Get Allergy Relief With These Home Remedies

The weather is warm, the days are long, and the sun is out, but you can barely enjoy it. You sneeze at the smell of fresh cut grass and your eyes tear up while you are working in your garden. Not many people realize this, but allergy relief lies no further away than your kitchen pantry.

These natural remedies don't work as quickly as over-the-counter antihistamines, so it is best to start taking them at least a month before allergy season begins. If you begin taking these treatments in the middle of allergy season, give them a few weeks before you decide they aren't working.

Green Tea: This common table tea has a natural antihistamine. Drink one or two cups a day and sweeten with honey. You can also use black tea, since it is from the same plant as green tea, but it isn't as effective.

Honey: Make sure you purchase local honey. Use it to sweeten teas or take a small amount of it plain. Local honey can help you became resistant to certain pollens. The beneficial qualities of honey are lost, however, when it is cooked.

Chamomile Tea: This popular tea is also a natural antihistamine. Drink one or two cups a day and sweeten with honey. Don't use if you are allergic to ragweed because it can make your symptoms worst.

Ginger: Peel and crush a one inch piece of fresh ginger root. Place in a mug and pour boiling water over. Steep for five to ten minutes. Sweeten with honey, if desired. Ginger is both a natural antihistamine and a mild decongestant.

Garlic: Garlic helps stimulate the immune system, is a decongestant and is used for coughs. Cook with it as much as you can. If you enjoy the taste, add it raw to salads and salad dressings because fresh garlic is more effective.

Peppermint Tea: This tea is used to help relieve congestion. In the warmer weather, it is most refreshing when prepared with ice and can help relieve sinus problems and coughs.

Thyme: This is also a wonderful tea for congestion. It can be used for coughs, sinus problems and stuffy noses. Prepare a tea using one teaspoon of the dried herb for every cup of water. Never take more than one cup per day. You can also use it in cooking.

Oatmeal: If your allergies give you hives, oatmeal can be very useful. Pour one cup of boiling water over one tablespoon of oatmeal. Let it steep for 30 minutes. Strain it and then apply the liquid on your hives with a cotton ball. This also works to relive bug bites. Refrigerate the solution and use it in a few days. You can also make this in larger amounts and put it in your bathwater (about four cups of water and four tablespoons of oatmeal).

Apple Cider Vinegar: Put apple cider vinegar on bug bites or hives to cut down on the itching. Just dilute the vinegar with a little water and apply it with a cotton ball. You can also put a little vinegar in your bath.