Via: Detroit Holistic Health Examiner

Try some preventative and natural remedies to cure spring allergies this year. Spring is often the kick off to beginning allergy season for many people. While there are many over the counter and prescription medications to control allergy symptoms, there are many natural cures that can effectively and safely cure spring allergies.

* It’s important to check the pollen count every day so you can take preventative action. If the pollen count is high, it’s probably not the best day to do yard work. Plan your activities around the pollen count whenever possible.
* Pollen counts are highest between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., so try to remain indoors as much as possible during that time of morning.
* Keep windows closed during spring allergy season to keep pollen from blowing into your house. Don’t hang dry your clothing outside, and change your sheets as often as possible.
* Shower and change your clothes when you return home after being outside. Pollen can rub off your clothing and cling to furniture and carpeting, so throw your clothing into the washing machine as soon as possible.
* Run your air conditioner and air filters to absorb the pollen from the air in your home. Don’t use window or attic fans, which can bring more pollen into the home.
* Take natural supplements to strengthen your immunity. MSM has antiallergic properties which can be more effective than antihistamines. Look for natural anti-allergy supplements which are a combination of herbs, enzymes, and nutrients which are designed to fight acute allergy attacks.
* Avoid mucus producing foods such as dairy products. Also avoid sugar, wheat and white rice.

If you are an allergy sufferer, consider trying a few preventative measures and natural remedies to control, or possibly cure, your spring allergies. Besides feeling better, you can also avoid the worries of taking over the counter or prescription medications and the side effects those medications can bring.

Via: NaturalNews

With the peak grass pollen season approaching, scientists have revealed that a daily dose of probiotics can change the immune status of people with hay fever. In the first human study of its kind, scientists at the Institute of Food Research found that probiotic bacteria in a daily drink can modify the immune system’s response to grass pollen, a common cause of seasonal hay fever.

But they are not recommending that sufferers rush to the supermarket shelves just yet. The changes found may not have an immediate effect on symptoms.

“This was a pilot study based on small numbers of patients, but we were fascinated to discover a response”, says research leader Professor Claudio Nicoletti. “The probiotic significantly reduced the production of molecules associated with allergy.”

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen or fungal spores, most commonly grass pollen. The immune system mistakes the spores for harmful invaders and produces excessive amounts of the antibody IgE to bind to them and fight them off.

IgE stimulates the release of histamine to flush out the spores, and this irritates the airways making them swell, producing the symptoms of hay fever.

In this study, volunteers with a history of seasonal hay fever drank a daily milk drink with or without live bacteria over 5 months. The study was double-blinded and placebo controlled, so neither the volunteers nor the scientists knew who had been assigned the probiotic drinks. The probiotic drinks contained Lactobacillus casei, a bacterial species that has been widely studied for its health promoting properties.

Full Report of the Study

cucumber, elderberries, fennel seed and barley

• A slice of cucumber over each eye soothes tired, inflamed eyes. If you suffer from bloodshot eyes, eye itching and eye inflammation because of hay fever and similar allergies, mash cucumber and apply the poultice, in a cheesecloth, on the eyelids for half an hour.
• A tea from elderberries makes a soothing eye lotion for sore eyes. Just cook the berries lightly.
• To get rid of eye strain and irritation of the eyes, cook some barley in plenty of water, then strain. Then bring 1 pint of barley water to a boil and add 1.5 tsp fennel seed. Let simmer for 5 minutes, then steep for exactly 20 minutes.

Catnip tea is very good for overcoming dizziness of any kind, and besides helps you to sleep better if you drink it as a night cap. The following tea also reduces fever and the misery that comes with hay fever and nausea:

Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil, add a tsp of freshly cut or dried catnip after removing the water from the heat and let steep for 20 minutes. Drink lukewarm, and you can add honey to taste.

catnip, Valerian

• Catnip tea helps with insomnia, a common symptom of anxiety, if you drink it as a night cap, and it assists with relaxing in stressful times. The following tea also fights dizziness, and reduces fever as well as the misery that comes with hay fever and nausea:  Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil, add a tsp of freshly cut or dried catnip after removing the water from the heat and let steep for 20 minutes. Drink lukewarm, and you can add honey to taste.
• Valerian root is well known for its sedative qualities.  To fight anxiety, a tea from Valerian root may help:  Steep 1.5 tbsp of dried Valerian root in 1 pint of boiling water for half an hour.  Drink 1-2 cups daily.  This tea can also be used to treat hysteria, high blood pressure, backaches and migraines.