I have severe allergies. If I miss my pill by more than an hour, my symptoms take over my life. I get infections from them, they irritate my asthma, I miss hiking because of them.

If your allergies are severe like mine, you should probably be on medication. Even with medication, I have found several little tricks that ease my symptoms. For those of you with milder seasonal allergies, try these tips first before loading up on sleepy-inducing drugs.

Saline Spray

A friend of mine once suggested I do what he does for seasonal allergies. He mixes warm water and salt, puts them in a wide mouthed glass or bowl, and then sniffs the liquid hard up into his nose. If you have ever laughed too hard and spurted anything you were drinking at the time out of your nose, you will understand how much pain this technique can cause.

There is an easier way. You can find big bottles of saline solution nose spray at your pharmacy. They are just salt water, no medication. A couple squirts up the nostrils every morning and night will wash away the pollen and thin out the mucus, relieving your nasal allergy symptoms.

Wash Your Hair

Well, naturally one should be in the habit of regular hair-washing, but that isn’t what I am referring to. Before you go to bed at night, rinse your hair with water. If damp hair in bed bothers you, do it an hour or so before bedtime to allow it to dry.

Rinsing your hair will rinse out any pollen or other allergens that have accumulated there during the day. They won’t get on your pillow, and then you won’t be rubbing your face in them all night.

Also, consider changing your pillowcase every other night to reduce buildup of dust, pollen, dander, and other allergens.

Clean Your Room

Yet another common sense thing to do. But if you have allergies to dust, dust mites, insects, and mold, cleaning your bedroom well and frequently is a must. Vacuum frequently; everyday when your symptoms are heaviest. Keep surfaces free of dust, and keep damp clothes and towels away from your bed and carpet where mold can breed.

Absolutely never put your bath towel on your bed. Place damp towels and workout clothing directly into the washing-machine, if possible, or a closed laundry hamper. Also consider investing in high quality anti-allergy mattress and pillow covers to reduce dust mites. These can be found in medical catalogs and at online home furnishing stores.

Wear a Mask

I used to have a neighbor who suffered from severe asthma. She rode her lawn mower while wearing a pair of (clean) old panties around her head, the leg holes serving as eye holes. She suffered from other maladies as well, obviously, but her idea was a good one.

When you need to work outdoors, gardening or mowing, wear a paper-mask. They can be cheaply and easily purchased at any pharmacy. You may get some looks, but they will dramatically decrease your personal misery.

Wash Your Hands

Keep your hands clean because they go near your face. Wash after petting animals, after working in the yard, after everything. This can also prevent you from getting an infection. Allergy symptoms inflame sensitive areas, making them more susceptible to infection. Keeping your hands clean will go a long way toward keeping you healthy.

Alternative Medicine

If you would prefer not to take over the counter or prescription allergy medication, there are a few natural remedies available; however, do not take these herbs in conjunction with your current medication, and be sure to involve your doctor in any decision involving ingesting vitamins or herbs.

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has made some headlines as being an effective herb for controlling hay fever symptoms without annoying drowsiness side-effects. It can be found in some pharmacies and health food stores.

Grape seed extract and quercetin (found in large quantities in grape juice and red wine) have also been found to possess qualities which fight allergic reactions. So a glass of red wine a day helps your allergies as well as your heart. Cheers!

Hopefully, following these tips will give you greater enjoyment of the outdoors during the warmer months. Remember to always discuss allergy treatments with your doctor, even if you want to avoid prescription medication.