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Affordable Springtime Allergy Remedies

Prescription allergy meds are expensive. Why not try more natural and affordable options?

Author:: Althea Chang
Publish date:: Mar 19, 2010 7:00 AM EDT

If you’re on a budget or you don’t have prescription drug coverage, free and cheap allergy remedies could mean substantial savings for sufferers this spring. And easing your itching and sneezing and restoring your breathing might be simpler than you'd think. Here are a few that could be worth a try (under the supervision of your doctor, of course). Photo Credit: MSVG

If you’re on a budget or you don’t have prescription drug coverage, free and cheap allergy remedies could mean substantial savings for sufferers this spring. And easing your itching and sneezing and restoring your breathing might be simpler than you'd think. Here are a few that could be worth a try (under the supervision of your doctor, of course). Photo Credit: MSVG

You don’t need to hire a massage therapist to use these natural methods to ease your seasonal allergies, pressure and pain. Massage in general is known to improve circulation, lower stress and lower blood pressure levels, but focusing on certain points near the sinuses, at the back of the neck and at the top of the head can ease allergy symptoms. There’s even a spot in the webbing between the thumb and index finger that you can press that will relieve hay fever, according to one acupressure expert. Cost: Free Photo Credit: Ana Omelete

Eating certain foods can actually make allergy symptoms worse, according to Fitness Magazine. Foods containing sugar, wheat, dairy and certain food additives can make your body produce excess mucus, and limiting these things in your diet could reduce your sensitivity to allergens, Fitness reports. Cost: Free Photo Credit: malias

Before you go out, check the pollen count so you can be armed with remedies in case symptoms catch you off guard. Checking Weather.com for instance can tell you what to expect in terms of tree, grass and weed pollen in the air in your area. Cost Example: About 10 seconds Photo Credit: jenny downing

If allergens have already invaded your eyes and nose, one of the simplest methods may be the most overlooked: rinsing. Rinsing your eyes can help reduce eye itching and irritation, notes WebMD. Plus, allergists often recommend sinus irrigation with saline, for example, by using a Neti pot, Mother Earth News says. Plus, keeping allergens at bay may even be as simple as washing your hair. Cost Example: A Sinucleanse Neti Pot and Nasal Wash kit costs about $15 at

If your eyes are more sensitive to allergens than your nose, a pair of sunglasses will be a lot more helpful (and look much better) than a face mask. If you’re nose is more sensitive and you’re willing to splurge a little, Chrloraseptic makes a topical Allergen Block cream that actually repels allergens from your nose molecules. Cost Example: About $1 each for a face mask that filters out small particles, or $15 for a 0.1-ounce tube of Allergen Block (a little goes a long way) at Drugstore.com. You probably already have sunglasses. Photo Credit: vonSchnauzer

Allergy season can also mean increased sensitivity to substances that wouldn’t otherwise bother you, like cigarette smoke, perfume and air fresheners. While many cigarette smokers are so hooked that they’d rather just deal with the added allergy symptoms, people who wear perfume may have an easier time cutting it out from their routine during the spring. Cost: Free Photo Credit: Victor Bezrukov

Even so-called hypo-allergenic pets could still harbor allergens. It’s not just the fur that could tickle an allergic person’s nose; animal dander, or dead skin cells, could be the reason for your sneezing as well. Allergists might recommend against having a furry pet at all, but if pets are a part of your family, bathing them for frequently could put your allergies at ease. Cost Example: Soap and water. Photo Credit: Arete the Cat

If a spring picnic in the grass gives you hives, or you generally get itchy skin when you have an allergic reaction, a half cup of baking soda in a warm bath can help sooth irritation if you soak for about 20 or 30 minutes, according to HowStuffWorks.com. Cost Example: Less than $1 for a box of Arm & Hammer. Photo Credit: stevendepolo

