10 Health Benefits of Honey
10 Health Benefits of Honey   HEALTHY LIVING
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Your allergies are driving you crazy, but you really don't like to take conventional medications. Or maybe you've tried over-the-counter allergy meds—or even prescription ones—but you're not getting the relief you need. What else might work? Consider these alternative options:
1. Saline Nasal Rinse
This is one remedy that both Eastern and Western docs (like your allergist) will likely agree on. Basically all you're doing is flushing out your sinuses with a saltwater solution, which can help wash away allergens and irritants. To do it, grab a Neti Pot or a large squeeze bottle, like the one made by NeilMed, and fill it with a premixed packet of saline solution (available at drugstores) or make your own solution. To mix it yourself, combine 1 quart of distilled or boiled (then cooled) water; 2 to 3 tsp non-iodized salt (kosher, pickling, canning or sea salt); and 1 tsp baking soda. Put about 8 oz at a time in the Neti Pot or squeeze bottle and tilt your head forward over the sink while you pour/squeeze the solution in one nostril and let it drain out the other. "I tell patients to pant like a puppy, which lifts the palate and closes off the back of the nose so you don't get that drowning sensation," says Sezelle Gereau Haddon, MD, an attending otolaryngologist at the Beth Israel Medical Center Department of Integrative Medicine in New York City.

2. Cool-Mist Humidifier
You might be tempted to pack up the humidifier, but hold off, recommends John Salerno, DO, a family practitioner at Patients Medical holistic wellness center in New York City. "When it's still a little cool at night and indoor humidity is low, using a cool-mist humidifier can help get allergens out of the air," he explains. "Water droplets bind to the allergens, and they get heavy and fall to the floor so you don't inhale them."

3. Air Purifier with a HEPA Filter
Using a HEPA filter—especially in the bedroom—is the best way to remove spores and pollen from the air, says Dr. Salerno. Not sure which brand to buy? He likes Austin Air, but also suggests checking out the latest air purifier reviews from Consumer Reports.

4. Steam Inhalation
Congested? Dr. Haddon suggests inhaling the steam of essential oils (available at health food stores). She shared this "recipe," which was given to her by Dale Bellisfeld, RN, AHG: Fill a saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat, take the pan off the stovetop and add 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil, 3 drops rosemary essential oil, 2 drops myrtle essential oil and 2 drops tea tree essential oil. Tent a bath towel over the saucepan (keep your face just far enough away from the steam to avoid burns) and inhale deeply for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat 1 to 3 times a day.

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