Scratchy throat, stuffed sinuses, and watery eyes. If that sounds familiar, you may have been tempted to try a DIY treatment for those seasonal allergy symptoms. There are some familiar and some offbeat ideas out there, but not all work well.

Some 50 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. What ’ s more, this year ’ s severe winter weather patterns (with a dose of climate change, in general) have made allergy conditions in many areas worse than usual. Pollen counts in the Chicago area for example have been reported to be the highest in 20 years. Fortunately, when it comes to treating seasonal allergies on your own, you ’ ve got options. We looked into the latest in DIY allergy cures, and checked with an expert to see which might be worth a try, and which to skip.

So skip the ibuprofen and consider picking up a surfboard. Your sinuses may thank you.

Sinus Rinse. Verdict: It works

“If someone can breathe through at least one nostril, flushing with a mixture of salt, baking soda and warm water can remove pollens and irritants, so they don’t cause further inflammatory reactions,” says Paul Dahlberg, M.D., an allergy specialist with Alina Health in St. Paul, Minnesota. “It’s best to use a squeeze bottle. It’s easier to use than a neti pot, because the latter can cause fluids to run down the throat.”Dahlberg suggests mixing three tsp’s of iodide-free salt and one tsp of baking soda with 8 oz of warm distilled or boiled water, and then squeezing the fluid into one nostril and allowing it to flow out through the other. “Start with the more stuffed nostril, and breathe out as you’re flushing,” Dahlberg says. Skip this trick if you’re stuffed in both nostrils, to avoid a pressure buildup, and make sure the water isn’t cold, to avoid an ‘ice-cream headache.

Spices

Certain food items like turmeric have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on nasal tissues. “It’s an anti-oxidant, though it’s not known how effective,” Dahlberg says.

Tea

Some of Dahlberg’s patients have found symptom relief with the following tea mixture: 1/4 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp of honey—ideally raw local honey. Steep in hot water and sip.

Local Honey. Verdict: It might work

While there haven’t been any notable scientific studies on this allergy cure, some people swear by a spoonful of local honey “It might work, but only for people with pollen allergies,” Dahlberg says. “The theory is that honey contains trace amounts of inhaled allergens from grasses and trees, and when you eat something, the body tries to turn off the immune response. So when you eat something in tiny concentrations, the body could become more tolerant of it.”There are some problems with this sweet solution, however. “It’s extremely dose specific,” Dahlberg says. “The problem with treating allergies is if you use too much of something, you can cause a reaction, even one that’s potentially severe, whereas too little of dose does nothing. The honey must also be local to the sufferer’s source of allergies, and raw, so nothing is processed. It’s all about determining the right amount on an individual basis.”

Ibuprofen and Naproxen Sodium (anti-inflammatories) Verdict: It doesn’t work

Author: Marsha Mellow

Hello dear friends. Welcome to Natural Medicine Box. My name is Melody and I love love, love natural medicine. This is my passion and joy of living. I hope you enjoy your visit today and please visit often. Thank you! View all posts by Marsha Mellow