As the allergy season is switching into full gear, it may be worth reviewing some natural options that can minimize the coughing and sneezing before turning to antihistamine drugs.
According to Dr Ewen Tseng, otolaryngologist on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Frisco, wearing protective clothing including gloves and masks while gardening, and washing hands and changing clothes afterwards, can go a long way.
“An alternative to wearing a mask is nasal irrigation with saline (saltwater) to rinse allergens from the nose its like cleaning your own air filter,” he says.
For allergic gardening enthusiasts, it may also be a good idea to create an “allergy-proof” yard by choosing plants that pollinate through insects rather than by releasing pollen.
There is also a host of herbal supplements and remedies that sufferers may choose from.
For example, quercetin, a plant-derived bioflavonoid, helps stabilize mast cells and prevents them from releasing histamine, according to MotherEarthNews.com.
Good sources of quercentin include citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine, but according to the source allergy sufferers will most likely need to use nutritional supplements to build up enough of this compound to prevent attacks. 