More Supplements Not to Sneeze At

Many good herbs for the respiratory system exist, such as horseradish, which can clear out your sinuses immediately. Horseradish is a very strong herb (and condiment) and should be used carefully, as it might burn sensitive tissues. You can find horseradish usually combined with other herbal combinations for the respiratory system, such as fenugreek, mullein, fennel, and boneset.

Vitamin C and pantothenic acid (one of the B vitamins) sometimes have helped to arrest or slow down the allergy attack, and these should be considered in severe cases. Both of these vitamins are water-soluble, which means that excess will leave your body and will not cause a toxic build-up like a fat-soluble vitamin can. There’s no way to eliminate the airborne allergens from the outside, but here are some tips you can use to change your home environment:

• If you are allergy-free during hay fever season but have symptoms at other times of the year, you could be allergic to mold spores, dust, or other airborne particles. Pinpointing exactly what you are allergic to will be helpful in your recovery, but there is no harm in taking all my suggestions here.
• Clean all linens, bedding, and pillows thoroughly. These tend to harbor dust mites, which can irritate the respiratory system and add to your sneezing. When washing, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the wash water. This natural oil kills dust mites and other pests and will help purify the wash. Allergenic pillowcase covers and other protective covers can be put over your existing bedding to protect your sensitive sinus passages. These can be found in many different natural health product catalogs.
• If you are allergic to dust and live in a dry climate, a humidifier will help keep the dust particles from flying around shamelessly. Pure essential oil of lemon or other citrus fruit oil will help purify the air you breathe. If you are allergic to molds, a humidifier may not be the best choice. But if you live in a moist climate and have mold and fungus spores, try diffusing tea tree or eucalyptus oil (both anti-fungal remedies), which can help keep the mold count down in the room you are diffusing.
• For eye irritants, make an herbal eyewash from a tea made from golden seal, bayberry, eyebright, and red raspberry, or any mixture of the four. Be sure to strain all the herbs from the tea. Once it is cool, use a dropper and administer as eye drops for itching, swollen, or infected eyes. This will help tone the eyes and take the itch out. Refrigerate tea, and do not keep for longer than two to three days at a time.
• Lemonade with capsicum is a cleansing drink that can be taken every day to help cleanse the body and push out irritants from the system. Make some homemade fresh lemonade, and add a pinch of cayenne pepper. The combination will taste sour and hot at the same time, an interesting combination. Try it—you’ll like it.