Ah, the scent of spring. Blooming flowers and freshly cut grass fill the air with a delightful fragrance that says summer’s on its way. But not everyone would agree. For others, it smells like a whole lot of pollen, leading to itchy eyes, a runny nose, and a tough-to-shake headache. As it turns out, many people run across these seasonal allergy symptoms every year. Hay fever – as it’s often called, even though it has nothing to do with hay – affects nearly 25 million Americans every year. While it may be easy to pop an allergy-relief pill every morning and night, some of us are apprehensive about doing so. If allergies are natural reactions, then there have to be natural solutions, right? To help guide you through allergy season in the most natural (yet effective) way possible, we’ve talked to renowned natural health physician and best-selling author Dr. Fred Pescatore about the 10 best ways to relieve allergies the natural way.  Why Do We Get Seasonal Allergies? Shutterstock First, before we get into Dr. Pescatore’s top tips, let’s get to the bottom of why we get seasonal allergies in the first place. “Seasonal allergies are our bodies’ response to allergens in the environment,” he says. Allergens are typically harmless substances (such as dust, pollen, mold, etc.) capable of triggering the body’s immune system, resulting in an allergic reaction. “Our bodies interpret these allergens as a health threat, and this will trigger an inflammatory reaction,” says Dr. Perscatore, “Leading to allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, and headache.” Pollen is the most typical allergen, but other spring and summer environmental allergens such as grass and ragweed can also impact the body. What Is the Reason Behind Longer and More Intense Allergy Seasons? Shutterstock If you feel like your symptoms have gotten worse and lasted for a lot longer in recent years, you’re not imagining it. Sadly, the main culprit behind these longer, more intense allergy seasons is global warming. As Dr. Pescatore explains, “Rising global temperatures caused by climate change can lead to longer allergy seasons and overall worsen air quality.” The warming temperatures are resulting in “plants producing more pollen over longer growing seasons, leading to more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens, and heightened allergy symptoms.” In other words, the future’s not looking great for allergy-sufferers. “Pollen seasons grew by 20 days and had 21% more pollen over the last 40 years.” He then goes onto say experts predict this trend continuing, with the average pollen count in 2040 being more than double what it was in 2000.  10 Ways to Naturally Relieve Allergies

