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Everything about our move to San Francisco has been more than I could have ever dreamed of. Not to sugarcoat the move itself (it sucked), but in general I feel very confident that we made the right decision moving to SF…with the exception of one issue: SEASONAL ALLERGIES. Or more accurately, year-round allergies.
Pretty much since the day we moved here my allergies have decided to rear their ugly head. In Toronto, they’d be bad for a few weeks in April/May and then again for a few weeks in September. They were pretty manageable and only on the really bad days did I have to take my allergy meds. It’s been a different story since moving to California. I’ve joked that I’m legitimately allergic to California!
That being said, things have gotten much much better. I still have rough days, but I mostly don’t have to take allergy meds unless it’s an insanely high pollen count. Weirdly, it’s also when I get back from a trip where I’ve been elsewhere and am reacquainted with the San Francisco air that it’s also pretty bad. My symptoms are pretty common. Mostly itchy, watery eyes, sinus headaches and post-nasal drip.
For now, I’ve been able to manage my seasonal allergies naturally through diet, supplementation and certain lifestyle changes. I hate the idea of not being outside so I swear by these things to help keep my allergies at bay. If things are really bad (like 3-4 times a year) I take allergy meds, but I hate how groggy and dry they make me so I avoid if possible. I have nothing against this route, but the side effects suck for me so I’d rather not feel that way all the time. As a result I’ve tried a lot of different methods to help me treat the symptoms of Hay Fever without taking medicine. Here is my 7 Natural Allergy Relief Remedies that actually work!
NATURAL SEASONAL ALLERGY RELIEF TIPS
1. Propolis + Raw Local Honey
If you haven’t heard me profess my love for Propolis then you must be living under a rock. Just kidding! But if you want to learn more about propolis, check out this podcast episode with Carly Stein from Beekeeper’s Naturals. We also chatted about raw honey and its benefits. But as a synopsis, propolis is the substance the seals the bee’s hive. It’s super antibacterial and antiviral and is basically as superfood as foods get. Raw honey is as well. It’s believed that by consuming each, your body slowly builds up a tolerance to local pollen and in the future will be less sensitive to it.
2. Essential Oils
Aromatherapy for the win! Some essential oils that are great for seasonal allergies include chamomile, lavender, peppermint, tea tree, and lemon oil. I personally use the inhale blend from Saje Wellness (called allergy release in Canada) both in the diffuser blend and the roll-on for when I’m outside. Otherwise feel free to blend your own!
3. Nettle tea
Nettle Leaf Tea has long been used as a treatment for seasonal allergies. It’s super anti-inflammatory which as I mention below is the root of all seasonal allergies. I find it makes my mouth a little tingly and numb but apparently that’s normal. Some people do react negatively to it so just be careful!
4. Bone Broth
I could go on about the benefits of bone broth for days! The root of seasonal allergies is inflammation and bone broth is as anti-inflammatory as it gets. I have a cup a day and besides being delicious, it’s incredibly good for reducing inflammation, seasonal allergies, boosting your immune system and has a healthy dose of collagen for your skin, hair and nails! I love Kettle and Fire Bone Broth and get an order each month. If you want to save 20% off your order (and free shipping!), use the code THEHEALTHYMAVEN at checkout or click here for it to be automatically added!
5. CBD Balm
I use this for my sinus headaches. If I wasn’t able to avoid my allergies, CBD Balm for headaches has been soooo helpful. I rub it on my sinuses, temples and neck. If you combo it with Peppermint Halo from Saje, it’s a double whammy!
6. Netty Pot
I’ll be honest, this is the one I do the least – likely because I hate doing it! but if my sinuses are super stuffed up or I have a bad post-nasal drip, the Netty Pot is a complete lifesaver. In theory, you’re supposed to use it everyday to keep things clear, but I use it more as an SOS management. Either way, it helps!
7. Shower and Change Your Pillow Case
I know this seems like an obvious one but it really makes a huge difference. Pollen or whatever allergen you’re allergic to can get stuck to your hair, skin, clothing etc… and then also end up on your pillows and in your bed. Frequent washing when you’ve been outside for a long time can go a long way. Even though I HATE washing my hair, if I’ve spent a couple hours outside I know I have to wash it.
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That’s all I’ve got for you! If you’re struggling with seasonal allergies, I feel you. They suck and I’ve had moments where I just don’t want to go outside because I know I’ll have to deal with them. Hopefully these tips and tricks to surviving seasonal allergies naturally are helpful to you.
As always, these are all just options. Try out what you like and stick with the things that work. If something isn’t serving you, let it go. Our bodies are all so different which is why experimentation is key! Don’t feel like you need to go out and buy everything at once.
Did I miss any tips? Drop your best seasonal allergy tricks below!
Bookmarking this for a “rainy day”. I have crazy allergies and the CBD balm is something I am definitely going to try in the spring.
I have used countless different nasel sprays over the years. 99% of which did nothing to help…all except one I found in Germany. Not sure if you can buy it in the states, but it’s called ‘Nasic’ – and it works wonders almost immediately. I have a friend over there that sends me care packages once in a while! I highly recommend it to use sparingly when your allergies become unbearable and you just want immediate relief.
I love your natural allergy fighters. I always get just a twinge of allergies in the fall and feel guilty taking medicine when they’re not that bad. Bookmarking this post for the smoothie trick especially!
Enjoy!
I just read about propolis! I’m glad to see someone uses it and it works before I buy it! 🙂
Hello there! Thanks for this information! Really helpful for me. Are you going to post something similar in the near future?
Hi Davida,
I liked the idea of essential oils remedy for seasonal allergies. But I am confusing about the quantity that I have to use such as lavender and tea tree oil which is available at my home right now. Could you please tell me? Making soup using broth is also an excellent idea. Happy Blogging.
Hey Davida,
Thanks a lot for sharing the amazing tips! Couldn’t agree more about nettle tea. I harvest wild nettle every spring and it works wonders!
I’d like to add one useful tip: Use a nasal saline solution frequently. It rinses the allergens and really helps to alleviate the boring congestion.
Thanks again and keep it up!
Great tip! Thanks for the suggestion, Alex!
So I’m really happy you mentioned the Neti pot. I don’t use that, but I do use the equivalent Sinus Rinse Bottle from Neilmed. I find it much more intuitive and easier to use. I used to only use it when I had a cold, and it always worked like a charm, but my doctor actually suggested using it daily as a way to protect from allergies and also to lower the chances of getting sick. I was really skeptical because like you, I hated using it, but after getting sick literally once a month in college my freshman year, I was ready to try anything. So it’s been about a year since I started using it daily, and 1) I managed to bypass the entire winter flu season in college, which is a FEAT and 2) my allergies are way less severe now. Also, it gets much better when you get used to it as part of your routine. Actually feels kind of good. Def look up the Neilmed bottle; I can’t recommend it enough!
Ohhhh gonna check it out! I think one of the reasons I don’t Neti Pot as often is because it SO is not intuitive!
I’m curious about the CBD too… have your tried other forms as well?
I haven’t! I use one from Papa and Barkley’s. Bought it at a dispensary here in SF cause it has a bit of THC in it too (topical so not psychoactive). There are tons of other brands out there though!
Where do you get CBD balm from?
A company called Papa and Barkley’s here in California!