May 20 2008
Help for Hayfever
It’s that time of year again. The flowers start to bloom and the bees are buzzing, but so is your head. It’s also time for spring time allergies, namely hayfever. Every year millions of people are affected by seasonal allergies and dutifully drive to their pharmacy or retail outlet and purchase anti-histamines to hault their allergy symptoms.
Many people are unaware that you can actually reduce or stop allergies using natural, alternative methods. There are two great ways to reduce allergy symptoms; nasal rinses and nasal creams. A nasal rinse is usually a solution made up of salt, water, and a sprinkle of baking soda. Using the rinse 2 0r 3 times a day helps to rinse the excess mucus and allergens out of the nasal passage. The salt in the solution works much like a nasal decongestant to shrink the inflamed blood vessels in the nose.
Nasal creams are another great alternative to anti-histamines. These are usually a petroleum-based ointment that is applied to the inside of the nose. A recent study found that using a nasal cream reduced allergy symptoms by 60%. Nasal creams work by reducing inflammation and creating a barrier that allergens can’t get through. Nasal creams are not on the market yet, but if you dab a bit of petroleum jelly (vasaline) on the end of a Q-tip, it should work just as well.