  1. Rinse Your Eyes Shutterstock This might seem like an obvious one, but when our eyes are itchy, usually our first thought is to try and fight off all temptation to itch them, to ride it out when it should actually be to wash them.  “Allergies can cause burning, itching, and tearing in our eyes as well as swelling of the eyelids. Washing your eyes with clean water or an eye wetting product moistens them to provide relief when they are dry and irritated. It also removes allergens that cause eye inflammation,” says Dr. Pescatore.  Once rinsed, for some extra TLC, swap out the cucumber slices (because who has a spare cucumber lying around anyway?) for a cold washcloth over the eyes for a cooling sensation. 
  2. Wash Your Clothes Often Shutterstock We hope we don’t need to remind you to wash your clothes regularly, but we’re all guilty of popping out for a quick errand and saving the same outfit for another day because it didn’t get worn for long enough. Or you wasted a good outfit on a bad date that you left early. But when you suffer from allergies, even five minutes outside is enough for pollen to gather on your clothes to cause a reaction.  “When worn outdoors, your clothes can carry small particles back into your home and cause more exposure and allergic reaction,” says Dr. Pescatore. Once you bring these into your home, they’ll become much harder to get rid of as they’re able to cling onto your home furnishings such as your duvet, curtains, and sofa. The sanctuary you had to hide away from allergies will become a hotspot for pollen. “Washing your clothes after outdoor activity can remove lingering allergens.” 
  3. Manage Your Stress Levels Shutterstock As if being stressed wasn’t bad enough, it can also intensify your allergies. “Stress can be a powerful force on your physical and mental well-being, and it can pile on quickly. Stress hormones can negatively impact the immune system, increase oxidative stress levels, and inflame seasonal allergy symptoms,” he says.  Different things trigger stress for different people, so the way each of us will go about managing our stress levels won’t always be the same. 
  4. Add a Natural Supplement Shutterstock Try adding a natural anti-inflammatory supplement into your daily routine. While this might seem similar to popping those synthetic pills you’re trying to get away from, Dr. Pescatore recommends Pycnogenol, a completely natural ingredient sourced from an exclusive unspoiled forest in southwest France.  “Pycnogenol, an extract from French maritime pine bark, is shown in research to reduce the body’s response to histamines without the side effects typically experienced with allergy medications, such as drowsiness,” so you can still go about your day as usual.  “Supplementing daily with Pycnogenol can substantially reduce the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies, like burning, itchy, or watering eyes, and stuffy, runny, or itchy nose” – so this natural supplement is one you definitely won’t mind taking every day. 
  5. Use Air Conditioners, Dehumidifiers, and HEPA Filters Shutterstock Air conditioning during warmer months is always a good idea. There’s nothing better than coming home after a long day in the sun and feeling fresh, cool air on your skin. But if you have allergies, air conditioners can beat that feeling. “Air conditioners and dehumidifiers help to remove moisture from the air, which will decrease mold and mildew growth which can aggravate allergy symptoms even further.”  Many people are skeptical about air purifiers, mainly because you can’t physically see them working, but Dr. Pescatore vouches for them. “HEPA filters can ease allergy symptoms by trapping allergens and other irritants, like dust, from circulating in the air.” Whether you have allergies or not, an air purifier will benefit your health by removing toxins from the air.  But there’s no reason to have to decide between keeping cool and breathing in cleaner air as many brands are combining air conditioning and HEPA filters together. 
  6. Eat an Anti-inflammatory Diet Shutterstock Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process. When your body is fighting an infection, injury, or both, inflammatory cells are sent to the area to minimize the damage. But this can become problematic when the inflammation lingers. Regularly eating foods high in fat, sugar, and salt can cause the body to remain inflamed. “When you experience allergy symptoms, that is your body triggering an inflammatory response. Eating foods that have anti-inflammatory benefits can help reduce symptoms,” he says.  Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into at least every meal can help pack the punch you need to reduce allergy symptoms. Plus, Dr. Pescatore reminds us that we should be fueling our body with nutrient-dense foods anyway, as a way to keep our bodies healthy and our immune system strong. So, what types of foods should you be including? Some of Dr. Pescatore’s recommendations include garlic, lemon, and green leafy vegetables. Which, if we must say, are pretty easy to incorporate nearly into any meal.
  7. Clean Your Home of Irritants Shutterstock Get your spring clean on. Spring cleaning is a must-do ritual when it comes to sprucing up your space for the season. Not only will it make you feel better (mentally and emotionally), but it can also help to tame those physical allergy symptoms. Those pesky allergens know no limits! “Allergens can come inside with you after you spend time outdoors,” says Dr. Pescatore, but “they also can come in through any open windows or doors.”  One solution? And you may be sad to hear this (or not if you’re a certified clean freak), but regularly cleaning your space can drastically improve the number of allergens floating around in your home. Dr. Pescatore recommends vacuuming and wiping down surfaces daily and washing items like bedsheets, towels, and blankets as often as you can.
  8. Steam Shutterstock Bring on the spa day. But seriously, steam is an age-old remedy for flushing out allergens and irritants in your nasal passages. “Steam can also help to break up mucus and moisten dry nasal passages, both typical symptoms experienced by seasonal allergy sufferers.”  So how can you get more steam into your daily diet? It’s not through steamed veggies. Dr. Pescatore says one of the easiest ways to do this is to “turn on a hot shower and inhale deeply through your nose for five to 10 minutes.” If you regularly go to a gym or spa with a steam room, that can also be a great place to get steamy and let your mucus and allergens clear away naturally. 
  9. Try Aromatherapy Shutterstock For some hard-core believers, aromatherapy fixes everything. And while you may or may not share the same philosophy, the truth is that essential oils have countless uses, many of which are scientifically backed. One of the most popular ways to use them (and arguably the best if you’re dealing with spring and summertime allergies) is to diffuse them into the air.  Two of the best oils that Dr. Pescatore recommends are lavender and eucalyptus. “Lavender oil has many calming properties that help the body to relax,” he says. “Eucalyptus oil can also be used to experience a cooling sensation,” he says, which can alleviate congestion and open up the airways. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant compounds, so there’s also a risk of reaction when using these oils themselves. “Some people may find themselves allergic to certain essential oils, so I always suggest consulting your doctor before use.”
  10. Take a Shower Shutterstock We’re not saying that you smell, but… just kidding. Taking regular showers can actually be an effective way of relieving allergy symptoms, especially if you’ve been spending time outdoors as airborne allergens such as pollen can stick to clothing, hair, and the skin. Dr. Pescatore advises taking a shower first thing when you get home after being outside in order to wash away lingering allergens that may be hiding on your skin or in your hair.

