Natural treatment for seasonal allergies

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Many people suffer from seasonal allergies. Allergies occur when your body overreacts to harmless substances such as pet dander, dust, and pollen. Pollen is usually the culprit with seasonal allergies. There are some natural treatments for boosting your immune system and minimizing your bodies allergic response.

Food treatment

Bees produce honey by using pollen. Local raw honey will provide very small doses of this pollen stimulating your bodies tolerance of the pollen. Raw honey from local sources is most effective because it doesn't have heat applied to it and it is made from the pollen prevalent in your area. Raw honey should not be consumed by children under the age of 5. 

Pineapple is another food treatment for allergies.  Pineapple, and other fruits or berries loaded with quercetin, will reduce the release of histamines.

Herbal treatment

Stinging nettle, also called bull nettle, or itch weed, grows wild near riverbanks in Kansas and Missouri. Stinging nettle is one of the best herbal treatments for seasonal allergies. It is found in capsule form in most health food stores. Freeze dried nettle capsules are most effective. If you know how to identify stinging nettle, you can forage for nettle and dry your own by hanging it in a dark area between 85 and 95 degrees. The dried leaves of stinging nettle can be used to make tea that works great for treating seasonal allergies.

In addition to stinging nettle, ginkgo biloba is an herb that will lessen your bodies allergic response to allergens. It eliviates watery eyes, runny nose and many other mucous producing responses. Ginkgo biloba has also been shown in many studies to improve memory!

Probiotics for boosting immunity

Probiotic capsules, or cultured foods such as yogurt, will also help boost immunity and lesson your bodies allergic reaction. Probiotics work by strengthening your immune system and lessening your bodies overreaction to harmless substances. Probiotics are available at most health food stores. When purchasing a probiotic capsule, make sure it has been refrigerated.

Nasal wash

Neti pots, also available at most health food stores, do not do anything to reduce your bodies overreaction to allergens, or strengthen your immune system, but they do wash the allergen out of your nasal passage.  Substances that become trapped in your nose, such as pollen, can be washed away. Using neti pots on a regular basis help allergy sufferers with seasonal allergy symtoms.