Pollen is released by plants at certain times of the year in order to fertilize new plants to help them grow. It’s carried to new plants either on the wind or on insects and animals.

It’s designed to be incredibly mobile, so if you are someone who suffers from a pollen allergy, it can be difficult to escape!

Some of the symptoms of a pollen allergy are:

• Red and itchy eyes
• A stuffy or streaming nose
• Wheezing
• Coughing
• An itchy throat

These symptoms are caused when the body interprets the pollen as a threat and releases histamines in order to combat the threat. Histamines cause the symptoms outlined above.

If you have a pollen allergy, there are a few home remedies that you can try to alleviate your symptoms.

Butterbur

Butterbur is a shrub that grows in Europe and Asia, and some studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory properties. Taking a specific extract is thought to alleviate the symptoms of nasal discomfort in people suffering from pollen allergies (commonly known as hayfever). However, it’s not been shown to be effective for the other symptoms of hayfever.

It’s also thought to be helpful for people suffering from migraines and for people dealing with somatic symptom disorder, where extreme distress is caused by focusing on a physical symptom.

Air conditioners

As hay fever is caused by exposure to pollen, it makes sense that if you can limit your exposure to pollen, then you will also help to alleviate your symptoms.

One way to do this is by closing your windows because they are a great way for pollen and allergens to get into your home, and instead, using an air conditioner with a HEPA filter installed. A HEPA filter is a type of filter designed to trap very small particles, which means that they are very effective for trapping pollen.

It’s also a good idea to install a HEPA filter in your vacuum cleaner and ensure that you vacuum regularly, as this will get rid of any pollen lying around.

Allergy relief

If you know that you are someone who is likely to react to pollen, it’s a good idea to always keep some allergy relief on hand so that you don’t get caught short.

Eye drops for allergies are a great option if you are someone who suffers from itchy, runny eyes, as they will soothe your eyes while combating the allergy so that you can get immediate relief. It’s also a good idea to have some non-drowsy antihistamines on hand.

Vitamin C

Ensuring that you get plenty of Vitamin C is a great way to boost your overall health as it’s what helps your body to fight infection by boosting immune function. It’s good for your skin health, and it’s also thought to help with the overproduction of the histamines that cause hay fever.

It’s recommended that most people get 90mg of Vitamin C per day, so be sure to eat plenty of foods containing Vitamin C such as:

• Kale
• Sweet yellow peppers
• Kakadu plums
• Rosehips
• Chili peppers

Conclusion

A pollen allergy can be really uncomfortable and seriously impact how well you enjoy the summer months. The home remedies discussed here could be the solution in making your allergy more manageable. However, if symptoms persist and are debilitating, make sure to see your doctor to obtain specialist help and care.