A person can react to harmless substances such as mold, animal dander, dust, pollen and certain types of foods. This results in common symptoms such as watery and itchy eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing, sinus congestion and pressure, skin itch and headaches.
Although there are effective prescription medications to control these allergic symptoms, they do not get to the underlying causes. This is why control of the environment is essential.
Let’s first look at how a person suffering from allergies can make changes to the home environment and then review some natural remedies that work.
Environmental Control
If you suffer from allergies, keeping the home, especially the bedroom clean is very important. Why the bedroom? You sleep in it with the door closed for upwards of eight hours. You will breathing in the air in that room so it had better be somewhat clean.
A HEPA filter air cleaner placed in the bedroom will keep the air free of allergens (any substance that causes an allergic reaction). Having it running at full speed during the day (because it is noisy) and at the low setting at night. This will keep the air very clean and free from any particles in the air that can trigger allergy symptoms.
If the bedroom has carpets, they will be dust magnets. No amount of vacuuming will get rid of all the dust, dirt, dander and dust mites present in the carpets. Nevertheless, you should vacuum well weekly using either a central vacuum cleaner unit or a HEPA filter fitted vacuum cleaner. HEPA is a type of filter that traps 99.97% of all the particles larger than 0.2 micron.
If course, replacing the carpet with hardwood or laminate wood is ideal but may not be practical or cost-effective for many.
Washing the pillow cases and bed sheets in hot water weekly will kill off dust mites and get rid of dust. If possible, put the pillows and bed sheets in allergy covers.
What about natural supplements that can help?
There are many supplements and natural remedies that can be very helpful in reducing the inflammation that is associated with allergies. Fish oil is a very helpful supplement to reduce the immune system’s response to allergic substances.
Although vitamin C is best known for its use to reduce cold and flu symptoms, it also has antihistamine effects that can be helpful. Histamines are released in response to an allergic substance resulting in common allergy symptoms.
A commonly used herb to treat allergies is stinging nettle. It seems to have the ability to cut down on allergies symptoms according to some studies.
Some experts have also suggested that keeping the gut healthy by taking probiotics can go a long way towards controlling allergies.
As well, if you are considering using homeopathic remedies, there are several ingredients that might prove to be very helpful. Sambucus, Euphrasia and Allium cepa are commonly found in combination homeopathic remedies to reduce allergy symptoms.
Visit the website link below for complete details including the recommended dosage of the supplements discussed. Find out today how to manage allergies naturally without the need to use prescription medications.
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