5 Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Allergies!

I may receive a commission if you purchase through links in this post. I am not a doctor; please consult your practitioner before changing your supplement or healthcare regimen.

Have you started blowing your nose yet? Rubbing your eyes? Learn 5 natural remedies to beat seasonal allergies!

More than 35 million people in the United States are affected by allergic rhinitis. This release of histamines, and the subsequent inflammation in the lining of the nose, is in response to pollen, pet dander, mold spores and dust mites.

With the rain, spring flowers and summer grasses, plus the wind blowing in, so, too, is hay fever.

If you struggle with allergies each year, this post is for you — and the sniffling kids in your life, too.

Homeopathics and herbs

Western medicine is based on the principle of contrary curing contrary, as in fighting histamines with antihistamines.

In contrast, naturopathy and homeopathy are based, in part, on the principle of like cures like.

Herbs and homeopathy have been looked to increasingly over that last 20 years as patients have become interested in the natural wisdom of the past (plus disenchanted with the cost and side effects sometimes associated with pharmaceuticals).

This post shares with you both homeopathic and herbal remedies.

Here are 5 tried and true remedies that may provide relief when nothing else does.

1. Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Allergies: Ambrosia

Yes, it’s a strange Southern dessert, but it’s also a homeopathic: ambrosia. And it’s one with a great track record. Many testify to the effectiveness of this remedy, both for adults and kids.

Here’s the one recommended by our doctor.

Ambrosia is the homeopathic dose of ragweed. It may also help asthma induced by allergens and throat irritation, as well as stuffy nose and head. Some find this remedy to be more effective in fall. If one of the 50 species of ragweed grows in your area in spring, it’s recommended.

Dosage of homeopathics

While many people take three to five pellets of homeopathics, even two pellets at a time is just as effective. I learned this from my doctor who is more gifted than other practitioners I’ve worked with, especially with homeopathics.

Dosing for allergies can be as needed: as often as every 5 minutes. Or, use every 15 minutes for the first hour, and then once per hour throughout the day, as needed.

With some of these remedies, only one dose will be needed and will provide relief and improvement. When re-exposure occurs, it’s a good idea to re-dose.

2. Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Allergies: Natrum Muriaticum

This remedy, also a homeopathic, has helped our daughter in the past and is excellent for those with recurrent spring and fall allergies. Especially for those whose allergies are worse in the morning, and who cough up lots of mucous.

(Side note — this remedy also works really well for run of the mill headaches [not migraines]. It literally has made every headache on which I’ve used it go away! It can be used like Advil, upon need. I use 4 pellets under my tongue and keep it on hand for unexpected times.)

3. Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Allergies: Butterbur

Butterbur is a large-leaved shrub that grows in North America, Asia and parts of Europe. Traditionally its large leaves were wrapped around butter to keep it cool in warm weather, thus its name.

Butterbur was also used traditionally to treat wounds, coughs, fever, headaches, anxiety, gastrointestinal and urinary tract conditions. The leaves, roots and rhizomes are all used to formulate butterbur supplements.

Used most commonly for common headaches, migraines and seasonal allergies, the bitter tasting compound found within butterbur, called Petasin, alleviates symptoms for many.

Dosage

Recommended by the British Medical Journal, butterbur can be used up to 4 times daily to keep allergy symptoms at bay. Many find relief with just 75 mg daily, starting early spring so it can build up in one’s system. Consult your doctor for the dosage right for you.

(Allergy note: Butterbur is in the daisy family and related to Ragweed; so you may need to avoid it if you’re allergic to Ragweed. Use of butterbur with children should be done under the care of a practitioner.)

4. Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Allergies: Nettles

Nettles, specifically Stinging Nettles, prevent the release of pro-inflammatory mediators. It reduces the amount of histamines the body produces in response to allergens. Nettles may also interfere with the way the body sends messages of pain.

Tested and studied extensively, nettles are used to treat prostate conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, bronchitis, laryngitis, hives, bladder infections and many more conditions. It’s an herb that’s advocated for by both naturopathic and medical practitioners.

We even see it being used for chronic inflammation, conditions such as sciatica, tendinitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Nettles is an herb that may work best when used early in the allergy season, so it can build up in the body before allergens are at their worst.

Caution: Patients on blood thinners or blood pressure medication should consult their practitioner before using nettles.

Nettles are safe and recommended for children. Combined with quercetin, also recommended below, you may find the relief many have.

Dosage

Take one capsule, and wait one day to make sure Nettles agree with you before proceeding. Use up to 2 capsules, three times daily, for relief. Many people need only 2 capsules daily. Hope to experience relief within 30 minutes.

5. Natural Remedies to Beat Seasonal Allergies: Histaminum Hydrochloricum

Histaminum Hydrochloricum is my all time favorite homeopathic overall. I love it this much because it works quickly, so you can be sure it’s working.

This remedy is amazing for any kind of histamine reaction.

If you struggle with histamine overload or MCAS, seasonal allergies, dust … any histamine response, these little pellets may help you noticeably and quickly.

Use before exposure, during exposure or after, all with great effect (in my experience).

Find Histaminum Hydrochloricum here.

Honorable mention: Quercetin

When looking for natural remedies to beat seasonal allergies, many people have already tried quercetin.

If you haven’t used it in the past, you may want to try Ambrosia homeopathic first, and then add the quercetin if needed.

Quercetin is an anti-inflammatory flavonol found in many vegetables, fruits and other plant foods. It works by preventing immune cells from releasing histamines.

Studied extensively, quercetin has shown itself to have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Doctors treat high blood pressure, interstitial cystitis, prostate inflammation and use it to prevent colon cancer. It has even shown itself to increase oxygen utilization and endurance in athletes, and to help with asthma.

Quercetin is considered safe for children.

Dosage

For serious allergies, patients may need to take the remedy throughout the day, 2 capsules up to 4 times daily.  Commonly recommended adult dosage: Take 500 mg. of quercetin twice daily.

Consult a practitioner for the dosage right for you.

The three final capsule links below combine nettles and quercetin. They work well together and prevent the need to buy and try two different remedies.

I like these brands/products for combined nettles and quercetin: 1, 2, and 3

What about diet?

It’s true: Giving up certain foods is often the key to relief. For my daughter, giving up dairy meant she could run around outside freely, during allergy season. Previously she had had to stay indoors or go out with a mask while the grasses bloomed — for 6 weeks! She had already given up grains and sugar (and was able to add them back in!).

Finding the right diet may be the most important step to allergy relief for you, too.

For most, this means an Anti-Inflammatory Diet, or even a more extreme reset for the liver, with a Low Copper and Low “vitamin” A diet. (Get started with Low Copper here.)

These approaches actually clean out the bile ducts of the liver and empty the body of heavy metals. The first year I went on the latter diets, my seasonal allergies were gone.

Consider which foods allow your body to flourish and to heal itself — whole food diets, with almost no processed foods, no vegetable oil and very little sugar.

This approach offers freedom and a different kind of pleasure than standard American diet foods or foods you may love that are causing an allergic response.

Pin 5 Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies here:

SOURCES

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12