illness has an emotional and metaphysical meaning behind it. In her book Heal Your Body, she says that hay fever is linked to “emotional congestion, fear of the calendar, guilt, and a belief in persecution.” Hay recommends that a person dealing with any type of ailment or illness develop new thought patterns and say certain affirmations. These affirmations overtime will change one’s old, limiting beliefs. The new thought pattern for hay fever is “I am one with ALL OF LIFE. I am safe at all times.” Try saying that affirmation out loud for the next week and see how you feel.
All in all, allergies can be totally manageable. If you still suffer from hay fever, see what resonates from this list and allow yourself to experiment with holistic remedies to discover something that works for you. This season may be full of pollen, but it is also full of potential. Ultimately, let spring reinvigorate and re-inspire you to love the natural world, and your natural, allergy-free self.
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Photo: Andrey Zvyagintsev via Unsplash
