8 Healthy Ways to Calm Your Ragweed Allergies
Managing fall and ragweed allergies can be part of your life.
Ragweed allergies can be often confused for colds and flu, especially this year when we have an active Coronavirus (COVID-19) that has similar and often strange symptoms. Right now, allergies produced by ragweed are super common in my region on the east coast and northeast.
Allergies are no fun. Taking medicine every day is not a good idea but many allergy sufferers do. Some people live on medication like Flonase and other OTC (nonprescription) medicines like Claritin, which do work for certain people. But if that idea bothers you like it does me, keep reading…
Medicines every day are not healthy-good and your body develops immunity to medications. You may choose to live a healthier life, which is exactly what I do. (No judgment at all, but that’s just what we have to decide on and deal with here having earthly bodies.)
I have a natural and healthy daily regimen that I’ve discovered over the years that help lessen the annoying daily symptoms.
In the morning, one of the first things I do is:
1. Steam. Steam on the stove with peppermint oil, until I can take a warm steamy shower. Releasing a few drops of eucalyptus oil is good for morning showers to clear sinuses and help wake you up.
2. Neti pot. This is by far the best allergy invention yet! By cleaning out nasal passages with natural sea salt and (boiled or purified) water, you prevent sinus infections. Do this every week at a minimum, but I like twice a week during allergy season (or year-round).
It’s a very safe practice. Don’t be afraid of water in their nasal passages. Your nasal passage is not connected to your brain, it’s on a different track, so hopefully, that lessens any worry about complications
Since you’re using sea salt (natural edible cleaner) and purified clean water that is boiled, you should also feel safer.
I take 1/4 teaspoon of natural sea salt and add ½ cup of boiled water. If you’re a beginner, you may want to start with this and you can always add more salt based on the severity of your congestion. You can also buy saline packets.
You will get used to the feeling after multiple experiences.
Let the water cool to warm. I usually set the timer after boiling the water for 10 to 15 minutes. Then you take your neti pot and pour it into one nostril after another. Streams of water will come out the other nostril. And you can instantly feel better like I have felt when allergies were getting the best of my energy.
If you’re taking a shower, it’s practical to perform the neti pot regimen there. But over a sink is fine too. Just have a towel nearby, as water can still run from your nose after you are finished. I usually face down to the floor, into a towel afterward, for several seconds just to get rid of any excess water. Don’t skip this step or water may drip from your nose later on in the day.
I also don’t do the neti pot regimen if I’m going to a yoga class that day because Downward Dog likes to be downward nose dripping dog, if you know what I mean!
Cleaning neti pot: don’t use soap to clean the neti tools as you may not remove every trace. There’s probably still traces of salt sitting at the bottom of your vessel. Salt is a natural cleaner, so I just rinse with water thoroughly and use my clean finger to remove any lingering residue (as sponges can harbor bacteria).
The neti pot regimen can be a TOTAL life game changer especially if you are prone to sinus infections. You also rid of any uncomfortable face aches from allergy congestion.
3.Take Apple cider vinegar. I take an eyedropper in a vial and mix up a shaken up bottle of apple cider vinegar with “the mother” (milky substance). This is the good stuff that you should invest in.
If I feel winter chest congestion, I will boil apple cider vinegar and inhale it into my chest. This is a last resort as I don’t know about you, but I think the smell is terrible. But if this will prevent health issues I will go to this option. I use the cheap (not organic) ACV for boiling, otherwise, the good stuff is wasted.
Apple cider vinegar also helps heart burn feelings. It’s Mother Nature’s gift.
4.Drink green and peppermint tea. Yogi Green Tea Super Antioxidant with some local honey and lemon is preferred. This has caffeine so I drink early in the day and switch to decaf green later in the day if I want (I’m not a big green tea taste fan, but I love its healthy benefits).
Peppermint tea is good for headaches. Herbal teas are caffeine-free so they are good any time and at bedtime. They also calm stomach aches.
5.Air purifier. I crank this machine on at night, for when I’m sleeping. When you’re laying down, congestion can build up, so this helps keep allergens out.
I make sure to get the filter that has a HEPA filter for allergens, molds, and spores (much smaller particles to capture than a filter for dust only).
6.Humidifier. They are so much better now and quiet. You can find convenient small table ones everywhere these days. Adding moisture to the air helps soothe nasal passages. You can add aromatherapy drops like peppermint, but I don’t. I do this in tip # 1 (steaming).
7.Menthol vitamin drops. If you have sinus pressure, these help open passageways. I like Halls brand but any will do.
8.Local honey. If you find the right local honey from local beehives, this can help a little. I take a spoonful of this honey and consume it. I don’t dilute in tea.
I also find that it’s an amazing moisturizer and does wonders for inflammations like itchiness, and it’s anti-bacterial. You can start to look at the sticky goodness and your local bees in a different way. 🐝🍯
If you live with others, and you have special raw honey that works, you should keep it in a separate place like your medicine cabinet so it doesn’t consume by others when regular honey will do for them. I’m all about using the specific types for specific purposes!
You can find honey sometimes at weekly and local farmer’s markets.
Remember you’re looking for local honey from beehives in your immediate area (and I’d add within an hour’s drive).
And a bonus hayfever symptom hack for watery eyes or similar hayfever symptoms common with grassy pollens, is to add nettle leaf daily.
I brew a bag of nettle leaf tea and add a more flavorful tea along with it. So I double up on a cup of tea, so I can enjoy the tea. Since nettle leaf has a very mild grassy flavor, after I brew this tea, I open the damp bag and pour the wet loose tea leaves found inside onto my Chipotle-like bowl I plan for lunch. And that helps the watery eyes so I can see and focus again! Hopefully, it helps you too!… and allergies don’t spoil your season.
If you want to get restoring body balancing tips caused by daily situational triggers (…and maybe allergies too), take the 2-minute quiz.