Allergies affect more than 50 million people in the U.S.—a number that continues to rise each year. But that doesn’t make the itching, sneezing, congestion and fatigue that we so commonly associate with this time of year any more pleasant. If you’re looking for relief this spring, try some of these natural remedies for allergies.

Common Seasonal Allergies

It’s likely your sniffing and sneezing is the result of many different environmental substances, as most people who suffer have a reaction to many allergens. Some of the most common allergens include:

· Trees

· Grass/weed pollen

· Mold

· Dust mites

· Cat/Dog dander

If you struggle with seasonal allergies, that means when your body is mistakenly identifying these substances as harmful, releasing an immune system response to fight them off. During this response, your body releases histamine, which causes some of the telltale allergy symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose. Luckily, there are a few natural ways to resolve your discomfort when spring hits. Popular home remedies for allergies and why they may not work for you:

Loading up on over-the-counter medication

I always see patients who load up on over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to dull their allergy symptoms. While these medications can offer temporary relief, they mask the underlying problem and often cause terrible side effects like headaches, drowsiness, dry mouth and fatigue, especially with chronic use.

Closing all of your windows

While shutting out the outdoor air—and all the environmental triggers that come with it—seems like a good way to find some sweet relief, this can actually worsen indoor air quality and increase sneezing and congestion. While you definitely don’t want the wind blowing your allergens inside, it’s also not great to trap all of the toxins in your home in one place with no circulation. Many scientists and environmental experts claim that the pollution inside your home can often be worse than outdoor air pollution. The best way to reduce the build up of environmental toxins in your home is to open your windows, vacuum your carpets, furniture and upholstery and dust counters and tabletops regularly.

Scrubbing your house with toxic cleaners

It’s many people’s first instinct to clear their house of any potential allergens, and this often involves a deep home cleaning. But if you’re using toxic cleaners, chances are you’re doing more harm than good. The toxins in many common household cleaners contain endocrine disruptors which can have negative impacts on our internal hormonal balance and immune function. In 2012 the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a report unearthing harmful ingredients in many common household cleaners. The report found evidence of toxins including:

· Nonylphenol ethoxylate

· Butoxydiglycol

· 2-Butoxyethanol

· Methoxydiglycol

· Formaldehyde

· Benzene

These toxins have been found to irritate skin, disrupt hormones, aggravate asthma, increase the risk of cancer and more. In fact, the use of many of these ingredients in consumer products has been banned in other countries. Opt for brands like Meliora or Pure Laundry that are made with natural ingredients or try experimenting with some common non-toxic cleaning products you likely have lying around at home including baking soda, castile soap, vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, essential oils and borax (a boron mineral salt).

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