Allergies are an overreaction of your immune system to non-toxic triggers in the environment. Getting your allergies to calm down can be extremely frustrating, as the reaction can make you feel much sicker than the allergy trigger would otherwise make you. To avoid the sense of being fogged or mentally wiped out by allergy medications, consider the suggestions below.
Incorporate HEPA Filters
HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air filters, removes almost 100% of particles from the environment that are .3 micron particles or larger. If possible, use a HEPA filter vacuum on every floor in your home. Consider investing in a robot vacuum to do a daily sweep of all the floors in your home as well.
Dust mites, a common allergen, thrive on
- pet and human hair
- human skin particles
- dirt
If you can get your floors cleared of dust, hair, and dirt each day, you can go a long way toward reducing surfaces where dust mites thrive. For those with severe allergies, it may be worth it to remove the carpet from your sleeping area altogether to reduce spaces for dust and dust mites to cling.
Add a HEPA filter to your HVAC system and consider running the fan alone during high allergy seasons if you struggle with a pollen allergy. For those with severe allergies, it may be a good idea to invest in a thorough duct cleaning each year to reduce airborne dust and irritants. Look for an HVAC company that can provide a negative pressure cleaning. This process pulls dust out of ducts instead of loosening it to flow back into the house.
Finally, consider adding a personal HEPA air filter to your sleeping area. A small filter can cleanse the air that you breathe as you sleep, reducing the risk of waking up with a stuffy nose or sore, red eyes.
Bedding Covers and Laundering
A simple dust mite allergy treatment simply includes covering your pillow and mattress with a hypoallergenic cover. These covers can be resilient enough to filter down to .3 microns. This matches the HEPA and will protect you from exposure to dust mites.
Consider also washing your bedding each week, including comforters. While washing your sheets each week is not onerous, many comforters can overload the washer and dryer. Finding a laundromat to handle this for you each week will be a good investment. Another option is to invest in a hypoallergenic duvet cover. Because weekly laundering can be hard on comforters, especially if you like a comforter with a loft, the duvet cover may be a better choice.
Essential Oils
Many essential oils can soothe irritated nasal passages and red eyes. These can be applied topically once diluted in a carrier oil, diffused, or consumed in a safe edible. For example, steaming chamomile tea can be inhaled before drinking to calm a sore nose. Peppermint tea will open the sinuses if used in the same way.
Peppermint essential oil diluted in a carrier oil can be applied to the pulse point under the jaw. Blend eucalyptus oil into an unscented lotion and apply it to your hands and wrists so you can inhale it to open up the bronchial passages. Eucalyptus oil can also be added to your laundry when you wash your bedding when allergies are especially bad.
Frankincense oil has a great benefit to those who suffer from a constant stuffy nose. Again, dilute it in a carrier oil. Frankincense can be pretty potent. Start with just a small dab on the skin inside your elbow to make sure that
- you don’t have a skin reaction
- you enjoy the fragrance
Once you have the mix right, put a dab behind the ear or just under the jaw where your carotid pulse can be felt.
A word about carrier oils: If you have never applied a carrier oil to your skin, start with jojoba oil. Start by blending just a drop into the skin on the inside of the elbow and give it 24 hours to make sure that you don’t react. Apricot kernel oil can be quite effective, as can hemp seed. A reaction to essential oil is rare as long as it’s diluted, but a carrier oil reaction can be quite uncomfortable.
