Ah, the scent of spring. Blooming flowers and freshly cut grass fill the air with a delightful fragrance that says summer’s on its way. But not everyone would agree. For others, it smells like a whole lot of pollen, leading to itchy eyes, a runny nose, and a tough-to-shake headache.

As it turns out, many people run across these seasonal allergy symptoms every year. Hay fever – as it’s often called, even though it has nothing to do with hay – affects nearly 25 million Americans every year.

While it may be easy to pop an allergy-relief pill every morning and night, some of us are apprehensive about doing so. If allergies are natural reactions, then there have to be natural solutions, right? To help guide you through allergy season in the most natural (yet effective) way possible, we’ve talked to renowned natural health physician and best-selling author Dr. Fred Pescatore about the 10 best ways to relieve allergies the natural way. 

Why Do We Get Seasonal Allergies?

Shutterstock

First, before we get into Dr. Pescatore’s top tips, let’s get to the bottom of why we get seasonal allergies in the first place. “Seasonal allergies are our bodies’ response to allergens in the environment,” he says. Allergens are typically harmless substances (such as dust, pollen, mold, etc.) capable of triggering the body’s immune system, resulting in an allergic reaction.

“Our bodies interpret these allergens as a health threat, and this will trigger an inflammatory reaction,” says Dr. Perscatore, “Leading to allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, runny nose, and headache.” Pollen is the most typical allergen, but other spring and summer environmental allergens such as grass and ragweed can also impact the body.

What Is the Reason Behind Longer and More Intense Allergy Seasons?

Shutterstock