Ah, the scent of spring. Blooming flowers and freshly cut grass fill the air with a delightful fragrance that says summer’s on its way. But not everyone would agree. For others, it smells like a whole lot of pollen, leading to itchy eyes, a runny nose, and a tough-to-shake headache. As it turns out, many people run across these seasonal allergy symptoms every year. Hay fever – as it’s often called, even though it has nothing to do with hay – affects nearly 25 million Americans every year. While it may be easy to pop an allergy-relief pill every morning and night, some of us are apprehensive about doing so. If allergies are natural reactions, then there have to be natural solutions, right? To help guide you through allergy season in the most natural (yet effective) way possible, we’ve talked to renowned natural health physician and best-selling author Dr. Fred Pescatore about the 10 best ways to relieve allergies the natural way.  Why Do We Get Seasonal Allergies? Shutterstock First, before we get into Dr. Pescatore’s top tips, let’s get to the bottom of why we get seasonal allergies in the first place. “Seasonal allergies are our bodies’ response to allergens in the environment,” he says. Allergens are typically harmless substances (such as dust, pollen, mold, etc.) capable of triggering the body’s immune system, resulting in an allergic reaction. “Our bodies interpret these allergens as a health threat, and this will trigger an inflammatory reaction,” says Dr. Perscatore, “Leading to allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, and headache.” Pollen is the most typical allergen, but other spring and summer environmental allergens such as grass and ragweed can also impact the body. What Is the Reason Behind Longer and More Intense Allergy Seasons? Shutterstock If you feel like your symptoms have gotten worse and lasted for a lot longer in recent years, you’re not imagining it. Sadly, the main culprit behind these longer, more intense allergy seasons is global warming. As Dr. Pescatore explains, “Rising global temperatures caused by climate change can lead to longer allergy seasons and overall worsen air quality.” The warming temperatures are resulting in “plants producing more pollen over longer growing seasons, leading to more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens, and heightened allergy symptoms.” In other words, the future’s not looking great for allergy-sufferers. “Pollen seasons grew by 20 days and had 21% more pollen over the last 40 years.” He then goes onto say experts predict this trend continuing, with the average pollen count in 2040 being more than double what it was in 2000.  10 Ways to Naturally Relieve Allergies

