The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Honey
Posted by Nikki (Ft. Wayne, Indiana) on 09/27/2011
★★★★★
I took one tsp. Every day for about 3 months (to finish the one container I bought) in the morning over the winter time and the next spring my allergies that I had my entire life were gone. I didn't have to take meds for 9months out of the year anymore. Just a nasal spray for about 3 weeks in fall, but I just bought more honey that was made from pollen of fall plants. I am hoping this takes care of the last of the allergies. That one container I consumed has worked for the last 3 years. Honey is awesome!!
Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric, Local Honey
Posted by Rob (Manhattan, New York) on 05/27/2010
★★★★★
in the thick of this allergy season my old remedies of Freeze Dried Stinging Nettle, MSM & Quercetin didn't seem to be working as well... I started drinking them down with ACV & cayenne, and that did the trick..breathing through my nose again...and can concur with above, skin looks better..dark allergy circles under eyes are not as prominent.
Bee Pollen
Posted by Randyl (Richmond, VA) on 10/14/2008
★★★★★
Local bee pollen for allergy symptoms
I am extremely lucky to know a bee keeper who suffers as I do from allergies. It comes loose, rather than in capsules, and is from bees about 45 minutes from my home. Local pollen is very important to me.
While symptomatic, I use 1/2 tsp. in oatmeal or in an all-fruit smoothie daily. Otherwise, take 1/2 - 1 tsp every 2-3 days. Once I began two years ago, I have not had a single sinus headache or post nasal drip. The first time I tried it, I used a little more because I'd been ill for almost a month. The wad of phlegm that sat in my throat was gone overnight after taking my first 1 Tbl dose in a smoothie. After 3 days of taking 1 tsp daily, all symptoms were gone.
Hydrogen Peroxide Inhalation
Posted by Sandhi (USA) on 09/19/2007
★★★★★
To Ted: My Ragweed Allergy can get pretty ugly. completely stuffed up nose at night, post nasal drip, scratchy throat, uncontrolled sneezing and general feeling of being run down. H2O2 was giving me bloating, when drinking it in water. This time I bought a nasal pump. Put 3% HP (h2o2) in it, and pumped it in my mouth. To my surprise, the post nasal drip stopped almost immediately and the sneezing stopped. I carried my nasal pump to work, and did the same, as soon as I found, a big sneeze is on its way. And it worked almost every time. So the oxidative therapy of HP is working far better than all the Vitamin C, Vitamin E, NAC, Zinc, b-complex I was taking in hopes of combating the allergies. I am really thankful to you, cause had you not written posiitve things abt HP, I would have had no courage to try HP. You motivated me. Although I tried Bill Munro's method and I am also going to thank him personally.
Please note: spraying HP in nostrils is really irritating. But spraying it insides of the mouth/ under the tongue, can literally stop and allergy attack. ( It has at least in my case). With allergy symptoms under control, I feel I have more energy and need less sleep, get less tired. Apart from spraying, I am also taking like 2 drops of 35% HP in a glass of water in the morning. I really wanna kill all the bugs out there. I am really impressed... thankyou.
Honey
Posted by Sheilagh (Austin, TX) on 09/06/2007
★★★★★
I take issue with the requirement for using local honey. My mom found the Dr. Jarvis folk medicine suggestion of taking honey to alleviate sniffles. Works great! To test this, mom & dad brought me honey from Spain. *SAME* wonderful effect. It isn't the local part of the honey that works, it's the *honey* part, irrespective of origin!
Nettles
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 05/19/2020
★★★★★
I have posted about nettle many times in the past. I have used it for my children for allergies for years. My allergies this spring have been very bad. I think having an indoor cat this year has really aggravated my allergies in general. But this cat is part of the family. If she jumps in my lap my nose starts running. We did get a HEPA filter for our central air/heat unit. And I started to take nettle. I take once capsule morning and evening. This reduces my symptoms at least 90%. ~Mama to Many~
Address Dehydration
Posted by Denise (MA) on 04/17/2024
I would suggest using Redmond's Real Salt, which is unrefined and packed with minerals. Better for you than theH imalayan pink salt.
Lemon Juice
Posted by Stephanie (Georgia, Usa) on 08/30/2013
★★★★★
I haven't seen much on this but lemon juice can stop an allergy attack in its tracks... Almost instantly. Depending on the severity of the attack and how long you have allowed it to go, you may have to take two or three shots of lemon juice. That's how we do it. My husband has severe allergy attacks and most allergy meds doesn't even help him. If I hear him sneezing and blowing his nose I run and grab the lemon juice, he takes a big swig from the bottle and the attack will usually stop, sometimes if it's a bad one he will have to take a second swig. This has worked great for our family.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Miked (Exeter, Nh, Usa) on 05/29/2013
★★★★★
Just wanted to post this b/c I am a teacher and I believe in helping people. I have suffered from allergies all my life. In the last 20 years it has been really bad. I started seeing an allergist. Got allergy shots for 10 years. Developed nasal pollyps which is inflamed sinus tissue that forms into little balloons that block your nose. I saw my allergist three weeks ago and I couldnt breathe through my nose and I had an ear infection. He gave me antibiotics and my ear healed but my nose was still plogged up. He also gave me more nasal sprays. Last week I got an infection in my face that felt so bleeping bad it brought me to tears. I went to my regular Dr. and he gave me antibiotics and my nose cleared up.