Hot tea is often looked to as a cure-all. It can ease congestion, soothe irritated sinuses, and certain types of tea, like peppermint for example, may even reduce inflammation and have antibacterial properties, notes HowStuffWorks.com. Add a bit of immunity-boosting honey to peppermint tea, and you could have an effective concoction to combat a sneezy spring. Cost: About $3 for a 20-count box of peppermint tea. Honey costs an average of $5 a pound, according to the National Honey Board. But local honey, which works best, can be a bit pricier, especially if it’s also organic or raw. Photo Credit: Kanko*

Spicy stuff like wasabi can seem like it melts away congestion and burns away the itching. And wasabi seems to hit the sinuses directly more than it burns the tongue, making fairly effective for some allergy sufferers. Cost Example: Comes with sushi, or you can buy a can of the dried stuff for about $4 an ounce. Photo Credit: williac

They’re not the most obvious allergy remedy, but omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, flax, and nuts can reduce inflammation and even ease respiratory symptoms, according to research by the State University of New York at Stony Brook. And for those with asthma, fish oil supplements could make it easier to breathe, researchers note. Cost Example: $8 for a 100-count bottle of 1200-milligram fish oil supplements. Photo Credit: theimpulsivebuy

Stinging Nettle, an herbal supplement also known as Urtica dioica, can relieve allergy symptoms much like some antihistamine medications do. Nettle can be taken freeze dried in a capsule, according to Fitness Magazine, but discuss using it, and the appropriate dosage, with your doctor beforehand. Cost Example: $7 for 100 count bottle of 3-milligram capsules. Photo Credit: ewen and donabel

Pills containing butterbur, a relative of ragweed, were just as effective as the generic allergy medication Zyrtec, according to one study. However, in some, it may actually trigger an allergic reaction since it’s closely related to a substance to which many allergy sufferers are already allergic. However, like most allergy immunotherapies, exposure to tiny amounts of an allergen could actually help cure or lessen the symptoms of allergies. Cost Example: $5 for a 60-capsule bottle of 75-milligram pills. Photo Credit:_foxy

Aloe is widely known for its skin-healing properties, but it may also be good for allergy sufferers, according to Fitness. Supplements or nasal sprays containing aloe can help heal irritated and swollen mucous membranes. Cost: Ayr No-Drip Sinus Spray with aloe costs about $8 for a 0.75-ounce bottle. Photo Credit: Eamonn

Allergy sufferers who experience congestion along with their hay fever many try fenugreek, an herb that’s known to thin out mucus, according to Fitness. As a tea, it can help loosen phlegm and even treat asthma. Cost Example: $8 for 180 610-milligram capsules. Photo Credit: graibeard

Quercetin is a naturally-occuring herbal antihistamine, meaning it can prevent your body from releasing a chemical that causes an allergic reaction. Quercetin occurs naturally in foods like wine, tea, fruits and vegetables, according to Wellsphere, but taking a supplement might give you the best benefit. Additionally, if you take it before allergy season, it may build up in your body in time for you to experience a lasting benefit. And chasing a dose of it with orange juice may give you an even bigger antihistamine boost. Cost Example: $14 for a 60-count bottle of 500-millgram tablets. Photo Credit: SuperFantastic

Carotenoids like lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha caroten, and astaxanthins are found in various fruits and vegetables, and at certain levels, they can keep airway inflammation at bay. And diets high in fruits and vegetables may protect adults from allergic rhinitis, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cost: Eat your vegetables. Photo Credit: robin.elaine

If the herbal and more holistic remedies don’t help, there are always over-the-counter medications that are significantly cheaper than, say Xyzal or Clarinex, which require a prescription. For instance, there’s loratadine, the generic version of Claritin which is related to Clarinex, and cetirizine, the generic version of Zyrtec which is related to Xyzal. Cost: About $20 for 300 10-millgram tablets of loratadine or $30 for 300 10-millgram tablets of cetirizine. Photo Credit: sunshinecity

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Allergy Remedies

If you’re on a budget or you don’t have prescription drug coverage, free and cheap allergy remedies could mean substantial savings for sufferers this spring. And easing your itching and sneezing and restoring your breathing might be simpler than you'd think. Here are a few that could be worth a try (under the supervision of your doctor, of course). Photo Credit: MSVG