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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffSome allergy symptoms improve with home treatment.
- Sinus congestion and hay fever symptoms often improve with nasal lavage — rinsing out the sinuses with a saline solution. You can use a "neti pot" or a specially designed bulb syringe to flush out thickened mucus and irritants from your nose.
- Insect sting symptoms may improve when you put a paste of baking soda and water, aloe vera or calendula to the sting site.
- Household airborne allergy symptoms, such as those caused by dust mites or pet dander, may improve by taking steps to reduce your exposure to allergens. Steps include frequently washing bedding and stuffed toys in hot water, maintaining low humidity, regularly using a vacuum with a fine filter such as a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, and replacing carpeting with hard flooring.
- Mold allergy symptoms may be alleviated by avoiding outdoor work in damp weather, wearing a dust mask while working outdoors, and keeping your windows closed at night.
References
- Allergy. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.acaai.org/public/questions/frequent.htm. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Tips to Remember: What is an allergic reaction? American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisallergicreaction.stm. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
- Bauer BA. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. New York, N.Y.: Time Inc.; 2007:156-157.