  1. Rinse Your Eyes Shutterstock This might seem like an obvious one, but when our eyes are itchy, usually our first thought is to try and fight off all temptation to itch them, to ride it out when it should actually be to wash them.  “Allergies can cause burning, itching, and tearing in our eyes as well as swelling of the eyelids. Washing your eyes with clean water or an eye wetting product moistens them to provide relief when they are dry and irritated. It also removes allergens that cause eye inflammation,” says Dr. Pescatore.  Once rinsed, for some extra TLC, swap out the cucumber slices (because who has a spare cucumber lying around anyway?) for a cold washcloth over the eyes for a cooling sensation. 
  2. Wash Your Clothes Often Shutterstock We hope we don’t need to remind you to wash your clothes regularly, but we’re all guilty of popping out for a quick errand and saving the same outfit for another day because it didn’t get worn for long enough. Or you wasted a good outfit on a bad date that you left early. But when you suffer from allergies, even five minutes outside is enough for pollen to gather on your clothes to cause a reaction.  “When worn outdoors, your clothes can carry small particles back into your home and cause more exposure and allergic reaction,” says Dr. Pescatore. Once you bring these into your home, they’ll become much harder to get rid of as they’re able to cling onto your home furnishings such as your duvet, curtains, and sofa. The sanctuary you had to hide away from allergies will become a hotspot for pollen. “Washing your clothes after outdoor activity can remove lingering allergens.” 
  3. Manage Your Stress Levels Shutterstock As if being stressed wasn’t bad enough, it can also intensify your allergies. “Stress can be a powerful force on your physical and mental well-being, and it can pile on quickly. Stress hormones can negatively impact the immune system, increase oxidative stress levels, and inflame seasonal allergy symptoms,” he says.  Different things trigger stress for different people, so the way each of us will go about managing our stress levels won’t always be the same. 
  4. Add a Natural Supplement Shutterstock Try adding a natural anti-inflammatory supplement into your daily routine. While this might seem similar to popping those synthetic pills you’re trying to get away from, Dr. Pescatore recommends Pycnogenol, a completely natural ingredient sourced from an exclusive unspoiled forest in southwest France.  “Pycnogenol, an extract from French maritime pine bark, is shown in research to reduce the body’s response to histamines without the side effects typically experienced with allergy medications, such as drowsiness,” so you can still go about your day as usual.  “Supplementing daily with Pycnogenol can substantially reduce the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies, like burning, itchy, or watering eyes, and stuffy, runny, or itchy nose” – so this natural supplement is one you definitely won’t mind taking every day. 
  5. Use Air Conditioners, Dehumidifiers, and HEPA Filters Shutterstock Air conditioning during warmer months is always a good idea. There’s nothing better than coming home after a long day in the sun and feeling fresh, cool air on your skin. But if you have allergies, air conditioners can beat that feeling. “Air conditioners and dehumidifiers help to remove moisture from the air, which will decrease mold and mildew growth which can aggravate allergy symptoms even further.”  Many people are skeptical about air purifiers, mainly because you can’t physically see them working, but Dr. Pescatore vouches for them. “HEPA filters can ease allergy symptoms by trapping allergens and other irritants, like dust, from circulating in the air.” Whether you have allergies or not, an air purifier will benefit your health by removing toxins from the air.  But there’s no reason to have to decide between keeping cool and breathing in cleaner air as many brands are combining air conditioning and HEPA filters together. 
  6. Eat an Anti-inflammatory Diet Shutterstock Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process. When your body is fighting an infection, injury, or both, inflammatory cells are sent to the area to minimize the damage. But this can become problematic when the inflammation lingers. Regularly eating foods high in fat, sugar, and salt can cause the body to remain inflamed. “When you experience allergy symptoms, that is your body triggering an inflammatory response. Eating foods that have anti-inflammatory benefits can help reduce symptoms,” he says.  Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into at least every meal can help pack the punch you need to reduce allergy symptoms. Plus, Dr. Pescatore reminds us that we should be fueling our body with nutrient-dense foods anyway, as a way to keep our bodies healthy and our immune system strong. So, what types of foods should you be including? Some of Dr. Pescatore’s recommendations include garlic, lemon, and green leafy vegetables. Which, if we must say, are pretty easy to incorporate nearly into any meal.
  7. Clean Your Home of Irritants Shutterstock Get your spring clean on. Spring cleaning is a must-do ritual when it comes to sprucing up your space for the season. Not only will it make you feel better (mentally and emotionally), but it can also help to tame those physical allergy symptoms. Those pesky allergens know no limits! “Allergens can come inside with you after you spend time outdoors,” says Dr. Pescatore, but “they also can come in through any open windows or doors.”  One solution? And you may be sad to hear this (or not if you’re a certified clean freak), but regularly cleaning your space can drastically improve the number of allergens floating around in your home. Dr. Pescatore recommends vacuuming and wiping down surfaces daily and washing items like bedsheets, towels, and blankets as often as you can.
  8. Steam Shutterstock Bring on the spa day. But seriously, steam is an age-old remedy for flushing out allergens and irritants in your nasal passages. “Steam can also help to break up mucus and moisten dry nasal passages, both typical symptoms experienced by seasonal allergy sufferers.”  So how can you get more steam into your daily diet? It’s not through steamed veggies. Dr. Pescatore says one of the easiest ways to do this is to “turn on a hot shower and inhale deeply through your nose for five to 10 minutes.” If you regularly go to a gym or spa with a steam room, that can also be a great place to get steamy and let your mucus and allergens clear away naturally. 
  9. Try Aromatherapy Shutterstock For some hard-core believers, aromatherapy fixes everything. And while you may or may not share the same philosophy, the truth is that essential oils have countless uses, many of which are scientifically backed. One of the most popular ways to use them (and arguably the best if you’re dealing with spring and summertime allergies) is to diffuse them into the air.  Two of the best oils that Dr. Pescatore recommends are lavender and eucalyptus. “Lavender oil has many calming properties that help the body to relax,” he says. “Eucalyptus oil can also be used to experience a cooling sensation,” he says, which can alleviate congestion and open up the airways. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant compounds, so there’s also a risk of reaction when using these oils themselves. “Some people may find themselves allergic to certain essential oils, so I always suggest consulting your doctor before use.”
  10. Take a Shower Shutterstock We’re not saying that you smell, but… just kidding. Taking regular showers can actually be an effective way of relieving allergy symptoms, especially if you’ve been spending time outdoors as airborne allergens such as pollen can stick to clothing, hair, and the skin. Dr. Pescatore advises taking a shower first thing when you get home after being outside in order to wash away lingering allergens that may be hiding on your skin or in your hair.

