Just when you’ve managed to survive Spring allergies and Summer allergies, here comes the fall season with its own unique set of challenges. Many people don’t understand why they’re still sneezing and having watery eyes in the Fall because the blooms of warm weather have faded away. To help you find relief during this beautiful time of year, here is some information about Fall allergy triggers and what you can do to ease allergies naturally.
Causes of Fall Allergies
The biggest cause of Fall allergies in the U.S. is ragweed, and there are over a dozen species of it across the country. Ragweed pollen typically hits its peak in mid-September and lingers through the end of November. The symptoms of this type of allergy is similar to other types of pollen allergies and include sneezing, congestion, runny nose, itchy eyes, sore throat, and headaches. Ragweed also has a way of traveling for hundreds of miles in the wind.
In addition to this outdoor trigger, mold and dust mites are common indoor triggers of Fall allergies. Dust mites get stirred up in the air when you first turn on your heater. All those piles of damp leaves in the yard are breeding grounds for mold to form.
Natural Treatments for Fall Allergies
To help control your Fall allergies, you don’t necessarily have to grab the first prescription or over-the-counter medication you can find. Using a dehumidifier in the bedroom while you sleep can help with allergies if they are being caused by mold or dust mites. For indoor allergies, you can also run the air conditioner at night, install a HEPA filter system, and keep windows closed.
Always keep Seagate’s Olive Leaf Nasal Spray handy.
Always check the pollen levels before heading outside to minimize your exposure, especially if your body is sensitive to ragweed. It’s also a smart idea to dry your clothes indoors when doing laundry so that pollen doesn’t collect on your them and come back inside with you. Some people swear by acupuncture to ease their allergies throughout the year, so it’s worth a try if you’re struggling to get through the fall.
Foods to Fight Fall Allergies
In addition to these practical measures, there are also some healthy foods that you can eat to give your body its best fighting chance against allergies. Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds, can help keep inflammation down when you have allergies. Meanwhile, spicy foods, like peppers and horseradish, can help clear stuffed-up sinuses so that you can breathe easier.
Stinging nettle is a natural antihistamine that is used as an allergy remedy as well. You can brew the plant in tea or find it in freeze-dried capsule form. Plain yogurt is another good food to eat when you are feeling allergy symptoms because it is packed with probiotics that restore good bacteria in the body so that it can counter harmful bacteria. Add a little raw, local honey into your yogurt for extra sweetness and an immune system boost.
Since ragweed has been known to latch onto certain types of produce, you should jot down notes about what you have eaten when your allergy symptoms are the most severe. For example, people who have ragweed allergies have reported issues after eating bananas, melons, cucumbers, and zucchini.