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Allergy Home Remedies for a Runny Nose & Itchy Eyes

Allergy symptoms have a tendency to ruin otherwise wonderful experiences, especially since they usually occur during the summertime. While allergy medications abound on drug store shelves everywhere, high prices and questions about the safety of some such drugs often push many away from a chemical cure. Luckily, there are a number of natural ways to fight off runny noses, itchy eyes, and other annoying allergy-related killjoys.

  1. Vitamins

    • The answer to so many common health concerns usually seems to have something to do with diet. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), allergies are no different. Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid), and vitamin E are both known to help curb allergic reactions. Good sources of vitamin B5 include liver, beef, sunflower seeds and low-fat yogurt. Vitamin E is found in abundance in wheat germ oil, dry roasted almonds, sunflower seeds and peanut butter. Anyone with nut allergies will obviously want to avoid almonds, sunflower seeds and peanut butter, but spinach and broccoli are also acceptable sources of vitamin E. Consuming foods containing vitamins E and B5 on a daily basis can help stave off vicious allergic attacks.

      Also, a banana a day can keep itchy eyes away in some cases. (Unless you happen to be allergic to bananas; keep away from them if this is the case.)

    Castor Oil

    • Five drops of Castor oil in half a cup of juice or a similar beverage, taken in the morning on an empty stomach, is another effective natural way to help fight allergies. This method has specifically been found to work against allergies involving the nasal passageways, helping allergy sufferers everywhere to breathe easily.

    Licorice Root

    • Consuming 3 oz. of cut licorice root, boiled in a quart of water for 10 minutes and then strained, is said to increase resistance to many nose- and eye-affecting allergies. Take 1 tbsp of this mixture prior to each meal every other day until it has been taken for six days, and hopefully, overall allergen resistance will become stronger.

      There is, however, also a warning involving licorice root: do not take it if you have kidney problems or high blood pressure, as it can lead to renal failure.

    Chamomile Tea

    • Long considered a natural antihistamine, chamomile tea, sipped one or twice daily, can provide another layer of protection against runny noses and itchy eyes. Avoid chamomile if you are allergic to ragweed, but embrace it otherwise as an allergy-fighting ally.

    Other Remedies

    • The list of natural allergy remedies could go on forever, but an abbreviated list of other popular allergy remedies is included below.

      Fresh ginger or thyme, vinegar, fresh garlic, peppermint tea and lime juice, along with raw honey are all items aome people swear by to help eliminate the dreaded runny nose and itchy eyes. As one final reminder, always be familiar with your personal allergies, and act accordingly when applying any allergy fix.

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