Search online and you’ll find countless claims of natural remedies that will treat your allergies. While many of those claims lack any scientific research to back them up, there are several home remedies that have some evidence they might be effective in relieving your allergy symptoms.
Nasal Rinse
A nasal rinse is an at-home remedy that uses sterile saltwater to help clear the nasal passages and relieve congestion. It is usually done with a Neti pot, or you can buy a nasal rinse kit at Little Five Points Pharmacy or another local drugstore. Studies have shown nasal saline rinses can be a useful supplemental treatment for people with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis.
A Word of Caution
If you use a nasal rinse to relieve your allergy symptoms you must use distilled or boiled water only in order to avoid an infection from contaminated water.
Black Cumin Seed Oil
Black cumin seed oil is extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a plant native to southwest Asia.
One study showed that smelling or rubbing black cumin oil on the forehead was helpful in reducing nasal congestion, itching, runny nose and sneezing. Another showed patients felt relief from their allergy symptoms after using nasal drops with black cumin seed oil.
Vitamin D
There is some evidence that people deficient in vitamin D experience worse allergy symptoms than those who have optimal levels. In one study, people who were vitamin D-deficient noticed an improvement in their allergy symptoms after taking vitamin D supplements for eight weeks.
Another found that patients with optimal vitamin D levels responded to allergy immunotherapy better than those who were deficient.
When to See a Doctor
While the treatments above have shown some evidence of being helpful in managing allergy symptoms, we recommend speaking with a medical professional before incorporating any new home remedies into your treatment plan.
It is important to make sure that new supplements won’t negatively interact with any current prescription medications or worsen any medical conditions.
It’s also essential to visit an allergist to verify what allergens you are reactive to and discuss the best courses of treatment.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert allergist, call ENT of Georgia today.