Ah, the scent of spring. Blooming flowers and freshly cut grass fill the air with a delightful fragrance that says summer’s on its way. But not everyone would agree. For others, it smells like a whole lot of pollen, leading to itchy eyes, a runny nose, and a tough-to-shake headache.

As it turns out, many people run across these seasonal allergy symptoms every year. Hay fever – as it’s often called, even though it has nothing to do with hay – affects nearly 25 million Americans every year.

While it may be easy to pop an allergy-relief pill every morning and night, some of us are apprehensive about doing so. If allergies are natural reactions, then there have to be natural solutions, right? To help guide you through allergy season in the most natural (yet effective) way possible, we’ve talked to renowned natural health physician and best-selling author Dr. Fred Pescatore about the 10 best ways to relieve allergies the natural way. 

Why Do We Get Seasonal Allergies?

Shutterstock

First, before we get into Dr. Pescatore’s top tips, let’s get to the bottom of why we get seasonal allergies in the first place. “Seasonal allergies are our bodies’ response to allergens in the environment,” he says. Allergens are typically harmless substances (such as dust, pollen, mold, etc.) capable of triggering the body’s immune system, resulting in an allergic reaction.

“Our bodies interpret these allergens as a health threat, and this will trigger an inflammatory reaction,” says Dr. Perscatore, “Leading to allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, and headache.” Pollen is the most typical allergen, but other spring and summer environmental allergens such as grass and ragweed can also impact the body.

What Is the Reason Behind Longer and More Intense Allergy Seasons?

If you feel like your symptoms have gotten worse and lasted for a lot longer in recent years, you’re not imagining it. Sadly, the main culprit behind these longer, more intense allergy seasons is global warming. As Dr. Pescatore explains, “Rising global temperatures caused by climate change can lead to longer allergy seasons and overall worsen air quality.”

The warming temperatures are resulting in “plants producing more pollen over longer growing seasons, leading to more pollen in the air, stronger airborne allergens, and heightened allergy symptoms.” In other words, the future’s not looking great for allergy-sufferers.

“Pollen seasons grew by 20 days and had 21% more pollen over the last 40 years.” He then goes onto say experts predict this trend continuing, with the average pollen count in 2040 being more than double what it was in 2000. 

10 Ways to Naturally Relieve Allergies

1. Rinse Your Eyes

This might seem like an obvious one, but when our eyes are itchy, usually our first thought is to try and fight off all temptation to itch them, to ride it out when it should actually be to wash them. 

“Allergies can cause burning, itching, and tearing in our eyes as well as swelling of the eyelids. Washing your eyes with clean water or an eye wetting product moistens them to provide relief when they are dry and irritated. It also removes allergens that cause eye inflammation,” says Dr. Pescatore. 

Once rinsed, for some extra TLC, swap out the cucumber slices (because who has a spare cucumber lying around anyway?) for a cold washcloth over the eyes for a cooling sensation. 

2. Wash Your Clothes Often

We hope we don’t need to remind you to wash your clothes regularly, but we’re all guilty of popping out for a quick errand and saving the same outfit for another day because it didn’t get worn for long enough. Or you wasted a good outfit on a bad date that you left early. But when you suffer from allergies, even five minutes outside is enough for pollen to gather on your clothes to cause a reaction. 

“When worn outdoors, your clothes can carry small particles back into your home and cause more exposure and allergic reaction,” says Dr. Pescatore. Once you bring these into your home, they’ll become much harder to get rid of as they’re able to cling onto your home furnishings such as your duvet, curtains, and sofa. The sanctuary you had to hide away from allergies will become a hotspot for pollen. “Washing your clothes after outdoor activity can remove lingering allergens.” 

3. Manage Your Stress Levels

As if being stressed wasn’t bad enough, it can also intensify your allergies. “Stress can be a powerful force on your physical and mental well-being, and it can pile on quickly. Stress hormones can negatively impact the immune system, increase oxidative stress levels, and inflame seasonal allergy symptoms,” he says. 

Different things trigger stress for different people, so the way each of us will go about managing our stress levels won’t always be the same. 

4. Add a Natural Supplement

Try adding a natural anti-inflammatory supplement into your daily routine. While this might seem similar to popping those synthetic pills you’re trying to get away from, Dr. Pescatore recommends Pycnogenol, a completely natural ingredient sourced from an exclusive unspoiled forest in southwest France. 

“Pycnogenol, an extract from French maritime pine bark, is shown in research to reduce the body’s response to histamines without the side effects typically experienced with allergy medications, such as drowsiness,” so you can still go about your day as usual. 

