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For those who live in cold climates, spring provides a welcome respite from the cold and gloominess of winter. It is a time of rebirth, when the melody of birds and the scents and colors of plants and flowers delight the senses. The sun resumes providing warmth, a harbinger of summer and for many of us spring remains the favorite season of the year.

Not everyone however, looks forward to spring. Those who suffer from allergies watch the approach of spring with great trepidation, knowing fully well that the joys of spring come at a cost that is at times too much to bear. The proliferation of plants and flowers fills the air with pollen, one of the main causes of springtime allergies. It can cause the sinuses to block and the eyes to tear. Symptoms of spring allergies include:

• Runny nose
• Eyes watering
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Insomnia
• Breathing difficulties such as wheezing and shortness of breath
• Asthma attacks

The reasons for these allergies lie in the body’s immune system. When you inhale pollen, the body’s immune system releases histamines to fight them off, as it considers the pollen as toxin. This is why anti-histamines are the preferred medications prescribed by doctors to treat spring allergies, also known as allergic rhinitis. However, anti-histamines can have some serious side effects such as inducing drowsiness. This makes it unsuitable for students and working people as well as those who have to indulge in activities that require hand-eye-leg coordination such as driving.

If you prefer to avoid taking anti-histamines, then there are certain home remedies you can avail of that may help to protect you against spring allergies or reduce the severity of symptoms to a degree that enables you to function effectively.

Let us first consider ways to prevent or minimize the risk of springtime allergies. Steps you can take to accomplish this include:

• Minimize the time you spend outdoors.
• Keep your door and widows shut so as to prevent pollen from entering your home. Turning on the air-conditioner can help keep the house cool and filter out the pollen.
• Use a HEPA air filter in your room.
• If you have a garden, do not grow any plants that will aggravate your allergies. Keep your garden trimmed and the lawn mowed.
• Keep the house clean by frequent vacuuming and dusting.
• Remove all carpets as they become a repository of pollen, dust and other allergens.
• Dry your clothes inside the house not outside. Wet clothes can pick up pollen and other allergens and trigger off an allergic reaction when worn.
• When going outdoors, use a scarf to cover your nose and mouth. It will act as a protective barrier and filter out the pollen and dust particles.
• Changing your diet may help reduce allergic reactions. Increasing your intake of anti-oxidants such as vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids, either through natural food sources or through supplements, may help to reduce the frequency and the severity of allergic reactions.

• Hot Compress: A hot compress over your nose, eyes or other affected areas will help reduce inflammation and soothe sore eyes.
• Steam Inhalation: This method is very helpful in relieving blocked sinuses. Keep your head placed over a pot of steaming water and cover your head and the pot with a towel. Inhale deeply for as long as you can. It will help to thin the mucus secretions and clear your nasal passages and sinuses. Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the boiling water will increase the effectiveness of this home remedy.
• Herbal teas such as chamomile tea may help relieve some of the symptoms.
• A hot steaming shower will help clear out your sinuses and nasal passages much the same way as steam inhalation would.
  

1. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/allergic-rhinitis-000003.htm

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.