Whether it’s seasonal allergies or food allergies, nobody wants to be plagued by them. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer from annoying allergy symptoms. There are fast, effective and even natural remedies that can offer relief, and you can find them right at home. Here are five simple home remedies for stopping your allergies in their tracks.

Nasal Irrigation

Effective, safe and inexpensive, nasal irrigation involves the creation of a saline solution, combining 1 teaspoon (5 mL) of salt, a half teaspoon (2.5 mL) of baking soda and 1 pint (473 mL) of warm water. A bulb syringe, squeeze bottle, or neti pot can be used to spray or pour the solution into one nostril and flows through the nasal cavity and into the other nostril. This gets rid of mucus and opens sinus passages, improving nasal symptoms, such as stuffiness and runny nose. According to a review of several studies published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, which evaluated the effectiveness of nasal irrigation in improving allergy symptoms, it was concluded that symptoms including nasal obstruction, sneezing, itching, and secretion were improved, along with improvement in quality of life, and the consumption of pharmaceuticals was able to be lowered.

Honey

A sweet home remedy for managing your allergies is raw honey. Honey is believed to be effective because of the bee pollen it contains, known for its anti-allergy and immune system boosting properties. In a 2013 study that examined the role of honey in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (hay fever), researchers concluded that honey ingestion, in high dose, significantly improved the overall and individual symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Three teaspoons per day is recommended to alleviate allergy symptoms.

Urtica Dioica aka Stinging Nettle

Maybe one of the plants grown in your garden is the stinging nettle. If so, you are in luck. Despite leaves with stinging, prickly hairs, the stinging nettle has been proven in research to be effective in relieving sneezing and itching, because of its ability to reduce the level of histamine in the body. Stinging nettle can be administered in the form of tea, soup, capsule or infusion. Drinking two cup stinging nettle tea leaves ahead of the allergy season can help to build up your immunity against allergies. Prepare this by steeping dried stinging nettle tea leaves in water for roughly 10 minutes and sweeten, if you prefer.

Vitamin C Rich Foods

Vitamin C is an immune-boosting antioxidant and a natural antihistamine. It is effective at improving allergy symptoms because it reduces the histamine in the blood. You may already have foods in your diet that are rich in vitamin C and research has shown that as much as 500mg of vitamin c in the form of food can help to combat allergy issues. Vitamin C rich foods include fruits-mango, strawberries, papayas, and citrus fruits; vegetables-bell peppers, kale, parsley, green peppers, cauliflower, spinach, turnips, asparagus, and lettuce.

Quercetin

Maybe you’ve never heard of it, but quercetin is present in some familiar foods-onions, apples, berry crops, grapes, herbs, red wine, and teas. This plant pigment is part of the flavonoids family, and has certain antioxidant and anti-allergic properties, which is characterized by the stimulation of immune system and the inhibition of histamine release, according to a 2016 study, published in the Molecules. A recommended 400 mg of quercetin, twice a day is sufficient to control allergies.

At home, you may find some of the best remedies for your allergies. Nasal Irrigation, honey, vitamin c, quercetin, and the stinging nettle offer anti-allergic benefits that can kick allergy symptoms to the curb. Check your kitchen cabinet, you may not need to go the pharmacy at all.

If your allergy symptoms persist or escalate, it is recommended that you take a more serious approach. AFC Urgent Care Stamford is open 7 days a week during extended hours to treat your allergies. Visit our center or give us a call at 203-969-2000.