When winter gives way to spring and flowers begin to bloom, most people are happy and excited to welcome in a new season. For pollen allergy sufferers, however, the onset of the busy season can signal the start of a season filled with discomfort and unpleasant symptoms. Most seasonal allergies are treated with medications whether they be prescription or over the counter. But, these types of products often come with side effects that can be unpleasant, such as drowsiness or dry mouth.
To avert these side effects, many people turn to natural remedies for allergies. But, all natural options are not created equal. Some are less effective than others, while others are impractical or unproven. We’ve put together a list of the five worst choices for natural remedies for allergies, so that those seeking a non-medicinal way to bring about relief from pollen problems can understand that not all choices they have available are effective and there are better tested solutions out there.
5 Worst Natural Pollen Allergy Remedy Choices:
1. Wasabi: Anyone with a blocked up nose knows that wasabi is one natural way to provide rapid relief. The Far East staple contains a constituent that can help stimulate mucus flow which can provide congestion relief, a trait that’s very useful for allergy sufferers. However wasabi isn’t a practical remedy during a busy allergy season and is best left as a very occasional edible choice amongst natural remedies for allergies.
2. Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a medical therapy that is most commonly used for pain and stress relief; however acupuncture for allergies is becoming more and more commonplace. But, studies are still very preliminary, and while some participating subjects were able to use less of their antihistamine medications following acupuncture therapy, there are doubts about the ability of the method to provide symptom relief and whether or not its effective against all types of allergies.
3. Turmeric: Turmeric is one of the most popular and effective herbal remedies in existence and in terms of providing relief for inflammation and a host of other ailments, turmeric is a star performer. However, as far as natural remedies for allergies go, turmeric is less effective than many other herby options and including it in foods and dishes may not provide prompt or effective relief. With many more potent and powerful herbal remedies for allergies available, turmeric is best left as a spicy sit-in in curries to promote better overall health, rather than a single option for pollen allergy relief.
4. Peppermint Tea: There is no doubt that a piping hot cup of peppermint tea can provide soothing relief to sufferers of congestion and discomfort associated with seasonal allergies symptoms. However, the effects provided by peppermint tea are often short lived and quickly reappear when the tea is gone.
5. Omega 3s: Healthy diet and exercise may be one of the best ways to keep allergies at bay, but while a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids may lead to fewer symptoms in those prone to pollen caused problems, they provide little in the way of relief when symptoms have already appeared. Omega 3 fatty acids are best left as healthy dietary inclusions to prevent the worsening of allergy symptoms rather than serving alone as natural remedies for allergies.
Find out what are the 5 best natural seasonal allergy remedies in this article!