9 Tips for Dealing with Allergies

Keep Your Home Allergy-Free

A good first step when battling allergy symptoms is to make sure you're living and working in a non-allergenic environment. There are many things that can aggravate your respiratory system, including cigarette smoke, dust, animal dander, grass cuttings, and smog. Also check your home for mold—it can be under the sink, in the basement, in the bathroom, in the basement, or any other damp, dark, place in your house, like behind furniture that isn't moved very often. Disinfecting walls and furniture with Lysol is enough to kill minor mold infestations; putting a dehumidifier in the basement may also help.

Diminish Dog Dander

Allergic to your friend Fido? Try bathing your dog with baby shampoo once a week. It will help reduce the dander that causes your symptoms. Basic grooming like brushing can also cut down on shedding. If you’re the allergic one, however, ask a loved one to do this task!

Pummel Pollen

If you have a pollen allergy, try to keep sneeze-inducing allergens out of your home. Take a shower immediately after doing any yard work to get rid of pollens you may have carried in on your hair and skin, and throw your clothes in the laundry basket. Animals can carry in pollen, too. After taking your dog for a walk or letting your cat out, wipe him or her down with a wet rag or baby wipe. Showering at night can also reduce pollen on your hair and skin and help you sleep better.

Mind the Mold Spores

If you’re prone to nasal allergies, be sure your houseplants aren’t contributing to the problem. Many potted plants give off mold spores, thanks to damp soil, but you can reduce this risk by choosing varieties that don’t need a lot of water like cacti, jade plants, and dragon tree.

Get Your Ducts in a Row

If you find yourself getting headaches or sinus trouble more often than you used to, it might be that your home’s ducts simply need a good cleaning. Whenever air conditioning or heating is on, tiny particles that have accumulated inside the ducts blow out, too, including mold, mouse droppings, and plain old dust. If you have severe allergies, a professional duct cleaning may be just what the doctor ordered.

Thyme to Treat Allergies

Look no further than your spice rack to help treat allergy symptoms. Place a tablespoon of dried thyme leaves in a bowl (or two tablespoons fresh leaves), and pour two cups or so of boiling water. Allow to cool slightly and then hold your head over the bowl and breathe in the scented vapors. The thyme helps reduce bronchial inflammation so you’ll be breathing easier.

Herbs

Tired of spending money on allergy medication, especially that with unpleasant side effects? Several vitamins and herbal supplements have shown to alleviate allergies, including nettles, butterbur, goldenseal root, quercetin, Vitamin C, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). (If you are allergic to ragweed, however, you should avoid goldenseal root, since they are from the same family.) Ask your doctor if any of these vitamins or supplements can help you with your allergy problem.

Neti Pot

You may be intimidated by the idea of a Neti pot, but it’s been utilized for centuries. Practitioners of an ancient Indian medicine called Ayurveda recommended it to ease congestion due to illness or allergies. The premise is simple: Pouring water through your nose will flush out all the allergens that are living there, and give you relief. You can find a neti pot at a health-food store or drug store.

Baby Shampoo

If your eyes are itchy, try this quick fix to cut down on your misery: Rub a small amount of baby shampoo on your eyelids. It should reduce your symptoms dramatically.

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