On Saturday I ate some broccolli in a bag and shrimp and my nose swelled up. I have been trying natural rememdies for about a year now and what I have discovered is that I diagnosed myself opposite and my remedies were hurting me even more and made me toxic.
Your body makes histamines in response to allegies or foreign material that freaks your body out. It causes inflammation and then mucus gets trapped in there and causes you to get stuffed up. Food high in histamine naturally are a lot of surprising bad foods and good foods like soda, spinach, tomatoes, cheese, alcohol, vineger and lots more. Ressearch if you would like. I dont seem to need medicine and doesn't seem that allergies bother me after eating foods low in histamine.
I eat bananas, fresh turkey (foods processed and bagged are not good for you at all), watermelon, apples, ricotta cheese, grapes, eggs were ok, potato salad without prapika.
If you have health problems there are answers for you that maybe your Dr. doesn't know about or just wants to pump you up with medicine. But, my problems might not be yours. But if someone feels better from cutting out histamine foods...... Great.
Common reactions to histamine are also skin rashes and hives. My 5 year old nephew suffers from this so I told my sister.
I also tried the ACV and GFSE. Vinegar is not good for histamine intolerance. I also tried all that sinuswars stuff. If I eat right I feel great and don't need anything. Here are some general pointers:
- Avoid or reduce eating canned foods and ready meals
- Avoid or reduce eating ripened and fermented foods (older cheeses, alcoholic drinks, products containing yeast, stale fish)
- Histamine levels in foods vary, depending on how ripe, matured or hygienic the foods are
- As much as it is possible, only buy and eat fresh products.
- Don't allow foods to linger outside the refrigerator - especially meat products
- Ensure that your food preparation area (kitchen) is always kept clean - but don't be manic!
- Everyone has their own threshold; you will need to find yours
- Consult a certified dietician about working out a balanced diet
- Learn to cook! It can be loads of fun once you get into it
Low histamine level foods:
- Fresh meat (cooled, frozen or fresh)
- Freshly caught fish
- Chicken (skinned and fresh)
- Egg yolk
- Fresh fruits - with the exception of strawberries, most fresh fruits are considered to have a low histamine level (also see histamine liberators below)
Fresh vegetables - with the exception of tomatoes
- Grains - rice noodles, yeast free rye bread, rice crisp bread, oats, puffed rice crackers, millet flour, pasta (spelt and corn based)
- Fresh pasteurised milk and milk products
- Milk substitutes- coconut milk, rice milk
- Cream cheese, butter (without the histamine generating rancidity)
- Most cooking oils - check suitability before use
- Most leafy herbs - check suitability before use
- Most non-citric fruit juices
- Herbal teas - with the exception of those listed below
High histamine level foods:
- Alcohol
- Pickled or canned foods - sauerkrauts
- Matured cheeses
- Smoked meat products - salami, ham, sausages.
- Shellfish
- Beans and pulses - chickpeas, soy beans, peanuts
- Nuts - walnuts, cashew nuts
- Chocolates and other cocoa based products
- Most citric fruits
- Wheat based products
- Vinegar
- Ready meals
- Salty snacks, sweets with preservatives and artificial colourings
Histamine liberators:
- Most citric fruits - kiwi, lemon, lime, pineapple, plums
- Cocoa and chocolate
- Nuts
- Papaya
- Beans and pulses
- Tomatoes
- Wheat germ
- Additives - benzoate, sulphites, nitrites, glutamate, food dyes
Diamine Oxidase (DAO) blockers:
- Alcohol
- Black tea
- Energy drinks
- Green tea
- Mate tea
Debatable:
- Yoghurt - depends on the bacteria culture used
- Egg white - it is a histamine liberator only when in its raw state
Other:
- Yeast - even though it does not contain histamine as such, yeast serves as a catalyst for histamine generation during manufacture. There is no yeast in the end product.
Sources include:
http://www.nahrungsmittel-intoleranz.com/histaminintoleranz-informationen/symptome-histaminintoleranz.html
Maintz L, Novak N: Histamine and histamine intolerance, American Journal of Clinical
MSM
Posted by Tina (Houston, Usa) on 10/04/2012
★★★★★
YEA - I have been taking 1000mg MSM each evening to help with hair loss due to low thyroid, but am simply AMAZED at it's efficiency to eliminate seasonal allergy symptoms like runny nose, congestion, itchy eyes, coughing, etc.
