Spring has sprung! Ha. I know what you're thinking...ummm...err..not in my neighborhood. All we have is snow, snow, and more snow. I hear ya. This winter has been quite a record breaker with snow in places like Texas and Georgia. Supposedly, some parts of Texas hadn't seen snow in over 100+ year prior to this year. Wowsers! Although, we haven't had any snow in my neck of the woods, temperatures dipping into the low 50s in March is unheard for us. It appears my sinuses haven't figured out that when it's cold outside they shouldn't act up likes they do when we're in the heart of spring. Nothing is worse than being cold and miserable, with horrible bouts of sneezing, coughing, congestion, and itchy-watery eyes. Now that's misery at it's finest.

If you suffer from allergies like I do, you know how much they can be a real drag. Short of taking medicine, it can seem like a hopeless situation because it's hard to get reprieve from the symptoms. I have found there are a few natural remedies that  help the symptoms and that may even provide an out to taking medicines if your symptoms aren't severe. The good thing about these remedies is that whether or not you have to take medicine you can still apply these methods for symptom relief. The first step to effectively dealing with your allergies is to know what is causing them. Allergies can be caused by a variety of factors such as foods, elements in the air or even something your skin comes in contact with. Narrowing the route of the cause, will significantly help in preventing your sinuses from acting up.
 
Lavender and Peppermint:
My condo smells like lavender and peppermint. Fortunately, both of these aromas are scents I love or I'd be in for some serious nausea and headaches. After a good rub of either lavender oil or peppermint oil around my sinuses (avoid the eyes), and back of neck, I can breath so much better....*sign*.... with big awwwww. It really helps clear the nostrils.

Homemade Nasal Mist:
Nasal mists are so good for cleaning sinuses from irritants such as pollen and dust. I've been using a recipe that consists of 1/2 teaspoon of table salt,  1/2 teaspoons of baking soda in about 1 1/2 of  water. After mixing the ingredients, bring the water to a boil and then let it cool down. A syringe or dropper can be used to wash out your sinuses. Additionally, I take the same solution of table salt, baking soda and boiling water and place it in a bowl and vaporize my face. With a towel laid across my head and draped over the bowl, I breathe in deeply allowing the hot moisture to clear my sinuses. It's so refreshing. I play around with this mixture and sometimes add peppermint and vinegar.

Wasabi, Pepper and Herbs:
Have you ever taken a too large of dollop of wasabi sauce (a member of the horseradish family)? If you have, you know you sinuses and tear ducts go into overdrive. What causes this reaction is allyl isothiocyanate, a component of wasabi, that promotes mucus flow. We've all heard that a nice bowl of hot chicken soup is what the doctor ordered when you have the sinus issues. Next time consider a nice hot bowl of chicken soup laced with black pepper. Peppery foods stimulate the sinuses which cause drainage. Basil tea, a Chinese remedy, has long been used to relieve allergies. Basil contains a high amount of an anti-allergic compound called caffeic acid.

Once again it's always good to narrow down the cause of your allergies. If you have congestion and nasal blockage caused by foods like milk, nuts or wheat, the best way to get your allergies under control is to eliminate these foods from your diet.

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