3 Holistic Options To Reduce The Nasal Symptoms Of Seasonal Allergies

From sniffling and sneezing to nasal irritation from a constant runny nose, seasonal allergies can cause stress and discomfort. You may use numerous packages of tissues to blow your nose and wipe away snot while also taking allergy medications throughout the day, but you can reduce the nasal symptoms using holistic measures. If you are part of the 50 million Americans who currently suffer with allergies each year, consider these holistic options to reduce your nasal symptoms.

Diet

The constant sniffling, sneezing, and runny nose associated with your allergies can weaken your immune system, so focus on your diet to improve your health. Eating foods loaded with important vitamins, minerals, and proteins is key. In addition, increase your intake of probiotics to strengthen your immune system and reduce your nasal allergy symptoms.

Probiotics are healthy bacteria, which benefit your immune and digestive systems. Increasing the amount of probiotics you consume through food or dietary supplements can help you fight your allergy symptoms.

Here are a few probiotic-rich foods to include in your diet:

• Yogurt
• Sauerkraut
• Pickles
• Dark Chocolate
• Kombucha Tea

If the above foods are not appealing additions to your diet, consider taking a daily probiotic supplement to improve your immune system and reduce your nasal allergy symptoms.

Nasal Irrigation and Sprays

Visit your local drug store or discount retailer and you will find a large selection of nose rinses and nasal sprays. These products are effective for rinsing allergens out of your nasal airway through an irrigation pot or a spray. You can also make your own nasal spray if you are wary of the chemicals they may have in them. To create your own saline solution for your nasal allergies, use the following steps:

1. Pour 1 quart of distilled water in a pot and place on your stove.
2. Bring the water to a rapid boil.
3. When boiling, stir 1 teaspoon of sea salt to the water.
4. Remove the pot of water from the stove and allow to cool until it is slightly above room temperature

To use the saline solution, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the saline solution to an irrigation pot. Standing over a sink, pour the irrigation pot into the top part of your nostril. Be sure to breathe through your mouth while the saline drains out of the lower part of your nostril. Repeat the irrigation process on your other nostril if it is running or congested.

Squirting a small amount of nasal spray into your nostrils can break up congestion and remove allergens from your nose, as well. Place the tip of the nasal spray into one nostril and squeeze the bottle 1 to 2 times while breathing in the nasal solution. Repeat on the other nostril. Use multiple times per day when you are suffering with the nasal allergy symptoms.

Filter

If you suffer with chronic allergies, you should also focus on improving your home's indoor air quality. Your heating and cooling system's filters trap dirt, dust, and other debris before it can enter into your home. Over time, these filters can become clogged up with debris, which will allow particles to flow into your home. This decreases the quality of your air and increases your allergy symptoms.

Every 2 months, replace the heating and cooling system's filters. Be sure to choose HVAC filters with a higher MERV rating. MERVs, or minimum efficiency recording value, range from 1 to 20, with 20 being the highest level of filtration. Of course, the highest MERV rating may not be suited to your HVAC system, so opting for a medium MERV rating is sufficient for reducing allergens in the home.

The sniffling, sneezing, and snotty nose associated with allergies can cause stress and discomfort, but you can reduce these symptoms in a safe, effective manner. Using these tips, you can reduce nasal allergy symptoms in a holistic manner. For more information or to read more, talk with a doctor about other allergy treatment options.