If I take it in the AM, I do feel tired through the day, but taking it in the evening aids in sleeping through the night, and eliminates allergy symptons. Who knew?
Bee Pollen
Posted by Lisa (Closter, Nj) on 05/02/2011
★★★★★
Take a full dropper of Bee Propolis in a tablespoon of Manuka Honey (also containing 85% bee pollen). It TOTALLY cured my allergies! Also gastritis.
I used to need antibiotics at least 5-7x pr yr. for chronic rhinitis/sinusitis. Comes from a yeasty gut. Allergic nose sinusitus=chronic sinus infections! .... NO MORE!!!
Clean out yourself also- and eat clean. Get rid of the yeast too- and you'll be better in NO time.
Honey
Posted by Amanda Rene (Anderson, California, USA) on 10/17/2008
★★★★★
Try using local honey to alleviate allergy symptoms. Look for it at health food stores or your local Farmers' Market. This saved me from terrible eye pain caused by my allergies. From what I understand, using the honey is kind of like having a vaccination. Local honey works for allergy symptoms because it is made using the same plants you are having an allergic reaction to. Include a tablespoon of local honey in a cup of hot tea two or three times a day to begin with. When your symptoms are alleviated, maintain with one dose daily.
MSM
Posted by Tim (Berkeley, CA) on 07/07/2008
★★★★★
I have had seasonal allergies for the past 6-7 years. Earlier this year I read about how MSM can alleviate the symptoms of seasonal allergies, so I decided to give it a try. The allergy season was just starting and I could feel my eyes getting a bit itchy. I started taking 1000 mg of MSM and within 1 hour I was feeling better. It works as well as any OTC allergy medicine with out the negative health effects. As a matter of fact it is supposed to have beneficial health effects. I now take 1000 mg of MSM twice per day and have not had any more symptoms of allergies. I love this stuff.
Vitamin E
Posted by Elpidio (Lompoc, CA) on 02/15/2008
★★★★★
For dust and pollen allergies I have to say that vitamine E saved me frome years of itchy eyes runy nose and lots of missery I was taking 800mg a day until I was 100% ok I finished the botle of 100 caps.I was good for like 3 years then they came back but now I know the remedy.
Vaseline Coated Inside the Nose
Posted by Nytrini (Austin, TX)
★★★★★
I have been having seasonal allergies ever since during spring and fall. I would get runny nose, itchy & watery and swollen eyes. Sometimes I would have to blow my nose a dozen times in 1/2 hr after i wakes up. After researching for a long time i concluded you must pevent the allergens from eaching your bloodstream. You cannot cover your nose but i had another idea. You can coat the inside of the nose with Vaseline. I have been doing this for about a month, morning and night and haven't had to blow my nose not more than twice since then. No itchy, watery or swollen eyes. I was surprised it works. It even prevents sneezing and the common cold. I used to take Claritin but haven't taken any since then.
Zinc
Posted by Misty (Indiana, Usa) on 05/04/2016
★★★★★
I've recently had an increase in allergies, which I've read could be related to copper toxicity. Note that vegetarians are particularly susceptible, as most zinc-rich vegetarian foods are also high in copper. High-zinc/low-copper foods are mainly animal products, which I haven't been eating much of lately! Sure enough, I was eating a lot of copper-rich foods and taking copper through my B-complex and multivitamin!
Well, I reduced those supplements and added a 50mg chelated zinc tablet. My skin is less dry, is clearing up, and I have more energy! I also have noticed an increase in libido, which apparently zinc has been known to do.
Butterbur
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 07/10/2015
Dear Bonbon,
I have not used Butterbur before. I do see in the literature that it is not recommended for long time use, though.
There are other herbs that work very well for allergies. Nettle Leaf has helped a couple of my children with allergies very much! My son would take 4 capsules twice a day. If he had symptoms mid-day he would take another dose. He also took a capsule of Quercetin morning and evening. After taking this consistently for a year or 18 months, he no longer had allergy problems. Nettle is considered very safe and nutritious.
~Mama to Many~
Niacin
Posted by Gean (Salina, Kansas) on 09/17/2012
★★★★★
My husband has had ragweed allergies for many years, and we've tried everything. Many times he had to sleep sitting up in a chair during the ragweed season because he couldn't breathe lying down, because of nasal congestion. This year he tried niacin, and within 20 minutes of taking it he has no more symptoms whatsoever. It has to be nicotinic acid, the kind that makes you flush. He takes 750 to 1000 mg twice a day. If the pollen count is very high he has to take the higher dose, otherwise 750 will do it. Do not take the no-flush kind, or the slow release kind. Has to be nicotinic acid - you can get it at health food stores. Do not take it more than twice a day, otherwise it can be harmful to the liver. Take at least as much mg vitamin C as niacin per day.