5 natural allergy remedies

Get ready to fight back. Roll up your sleeves, blow your nose and dry your red, itchy and teary eyes, it's time to show your allergies who's boss.

If you suffer with seasonal allergies -- or any other environmental allergies -- you might feel powerless as they pummel you with the likes of sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, sinus and chest congestion, red, itchy and watery eyes and itchy nose and throat. But you can arm yourself against allergies, so they don't get the better of you.

Many natural allergy remedies not only offer symptomatic relief, but they can strengthen your body so it's better at fighting off allergens and their mean reactions. Here are six ways to naturally ease your allergy symptoms. 

1. Vitamin C and quercetin
Vitamin C and quercetin (a bioflavonoid) are natural antihistamines, so they inhibit the body's production of histamine, a compound responsible for allergy symptoms. In the battle against allergies, these remedies tend to work better together rather than alone.

"Vitamin C also makes the immune system stronger, so you'll be able to fight off the allergen more easily," explains Rachel Schwartzman, a naturopath at the Markham Village Naturopath Clinic in Markham, Ont.

The combo isn't fast-acting, so it's not the solution for acute relief. But you'll gain benefits if you start taking vitamin C and quercetin four to six weeks before allergy season arrives.

Schwartzman recommends taking 2,000 mg of each per day, divided into three doses. (If this amount upsets your bowels, reduce the dosage by about 500 mg.) Take a powdered or capsule form with breakfast, lunch and dinner.

2. Nettle
A week or two before you expect allergies to strike, start taking this anti-histamine herb. "It's really great for hay fever relief," Schwartzman says. "Nettle decreases symptoms like sneezing and itchy eyes." Plus, the herb can help reduce bronchial constriction, she says, due to its magnesium content (more on this mineral to come).

Schwartzman recommends drinking nettle tea, which has a gentle flavour. Steep 1 teaspoon of dried herb in 1 cup of boiling water. Drink a cup of tea three times a day. If you don't like tea, take capsules (450 mg per day) or a tincture (1 teaspoon per day) instead.

Click to continue for three more natural allergy remedies...

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