BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Allergies & Colds Help for winter allergies

I've always had year-round allergies. They really lessened when my family moved out of a 100-year-old farmhouse with a leaky basement. The house's mold content was through the roof. Now, I mainly suffer from nasal congestion and food allergies. This winter I decided to make a concerted effort to wash my bedding at least twice a month or more to reduce dust mites that can contribute to nasal congestion. It seems to be helping the congestion because it's a lot less. It's worth a try especially if you suffer from winter allergies.

I also recommend sinus irrigation. The Neti pot is popular right now but I've used a small bulb syringe with some salt water for about 5 years now and my allergies have all but disappeared.

I totally agree about the sinus irrigation. You might try some natural anti-inflammatory supplements like turmeric and quercitin also. Andrew Weil recommends an anti-inflammatory diet that I've used and found effective.

I have allergies to almost anything, and I suffer most during Fall and Spring season. I've gone through desensitization shots 3 times a week for a year and didn't work. Saline irrigations offer temporary relief.

I've lost a lot of money on Claritin because that's the only allergy medicine that works for me (on an 8 hour period - that suppose to last 12 hours according to literature), but it causes my blood pressure to go up.

I have nasal pump/spray in my cars, lockers, office just to make sure I get the sniff-sniff handy whenever my congestion gets bad.

I've tried a supplement recently and I'm on my 4th week now. This time of the year, I should have been stuffed and cranky, but so far I haven't pop a Claritin Pill nor squeeze my spray up my nasal cavity yet. I'm confident to enjoy the Spring season this time.

I'll give it until Spring when the pollen count is high and I'll be driving around the woods with my windows down.

I hope to share some good news in the next 4 weeks to all.

Good luck to all of us Allergy Sufferers.

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