gahhhh, stupid allergies! need help

So, Im allergic to dust and mold. and it's springtime. yuck. My nose is puffed up and red and all stuffed. It's driving me insane. Ive been using claritin and nose spray stuff, what else can i do to make this go away?

Hi - I'm right there with you.  It makes me feel like I want to stay home and hide under the covers or sit in a sauna and just detox the crummy feeling out of me.  I'm headed to the allergist tomorrow for the same reason and to start shots.  If you're not quite that bad, you may want to go to a health food store and ask for some homeopathic remedies.  They're easy and I have friends that have found it really helps.

I have also had a lot of luck with adding mushrooms, chicken broth, garlic & kale to my diet - it seems to tone down the inflammation and clear my head.  Other than that, stay indoors, keep the house clean and avoid from perfumed cleaning & laundry products....

I hope you feel better soon!

Try a nasal rinse! I thought it sounded gross, too, but eventually my suffering was such that I was willing to try almost anything. I've used saline nose sprays for years with some relief, but this year nothing was helping.

Nasal rinse actually rinses your sinuses with a lukewarm "isotonic" salt-water mixture, very similar in saltiness to blood and other bodily fluids. It really cleared up my congestion and relieved some of my misery. I'm still using antihistamine caps twice a day and a steroid nasal spray. Adding the daily rinsing has cleared up my head & nose.

I live in Atlanta, pollen capital of the nation, and every spring it gets worse for me. Apparently the nasal rinse has been used on the Indian subcontinent for just years, but the kits are just now appearing in our drug stores. They are not expensive. I did some research on wikipedia, and was reassured it's nothing terrible or dangerous...and it works.

Thanks to you and the response above you! Youre really helpful!

Hi!

I have really bad seasonal allergies - ragweed.  I've found a few things work for me

1.) Bioallers.  You can get it at a health food store or online.  They have 2 tablet types: one for indoor allergies and one for outdoor allergies.  I find the tablets work WAY better than the liquid drops they have.  Also, it's flexible as to the amount you can take - READ THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE BOX.  I do find it makes me feel a little bit tired the first few days I use it.  After it's gotten into my system though, I'm fine.

2.)  The other thing I take is Sinol.  It's a nasal spray.  Sinol is made from all natural, food-grade ingredients and won't interact with any medications you may have to take.  The active ingredient is Capsaicin, which comes from a pepper.  This one isn't for wimps.  The first week or two you begin using it - it burns when you spray it (although only for a few seconds, then it quickly goes away).  The longer you use it, the less it bothers you, it's very similar to eating very hot foods.  Sinol comes in two kinds, one for allergies and one for migraines (which I hear is very effective and works well for people who haven't had any sucess in controlling migraines with medicine).  My kids think its hilarious the first week or so I use it - makes my eyes water.

3.) Maybe one of the most important things - by air purifiers!  I run 4 purifiers in my house all day and night during allergy season.  Makes a HUGE difference.  Do some research on the internet to find what works best for your type of allergy.  I'd also suggest you keep your cleaning up to minimize the dust and mold. 

I hope this helps you.

Hi!

I have really bad seasonal allergies - ragweed.  I've found a few things work for me

1.) Bioallers.  You can get it at a health food store or online.  They have 2 tablet types: one for indoor allergies and one for outdoor allergies.  I find the tablets work WAY better than the liquid drops they have.  Also, it's flexible as to the amount you can take - READ THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE BOX.  I do find it makes me feel a little bit tired the first few days I use it.  After it's gotten into my system though, I'm fine.

2.)  The other thing I take is Sinol.  It's a nasal spray.  Sinol is made from all natural, food-grade ingredients and won't interact with any medications you may have to take.  The active ingredient is Capsaicin, which comes from a pepper.  This one isn't for wimps.  The first week or two you begin using it - it burns when you spray it (although only for a few seconds, then it quickly goes away).  The longer you use it, the less it bothers you, it's very similar to eating very hot foods.  Sinol comes in two kinds, one for allergies and one for migraines (which I hear is very effective and works well for people who haven't had any sucess in controlling migraines with medicine).  My kids think its hilarious the first week or so I use it - makes my eyes water.

3.) Maybe one of the most important things - buy air purifiers!  I run 4 purifiers in my house all day and night during allergy season.  Makes a HUGE difference.  Do some research on the internet to find what works best for your type of allergy.  I'd also suggest you keep your cleaning up to minimize the dust and mold. 

I hope this helps you.

I'm sure you all heard of this but i didn't read it unless i just missed it. Eating local honey can help with allergies, also ginger (you can add it to tea) and I want to say cinnamon ( not quite sure about that). The ginger contains the same ingredient as claritin and zyrtec, the one that blocks the sensors in your nose that get inflamed. I wish you the best I know how much allergies suck my 5yr old daughter suffers fiercely with asthma and allergies. GOOD LUCK!!! 

I used to have all sorts of trouble with OTC and prescription allergy meds because the non-drowsy ones would make me crazy, loopy or just plain high, the normal ones would knock me on my butt, and nasal sprays would give me gushing nose bleeds. All these things considered, I started trying natural remedies.

Eating local honey and nasal rinses are really good ways to cut down on allergies. Last summer, after I graduated college I lived in my parents' basement for a month before starting my job. Much like any other basement, it was filled with dust and mold. Every morning I would wake up with eyes so watery I had a hard time seeing and a nose so stuffed and runny that i couldn't go anywhere without a tissue. First thing I would do is eat a tablespoon of RAW local honey (the whitish looking stuff). The symthoms began to subside almost immediately and the effect of the honey would last for several hours without any side effects.

There are also homeopathic allergy remedies as well that work wonderfully, I can't think of the names at the moment, but GNC has one that works really well.

Green tea also has some natural allergy blocking capabilities as well. If at all possible, get a loose leaf tea (a more natural form with more antioxidents) and follow the steeping instrunctions carefully.

Hope this helps!

Thanks!