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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3. Magnesium
If you're concerned with wheezing and asthma, try magnesium. "It's an essential mineral needed for lung mechanisms, and if your internal levels of it decline, you can become more susceptible to getting allergies and asthma," Schwartzman explains.

Known as the relaxing and calming mineral, magnesium helps to relieve bronchial constriction associated with allergies. Starting taking magnesium one to two weeks before allergies hit. Have about 400 mg of powdered magnesium a day mixed into juice or water, she recommends. (If that dose upsets your bowels, reduce your dosage by 50 to 100 mg.)

4. Acupuncture
Many studies have shown that acupuncture, an ancient form of Chinese medicine can help you to fight allergies. "If you're having an acute attack and want really immediate relief, then acupuncture is great," says Schwartzman. "It's especially good for congested sinuses and watery eyes." The placement of extremely fine needles around the nose area, for example, helps to open the sinuses to instantly relieve pressure.

Visit your naturopath or an acupuncturist for a treatment. Consider having acupuncture year-round, to improve your immunity and your body's response to allergens.

5. Nasal irrigation
When your sinuses are painfully clogged, consider rinsing them out with a saline (salt and water) solution.

"People can get amazing symptomatic relief just by clearing out the nasal passages," says Schwartzman. Nasal irrigation helps to immediately relieve pressure and congestion, as it flushes out mucus and irritants from your nasal passage.

When symptoms flare up, Schwartzman recommends doing nasal irrigation in the morning and at night. You can buy a neti pot, a teapot-like contraption designed for nasal irrigation. Using the pot, pour half the solution up one nostril (it comes out the other side), and then up the other one.

Add to your anti-allergy artillery by following a healthy, allergen-free diet. Leading up to -- and during -- your peak allergy season, avoid any known food sensitivities. Eat whole grains, such as brown rice, millet and quinoa, and a variety of fruits and veggies, having several servings of each a day.

Avoid sugar because just one teaspoon suppresses your immune system for about four hours -- you need strong immunity in order to better fight off allergens. Shy away from dairy foods and soy, as both encourage mucus production (you don't want your sinuses or lungs to become more congested!), and take 1 teaspoon of high quality fish oil daily to help decrease allergy symptoms, such as congestion and runny nose.

Arm yourself with a healthy diet and natural remedies, and you'll surely ease your allergies.

Finding it hard to breathe? Attack indoor asthma triggers that lurk in your home.

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Aileen Brabazon, CNP, is a holistic nutritionist based in Toronto. An allergy sufferer herself, she regularly finds relief in the remedies recommended here.