For many health conscious folks, suffering from allergies means you have no choice but to take drugs or medication that may not be all that healthy for you.
There are a huge amount of nasty side effects that allergy medication can cause. These include, cataracts, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, nose bleeds and more. Sound enticing? If not, keep reading and I’ll show you some natural supplements that can suppress your allergies without causing these awful side effects.
Natural supplements that can soothe allergy symptoms
Here are just a few of the natural supplements and herbs you can use to reduce allergy symptoms safely.
- Butterbur. It has been shown that butterbur root extract is just as effective at relieving allergy symptom as even some of the most heavy duty prescription drugs. It also has the major advantage of not causing drowsiness like many allergy meds do – especially useful if you are suffering from allergies while driving.
- Quercetin. By blocking the release of histamines in your body, quercetic reduces inflammation in your body – a major factor in allergic reactions.
- Bromelain. Research has shown that bromelain is useful for reducing the swelling of the nose, making it easier for you to breathe. If you want to reduce your sinus infection or hayfever, a few pieces of pineapple (the primary source for bromelain) may come in handy.
- Stinging nettle. Despite there not being much evidence, stinging nettle has been used as a natural allergy treatment for many years. It’s healing effects are believed to be attributed to the ingredients carotene and vitamin K.
- Bee pollen. Containing trace amounts of many substances that can trigger reactions like hay fever is believed by allergists to be the reason bee pollen is effective. The theory is that by giving sufferers a small amount of the offending substances, it lowers your sensitivity to local plant pollens, easing the effects of hay fever and other reactions.
- Green tea. EGCG, also known as methylated epigallocatechin gallate, found in green tea can block receptors in your body which produce an allergic response. By blocking histamine and immunoglobulin E it can reduce the symptoms of allergies – meaning less watery eyes, coughing and sneezing.
Feel free to conduct your own research on this and look for health supplements that contain them. Every body is different and what might work for one person may not work for another. Try them, use what works and reject anything that doesn’t.
Have you found any natural supplements that can reduce, control or remove allergy symptoms? If so, let us know in the comments so we can all enjoy our summer allergy free!
About the author
Ian is a former nutritional researcher who now blogs about green tea benefits and all things natural. You can find all the facts and information on a variety of health supplements by visiting his site.
