Home Remedies for Allergies

While allergies don’t necessarily rank for the deadliest or even the most serious of health problems, they can be quite a nuisance. Allergies can cause puffy eyes, a red or runny nose, watery eyes, or blotchy skin, which are all small annoyances at best. Avoiding the things that set off allergies is the ideal situation, but this avoidance is often difficult and in many case could cause some degree of seclusion. So what can you do once allergy symptoms appear? Here are some home remedies for allergies.

Some Popular Home Remedies for Allergies

There are numerous ways to combat allergies, and the use of honey is one of them. Honey has been considered an alternative allergy treatment for many years, with many allergy sufferers swearing by its anti-allergenic properties. One study found that the use of local honey resulted in a 60 percent reduction in symptoms for birch pollen allergy sufferers. The study, found on the Internal Archives of Allergy and Immunology website, involved a total of 44 patients diagnosed with birch pollen allergy.

One of the home remedies for allergies, specifically for eye puffiness, is done by holding a cotton ball drenched in cool water over your eyes. If over the course of a couple days symptoms still persist, using lukewarm water will help to flush out toxin buildup, rather than constricting blood vessels in order to reduce inflammation. For itchy, red, or watery eyes, a cold compress can help to relieve the symptoms as well.

Other research has demonstrated how proper nutrition — breast milk specifically — can prove effective at slashing the risk of allergies quite significantly, adding further credit to the healing power of natural foods. The association between breast milk and reduced allergies is a major topic of the EAACI Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Meeting (PAAM 2011). Breast milk’s role is so significant in reducing the risk of allergies that the first 4-6 months of breastfeeding prevents the development of atopic eczema and milk protein allergies.

For a red, runny nose, try a mask for your skin consisting of yogurt and honey. Adding coconut water or drops of avocado oil will also increase hydration.

“One thing that happens as we get these allergies and our nose is runny and our eyes our red, our skin also gets dehydrated. Dry skin creates a vicious cycle of itching more and being irritated more and being uncomfortable,” says Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell, a dermatologist and dermatopathologist.

In addition to everything listed, other foods like raw milk have been found to decrease the chances of developing asthma or allergic reactions. Allergies really can be a drag, but thankfully there are numerous home remedies for allergies if prevention is overlooked.