Allergies

[HometownGal]

I'm sure some of you can relate to my agony this time of the year suffering from seasonal allergies. This year, it seems to be worse than ever and I've been feeling like shit for the past several weeks.

Because of my sinus cancer history, I cannot take decongestants or antihistamines which only makes matters worse.

Do any of you allergy sufferers have any tips or home remedies on how to combat this issue? I'm about ready to lose my mind!!

Thanks in advance!

[MasterOfPuppets]

http://health.howstuffworks.com/herb...-allergies.htm

http://health.howstuffworks.com/home...allergies3.htm

I have bad sinuses and sometimes get infections multiple times a year. While I mostly end up taking some kind of medicine for it, there's some good natural remedies as well.

You could use the old hot steam method or a bit of brandy (or whiskey), lemon and honey in tea method...but those never help me out that much by themselves. Although chopping up some garlic and adding it to the hot water works much better than steaming water alone. Stinky, but it clears the sinuses.

Spicy foods (jalepenos, cayenne pepper/poweder etc.) help mucus flow and open up the nasal passages.

Horseradish...and this may sound gross, but it works. Make a solution of 1 teaspoons of horseradish mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, it has the miraculous power of reducing that mucus and helps the drainage process. You can eat this solution straight or mix it with rice or potatoes if you experience a burning sensation when taking it straight.

Apple Cider Vinegar (better if used at the onset of a sinus infection). You can either add some to boiling water and use it as a steamer or mix 1/8 to 1/4 cup in 16 oz of water and sip it throughout the day. The other method is to gulp 2 TBSP of in 8 oz of water all at once.

I've never tried this method yet, but I've heard it works ok. Get yourself an actual root of the ginger plant and use a cheese grater to empty about 1/4 cup of the root into a pint of boiling water. Let it simmer for 15 minutes and then strain the results. Dip a washcloth into the pot until it is nice and damp and then cover your face to help with the nasal drainage.

[Leftoverhard]

I thought my allergies were bad - I can't imagine not being able to take decongestants or antihistamines.

These things have worked to various degrees for me:

Boil hot water, pour it in a bowl, put towel over head and bowl and breath through your nose.

Neti pot - weird but once you get it done the first time, it gets addictive. very good for cleaning pollen out of your sinuses. Should do it a few times a day when experiencing crappy symptoms.

Local honey and local bee pollen. They work but you have to take the stuff all the time, even when you're feeling good. It's a 365 days a year thing with the pollen.

Advil. If you can, this reduces the swelling in your sinuses and takes the edge off. I take 3 if the pressure is bad.

Change your bedding every day, especially pillowcase - wash your hair twice a day when it's bad. the pollen collects in these places and constantly bombards you because it's so close to your face.

Supposedly there are certain foods that can aggravate the symptoms. Not sure about that one.

Feel better - hope any of that helps. Allergies are the bane of my existence too right now.

Almost forgot - drink more water than normal - a lot more. It thins the allergy loaded mucous and thats what you want - thinner stuff means less pressure etc...

[steelerdude15]

Even though I can't really be a help here when it comes to allergies, I do hope that you feel better soon and I hope that everything is ok!

[Preacher]

Well... It won't be much help right now. But my suggestion is immunization shots.

wasabe peas. you can get em on the strip and about any gas station. take them to the game with you.

[HometownGal]

Thanks all for the tips and direction. I feel like a bus ran over me, as on top of the allergies - I have a sinus infection with bronchitis. I just completed a 10 day course of antibiotics (Augmentin 875 bid) and I don't think it really did all that much good.

SCM - Like you, I get multiple sinus infections every year no matter what the season, but mostly in the spring and winter. I don't have sinuses on the right side because of the 2 cancers and my left side has to work in overdrive. Ughhhh.

LH - I have heard that the Neti Pot is effective - have you personally tried it? I'm leaning in that direction.

[silver & black]

instead of a neti pot, I use one of those rubber bulbs that you use to de-snot a baby...LOL. I fill it with warm salt water and blast it through my sinuses. It works pretty good.

[Steel Mountain]

++++1 on the neti pot!!! I use one almost daily during allergy season. Get the one that comes with the solution tp put in it. Also, +1 on the local honey and bee pollen. I am a board certified nutritionist and swear by this method.