While we wait for warm weather, for hay fever sufferers, summer can be unbearable. If you don’t want the dose of sleepy medicine to beat hay fever, natural remedies may help you achieve a calm life even when pollen counts are at their highest.
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Natural treatment for hay fever.
Learn how to treat hay fever naturally with these simple home remedies, you probably have most of them around your house.
Honey.
Honey is said to cure hay fever because the bee pollen in honey can desensitize the body to other pollens. Increasing the consumption of honey in your daily diet should reduce hay fever symptoms significantly. Make sure to use pure honey to see the best results.
When to take it: Every day before hay fever starts its season.
Vitamin C.
The vitamin C is a natural antihistamine known and can be found in oranges, lemons and grapefruit. Bioflavonoids are also present, which have powerful anti-allergic effects. The combination of vitamin C and bioflavonoids provides a natural decongestant and an antihistamine for hay fever sufferers and helps to effectively relieve symptoms. Oranges are a good dose of vitamin C or you can take a supplement.
Chili Peppers.
Red bell peppers and chilies contain an active ingredient called capsaicin. This component present in hot peppers opens the nostrils and helps reduce congestion caused by hay fever, and significantly alleviates symptoms.
When to take: Add them to your daily diet, in salads or cooked with dinner.
Carotenoids.
They are a natural pigment in plants. Carotenoids act as powerful antioxidants to help reduce airway inflammation and boost your immune system. A good source of carotenoids can be found in foods like carrots, apricots, squash, sweet potatoes, and spinach.
When to take: one to two servings of foods rich in carotenoids a day is recommended.
Chamomile tea.
An antioxidant and an antihistamine are chamomile tea which also contains flavonoids and acts effectively as an anti-inflammatory agent. While taken as a cup of tea during the day, chamomile tea can be used as an eye compress. The compress provides a cooling effect to puffy eyes, and red eyes caused by hay fever and reduces irritability considerably.
When to drink: a cup of tea daily or as an eye compress. Make sure to use a fresh compress for each eye to avoid infection or contagion.
Using a compress:
- Dip an instant chamomile tea bag in the water. Leave it there for at least 3 minutes.
- Flush the water and gently squeeze the excess water out of the tea bag.
- Refrigerate the chamomile tea bag for 15 to 30 minutes and remove from the refrigerator once cold.
- Keep the tea bag cool against the swollen eye for up to 5 minutes at a time.
- Allow the inflamed eye to rest for an hour before trying a new compress again.
Garlic.
Increasing your intake of garlic can help boost your immune system, while also acting as a decongestant and helping to relieve minor symptoms of hay fever. It is also an anti-inflammatory and a good source of quercetin, a natural antihistamine.
When to consume: With meals, a month or two before hay fever season. Garlic is most effective when eaten raw or crushed.