Home remedies for the itching, congestion and sneezing brought on by pollen and mold allergies become crucial in spring, summer or fall. Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, affects about 1 in 10 Americans, as reported by the Cleveland Clinic. While prescription and over-the-counter medications help, they can’t eradicate the pollen grains and mold spores that cause illness. Home treatments address personal and environmental allergen contamination, as well as respiratory symptoms, to provide relief to seasonal allergy patients.
Face Protection
The pollen and mold spores that cause allergic rhinitis settle on the ground and outdoor furniture and fixtures. Patients can avoid allergy symptoms from these easily ingested particles by wearing a dust mask to filter the air, reports the MayoClinic.com. Daily pollen and mold count announcements will indicate when to wear face protection from grass, tree, ragweed and leaf mold allergens.
Body and Clothing Wash
To reduce allergy symptoms after being outside or handling outdoor items, patients should wash their faces, hair and clothes. Sticky pollen grains can lodge on eyebrows, eyelashes, body hair, gloves, hats and clothing.
The Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Clinic of Georgetown, Texas, counsels allergic rhinitis patients in Central Texas, which has one of the longest allergy seasons in the United States. The clinic suggests taking a shower and putting on fresh clothing after contacting outdoor hay fever allergens.
Sinus Wash
Airborne allergens both stick to nasal membranes and cause the production of excess mucus. Patients can wash allergens and nasal fluids away with a saline rinse. The MayoClinic.com recommends the use of a bulb syringe or neti pot to flush the nasal passages with saltwater. Commercial saline solution or a homemade rinse made with 2 cups warm water and ¼ tsp. salt will effectively control respiratory allergy symptoms.
Indoor Environmental Control
Preserving a low level of allergens indoors reduces the severity of allergic rhinitis problems. Doors and windows should be closed when staying inside on high pollen–count days. Air conditioning temperature control is superior to window fans, which increase indoor pollen levels. According to the Cleveland Clinic, using a special air conditioning filter removes nearly 100 percent of airborne hay fever allergens.
Avoidance Techniques
Avoiding outdoor exposure from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. during hay fever season offers the most protection from allergen exposure, report the National Institutes of Health. Allergy symptoms may also be prevented by simple avoidance techniques, such as washing the family dog frequently, and removing known allergenic plants from a patient’s environment.
