A Surprising Ally in the Fight Against Seasonal Allergies
Spring seasonal allergies are back with a vengeance. Loss of smell, post-nasal drip, and sneezing are just three symptoms one can experience while suffering from seasonal allergies.
A field of grass and flowers in St. Augustine. May 2017. (Photo: Mal Carney)
The Center for Disease Control defines states that “Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to substances that generally do not affect other individuals.”
On Thursday, June 15th, Weather.com rated grass pollen levels as “high” in St. Augustine. Though the pollen count lowered to “moderate” through the rest of the week and into the weekend, much of the United States had “high” to “very high” levels of grass pollen.
A screenshot of Weather.com's Pollen Tracker for St. Augustine, Fla., showing that grass pollen was high to moderate during the week of June 15-21. June 15.
“Got Spring Allergies? Use This Checklist to Curb Symptoms”, an article on Weather.com, stated that “20 million Americans are diagnosed with hay fever in a 12 month period.”
Seasonal allergies are also called hay fever and are the body’s reaction to pollen. WebMD states that tree pollens are strongest in the Spring, while grass and weed pollens are strongest in the Summer.
A screenshot of Weather.com's pollen map of the United States, showing that much of the country had either high or very high pollen counts on June 15.
Congestion is another symptom of seasonal allergies and can lead to trouble breathing. Baking soda is an unexpected remedy for this particular symptom. Adding baking soda to a vaporizer is a home remedy known for unblocking stuffy noses. While this nifty trick won’t get rid of your allergies, it can help relieve them.
Arm and Hammer Brand Baking Soda on the shelf of a store. June 16. (Photo: Mal Carney)
According to WebMD, congestion occurs when “the membranes lining your nasal passages become inflamed and irritated. They begin to make more mucus to flush out whatever causes the irritation, such as an allergen.”
Basically, the more you can get out of your nose, the fewer allergens will be up there.
Baking soda can also be applied to insect bites and poison ivy rashes to help relieve itching. It is also suggested that people immediately wash their clothes after returning home after high pollen count days. Using baking soda in laundry typically softens the water, so you can use less detergent during these frequent anti-allergy laundry days. Who knew that a common household item could be an ally in the fight against allergies?
What home remedies to you use to help relieve allergies?
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