Stay well
Caren

Yeah, this fall has been particularly bad for me too. Yuck. I hope these tips help you feel better!

Great article, and timely for me! Here I am, slogging through another damp WA State fall, sneezing away….I grew up on a farm but somehow stumbled into allergies (during the fall yet) as an adult. I’ve tried stinging nettle and ginger, and both work. Ginger works because it’s an anti-inflammatory (soothes swollen nasal passages) and bromelain (made from pineapple) works well too for the same reason. I’ve tried an herb called eyebright with some success also. It works really well if you have pinkeye and also seems to calm my watery, itchy eyes. I’ve had no ill effects from taking these together, by the way.

I’ve been told that butterbur is awesome by a former college instructor who is a naturopath. He says try to find some that’s standardized to contain 8 mg of petasin per tablet, and take 2-3 times a day for two weeks. Like you, I’m going to hunt some down and try it. Taking allergy meds (Benadryl or Loratidine) makes me feel weird, tired and fuzzy.

One more thing, if you do yard work or housework and stir up dust or are exposed to allergens, shower afterward. Also, protective covers on your pillow and mattress can help with dust mites which are known to cause all kinds of allergy problems. Guess that was two things, but I wanted to share with you what’s helped me. Good luck to you!

It’s much easier to just stuff a Matzoh Ball in there. Like a German dumpling, if you make ‘em sticky enough, you don’t even need duct tape!

But don’t stuff Lavendar in there… She gets real testy… Oy.

When it’s time to change the “dressing” your Mom just smacks you on the back of the head, and the “Matzoh Ball band-aid” pops right out!

At least, that’s how it works, in MY house…

Ronin

@Ashley, that tip on the honey is priceless. I’m having another “sick” day-blerg-and am going to start eating some local honey everyday to see if that will help get my body acclimated. I’ve lived here in MI for years but, every fall, my allergies start up again.

@Evelyn- Thanks so much for reading! I love ginger tea too and really believe that it helps slightly relieve my allergies. I can definitely tell a difference when I have an upset stomach too.

@Ronin- Chicken soup will definitely cure a gunshot wound. All you have to do is pour the soup directly into the wound and seal with duct tape. It’s an old Cajun remedy.

@Katie- Your cycle sounds just like mine! Benadryl makes me feel as if my head is a balloon only attached to my body by a very thin string. Not. Good. Even half a one wacks me out!

But spicy food? Is that like when someone stomps on your foot to make your sore arm stop hurting? Oy… Pass the antacids! And Jalapenos taste lousy as a topping on Strawberry Ice Cream, let me tell you! Bleeeech!

Kindly excuse me now, I gotta go blow my nose. Since I drank that Jalapeno Juice Slushy… my nose is running like Niagara Falls!

Ronin

Two years ago my son gave me a new version of the neti pot — NeilMed Sinus Rinse. I prefer the design — a plastic bottle with a nozzle. It’s easy to use and easy to pack for trips.

Just noticed fresh ginger tea among your herbal remedies and am wondering whether this is the reason I have fared so well w/ my allergies this year — normally I am miserable and suffer many bouts of sinus infections. This spring I caught a cold/flu w/ a terrible cough so I started to brew ginger tea which soothed my throat and suppressed coughs better than any cough syrup. I’ve made a habit of having a cup each night before retiring. I purchase fresh ginger at Asian grocery stores where they’re a lot cheaper, scrub well, and store in the freezer. I slice about an inch of ginger thinly, cover with about 2 cups water, bring it to boil and simmer for a few minutes. Sweeten w/ honey and it’s yummy. Add some oomph w/ a squeeze of lemon. A strong cup suppresses coughs magically. It may be the ginger tea that has helped me ward off allergies; I thought it was old age!

Thank you, Heather, for sharing your research on allergy remedies. Appreciate it very much … as well as all your other hints and information!