When the weather heats up, it means that flora and fauna everywhere are going full-bloom. And, if you’re anything like me, that means allergies abound. When I have allergies and I’m all sniffly, I’m less likely to want to do anything, and it’s the best time of year to get out and enjoy! It’s very frustrating. If you don’t have a whole lot of money in your budget for allergy medicine, you can always use everyday household items to help stave off the sniffles. Of course, make sure you’ve changed out your air filters in your home to make certain you’re not breathing in harmful dust, as they are the common cause of symptoms when you’re not outside. After you change them, here are some easy ingredients you can use:
Lemon: Like other citrus fruits, lemon is packed full of Vitamin C to help boost your immune system, and it’s the perfect ingredient to add to a hot (or iced, when it’s hot outside) cup of tea to soothe a scratchy throat. During the hot months, it’s a great way to “trick” yourself into drinking more water and staying hydrated – and drinking lots of water also helps your symptoms.
Homemade Saline Solution: We’ve all heard about (or maybe even used) neti pots to help irrigate and clear your sinuses. With recent reports of death from infections caused by tap water, be careful about the kind of water you use when you make saline solution – distilled water is best. A teaspoon of salt in a pint of warm water with a pinch of baking soda that is either sniffed up the nose or poured through with a neti pot will help.
Peppermint tea and other peppermint products: Peppermint’s been used for a very long time to help relieve the sinus symptoms associated with allergies and colds. Drinking peppermint tea that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients in its essential oil will help clear your stuffy nose. Also, peppermint is great for soaking in the warm water of bubble baths (and makes you smell good too).
Steam: Steam is great for irritated sinuses, but if you’re concerned about wasting water, you may want to consider taking a warmer shower in the morning and making sure you close your shower or bathroom door to trap in the steam. Also, if your cooking requires you to boil some water, be careful about leaning over to breathe in the steam that it makes. (Of course, if your nose is drippy, you might not want that in your food!)
What are your home remedies for allergies? Like us on Facebook and tell us about them!
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