Spring is In Bloom! Natural Ways to Treat Seasonal Allergies

Spring in the Midwest brings blooming flowers, warmer weather, and for many, a wave of frustrating allergy symptoms. Sneezing, itchy eyes, skin irritation and nasal congestion are all too common as trees, grasses, and weeds release pollen into the air. When allergy season strikes, many people reach for over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines like Claritin, but are these traditional solutions the only option? Let’s dive into how they work and explore alternatives that may offer more comprehensive relief.

How Allergies Trigger Symptoms

Allergies start when your immune system mistakenly identifies harmless substances — like pollen or pet dander — as threats. This triggers the release of histamine, a chemical responsible for swelling, inflammation, and those uncomfortable allergy symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, skin irritation and congestion. Histamine binds to receptors throughout the body, especially in the nose, throat, and skin, causing those familiar reactions that make allergy season miserable.

How Conventional Antihistamines Like Claritin Work

Claritin (Loratadine) is a second-generation antihistamine designed to block histamine receptors. By preventing histamine from binding to these receptors, Claritin helps reduce symptoms like sneezing and itchy eyes without causing drowsiness — a side effect more common with first-generation antihistamines like Benadryl.

These medications are not receptor site specific and therefore affect histamine receptors in EVERY cell of the body and can cause other side effects such as dry mouth and upset stomach.  Histamine stimulates the parietal cells in the stomach to release acid (gastric acid). which is needed for digestion.  This acid is crucial for breaking down food, activating digestive enzymes, and killing harmful bacteria. It also aids motility, helping the digestive tract move food through the system.  Long term use of these OTC medications can have long term health implications.

While Claritin and other OTC antihistamines can provide effective symptom relief, they primarily block histamine’s effects rather than addressing the immune system’s broader inflammatory response. So, let’s discuss some additional options

Watch Dr. Logan's Natural Allergy Relief Video Below

Prevention and Natural Treatments

Below we have listed many ideas for preventing the impact of seasonal allergies along with natural treatments that can be easily found in the Natural Pharmacy.  

Prevention

1.      Eliminate high allergen foods like dairy, wheat/gluten, soy, eggs and high histamine

foods during allergy seasons.

2.      Use a neti pot or nasal rinse daily to aid in flushing the allergens out of the nasal

passage.

3.      After nasal rinse, use a nasal oil daily to lubricate the nasal passages to aid in making

the nasal passage a less inhibitable place for allergens to stick.

4.      Avoid extended periods outdoors on high allergen or highly windy days. 

5.      Wear a mask when doing outdoor yard work like mowing the grass.

6.      Keep home and car windows closed to avoid overexposure.

7.      Use indoor air filter systems like the Austin Air Purifier to aid in reducing allergen

exposure in the home.

8.      Shower nightly, especially after being outdoors to remove outdoor allergens from the skin and hair.

9.      Wash pets regularly during allergen season as pollen regularly sticks to their hair when they go outdoors.

Natural Treatments

Local Bee Pollen – Have you heard of bee pollen as a natural treatment? Bee pollen exposure works by ingesting a small amount of the allergen to aid in assisting the immune system to build up a tolerance over time. It also has flavonoids such as Quercitin which can inhibit the release of histamine and reduce inflammatory response in mast cells.  It is recommended to use local bee pollen as bees are sourcing from pollen nearby making sure you are getting the exact kind of immunity based on where you live.

How to Use: It is important to introduce slowly to let your body have time to build a tolerance.  Start with 1-2 granules a day to test for sensitivity.  Then you can slowly begin to add more working your way up to 1 tsp. or even 1 Tbsp. daily after several weeks.  You can take this alone, sprinkle on food or even add to smoothies.

*Bee Pollen can cause a severe allergic reaction including anaphylaxis!  Please do not ingest if you have a known bee venom allergy, are pregnant or breastfeeding or taking blood thinning medication.  Avoid using in children under the age of 2.

Mullein Infused Honey – Mullein is an herb that is a natural anti- inflammatory and decongestant.  The honey mullein combo aids to sooth irritated mucus membranes and reduce coughing.

How to use:  Take by the spoonful every 3-4 hours to reduce active cough and congestion, mix in warm water or tea, or mix 1 tsp. with 1 Tbsp. of apple-cider vinegar to enhance its properties. Avoid using in children under the age of 1.

Homeopathics – In the Natural pharmacy we carry a few homeopathic tinctures that focus on specific allergen relief.  We carry Hayfever Tonic, Pollen Mix, Tree Antigen, Mold Mix and Allergen II along with a homeopathic nasal spray, Hydrastis, to aid in clearing congestion. If you know your targeted allergen these can be great supports to get you through the season.

Allergen Supplements – We carry several products that can assists in reducing histamine response, reducing inflammation and supporting the immune system to overall reduce the impact of seasonal allergies.  Here are a few listed below:

Sinus Pro – A combination of herbs, enzymes and natural anti-inflammatories to support the sinuses.

HistaQuel – Combo of Quercitin and Black Cumin Seed Extract  - 2 natural anti-histamines

Hist Assist – A combo of Quercitin, enzymes and antihistamines

Vitamin C – Supports a healthy immune system

Quercitin – Inhibits the release of histamine

We understand that allergy symptoms can interrupt your quality of life and hope we have offered some simple solutions to improve your spring season. We are always here to help! If you are curious about any of the items in our Natural Pharmacy that may be able to support you stop by and ask Joe, our pharmacy coordinator, which might be the best option for you!