“Supplementing daily with Pycnogenol can substantially reduce the symptoms associated with seasonal allergies, like burning, itchy, or watering eyes, and stuffy, runny, or itchy nose” – so this natural supplement is one you definitely won’t mind taking every day. 

5. Use Air Conditioners, Dehumidifiers, and HEPA Filters

Air conditioning during warmer months is always a good idea. There’s nothing better than coming home after a long day in the sun and feeling fresh, cool air on your skin. But if you have allergies, air conditioners can beat that feeling. “Air conditioners and dehumidifiers help to remove moisture from the air, which will decrease mold and mildew growth which can aggravate allergy symptoms even further.” 

Many people are skeptical about air purifiers, mainly because you can’t physically see them working, but Dr. Pescatore vouches for them. “HEPA filters can ease allergy symptoms by trapping allergens and other irritants, like dust, from circulating in the air.”

Whether you have allergies or not, an air purifier will benefit your health by removing toxins from the air.  But there’s no reason to have to decide between keeping cool and breathing in cleaner air as many brands are combining air conditioning and HEPA filters together. 

6. Eat an Anti-inflammatory Diet

Inflammation is part of the body’s healing process. When your body is fighting an infection, injury, or both, inflammatory cells are sent to the area to minimize the damage. But this can become problematic when the inflammation lingers.

Regularly eating foods high in fat, sugar, and salt can cause the body to remain inflamed. “When you experience allergy symptoms, that is your body triggering an inflammatory response. Eating foods that have anti-inflammatory benefits can help reduce symptoms,” he says. 

Incorporating anti-inflammatory foods into at least every meal can help pack the punch you need to reduce allergy symptoms. Plus, Dr. Pescatore reminds us that we should be fueling our body with nutrient-dense foods anyway, as a way to keep our bodies healthy and our immune system strong.

So, what types of foods should you be including? Some of Dr. Pescatore’s recommendations include garlic, lemon, and green leafy vegetables. Which, if we must say, are pretty easy to incorporate nearly into any meal.

7. Clean Your Home of Irritants

Get your spring clean on. Spring cleaning is a must-do ritual when it comes to sprucing up your space for the season. Not only will it make you feel better (mentally and emotionally), but it can also help to tame those physical allergy symptoms. Those pesky allergens know no limits! “Allergens can come inside with you after you spend time outdoors,” says Dr. Pescatore, but “they also can come in through any open windows or doors.” 

One solution? And you may be sad to hear this (or not if you’re a certified clean freak), but regularly cleaning your space can drastically improve the number of allergens floating around in your home. Dr. Pescatore recommends vacuuming and wiping down surfaces daily and washing items like bedsheets, towels, and blankets as often as you can.

8. Steam

Bring on the spa day. But seriously, steam is an age-old remedy for flushing out allergens and irritants in your nasal passages. “Steam can also help to break up mucus and moisten dry nasal passages, both typical symptoms experienced by seasonal allergy sufferers.” 

So how can you get more steam into your daily diet? It’s not through steamed veggies. Dr. Pescatore says one of the easiest ways to do this is to “turn on a hot shower and inhale deeply through your nose for five to 10 minutes.” If you regularly go to a gym or spa with a steam room, that can also be a great place to get steamy and let your mucus and allergens clear away naturally. 

9. Try Aromatherapy

For some hard-core believers, aromatherapy fixes everything. And while you may or may not share the same philosophy, the truth is that essential oils have countless uses, many of which are scientifically backed. One of the most popular ways to use them (and arguably the best if you’re dealing with spring and summertime allergies) is to diffuse them into the air. 

Two of the best oils that Dr. Pescatore recommends are lavender and eucalyptus. “Lavender oil has many calming properties that help the body to relax,” he says. “Eucalyptus oil can also be used to experience a cooling sensation,” he says, which can alleviate congestion and open up the airways.

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant compounds, so there’s also a risk of reaction when using these oils themselves. “Some people may find themselves allergic to certain essential oils, so I always suggest consulting your doctor before use.”

10. Take a Shower

We’re not saying that you smell, but… just kidding. Taking regular showers can actually be an effective way of relieving allergy symptoms, especially if you’ve been spending time outdoors as airborne allergens such as pollen can stick to clothing, hair, and the skin.

Dr. Pescatore advises taking a shower first thing when you get home after being outside in order to wash away lingering allergens that may be hiding on your skin or in your hair.