Best Allergy Relief Tips for Year Round Allergies

I am sure I am not alone when I say that I suffer from allergies! Some studies show that over 50 million Americans suffer from them! I have tried all sorts of things over the years for allergy relief. I thought I would pass along my suggestions and ask if any of you have had luck with any other products or lifestyle changes. One thing I am certain of, however, is that our culture of cleanliness isn’t helping much with the rise in allergies in our society.

Suffer from Allergies? Try These Remedies for Allergy Relief!

I love being out in the garden so staying inside is not an option, despite my horrible allergy symptoms. Here in Georgia,  there is NO season that does not cause me issues. Fall allergies, spring allergies… I have them year round. Here are a few allergy remedies I have tried so far.

Allergy shots:

I got allergy tested a few years ago due to a 3-month long sinus infection that was NOT pleasant! Turns out I am allergic to everything! Of the 60 things they tested me for, I was allergic to 49 of them…everything from my dog, cockroaches, molds, grasses, trees, weeds, dust, and many others I can’t remember. I have been getting shots for 3 years and they have certainly gotten better but not gone away completely.

Antihistamines:

I have tried them all and had mixed success. I am not a big fan of daily consumption of medications so I now reserve them for the worst allergy days…especially those first few weeks of September which is when I get a sinus infection EVERY YEAR!

I keep thinking maybe if I take them I will NOT get the sinus infection but no luck so far. I get it whether I take them or not. I find Zyrtec to be better than Claritin but that is just my opinion. And YES, contrary to what the drug store people tell you, brand name IS better than generic, at least in my case!

Air Filter:

This helps keep the dust, dog hair, bird dust, etc that is in the house stay to a minimum. You want to look for a product with a HEPA filter. I keep mine in the family room since that is where we spend most of our time but I really want to buy another one for our bedroom.

I think I would wake up a lot less congested if I did that! Check out my post on cleaning tips for people with allergies for a few ways to handle indoor allergies.

Quercetin:

Not sure if any of you have heard of this supplement but the Wikipedia definition is

“a flavonol, plant-derived flavonoid, used as a nutritional supplement. Laboratory studies show it may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [1][2], and it is being investigated for a wide range of potential health benefits.”

Quercetin is a substance found naturally in many fruits and veggies that has natural anti-inflammatory properties and helps thin nasal secretions so things flow a little better. Take with vitamin C to improve uptake. (disclaimer: I am not a medical professional so check with your doctor before taking my advice!)

Nasal Steroids:

I have tried a wide range and ended up with headaches, bloody noses, and dry nasal passages. I am not a big fan of inhaling steroids so I have stopped using them but your experiences my vary!

Saline:

I find, even better than prescription nasal steroids is nasal irrigation with saline. I prefer Simply Saline because the container stays sterile and the mist is very fine. Morning and night I use this to wash out whatever has been inhaled throughout the day and help clear out congestion in the morning.

Neti Pots:

You can learn more about Neti Pots on Web MD but I didn’t have any luck with it. I have a deviated septum and no amount of irrigation would have the saline come out the other side. I am not a big fan but your results may be different.

Do you suffer from allergies? Have any allergy relief tips to share?