How to Get Rid of Allergies: 10 Remedies to Consider

Allergies can affect your daily routine and the overall quality of your life. While medications like antihistamines can provide immediate relief, you can further aid in fighting allergies through natural methods, like nasal irrigation, acupuncture, steam inhalation, and infusing your diet with foods that alleviate allergy symptoms. 

To know more about these natural remedies, check out these science-backed answers on how to get rid of allergies. 

1. Nasal Irrigation

Allergic rhinitis is a common symptom of seasonal allergies that cause nasal congestion (clogged nose), sneezing, coughing, and sore throat. A popular way to naturally relieve rhinitis is through nasal irrigation, wherein a solution flows into one nostril and out into the other.

Also known as nasal douching, this method is typically performed using a neti pot. While you can use plain sterile water, you can also have a hypertonic saline solution for improved results. 

A 2020 study supported the effectiveness and safety of saline solution in nasal irrigation¹. To prepare it, mix 1.8 grams or less than half a teaspoon of salt in 100 mL of distilled or sterilized water. 

Nasal irrigation using a neti pot can help unclog your nose.

2. Stinging Nettle

The Stinging nettle is a popular plant in Western herbal medicine. It’s known to help treat various diseases, including managing seasonal allergies. 

The anti-inflammatory properties of stinging nettle² help induce bioactivity that antagonizes the triggers for allergic rhinitis. Specifically, it blocks histamine receptors that activate an immune response against allergens like pollen, cat and dog dander, dust, and air pollutants.

You can consume stinging nettle leaves, flowers, and roots as an herbal tea or mix it with savory dishes or smoothies.    

The leaves and flowers of stinging nettle can be consumed to alleviate seasonal allergies.

3. Ginger 

Ginger is a kitchen staple that provides natural allergy relief. The bioactive compounds in ginger reduce pain and swelling in the airway lining, which alleviates congestion and mucus secretion³. 

You can mix ginger as a spice in many dishes. However, to maximize its benefit in getting rid of allergies fast, consume it as a tea. You can find readily available ginger tea in the market or brew one on your own. 

Create a ginger tea with honey for natural allergy relief.

4. Honey

The effectiveness of using honey in getting rid of allergies remains debatable. This is primarily due to the conflicting experimental results in previous studies. While some promote using natural honey to alleviate allergy symptoms, others point out its lack of potency to address specific allergic conditions. 

Still, newer studies focus on the therapeutic potential of honey⁴ as a natural remedy for allergies. Manuka honey⁵, in particular, has been shown to improve symptoms of rhinosinusitis and rhinitis on account of its antibiotic and immunomodulatory properties. 

Eating a spoonful of honey once a day is often promoted for a general health boost. However, make sure to consult your healthcare provider first before adding this to your routine. You can, however, consider adding honey to your tea, smoothing, oatmeal, and other meals.

As part of the natural remedies for allergies and sinus problems, consider using it for nasal irrigation. Mix a teaspoon of Manuka honey with 150 ml of sterilized water and rinse your nose with the solution. 

Honey can help you breathe better during an allergy or sinusitis.  

5. Quercetin

Quercetin is an antioxidant flavonoid and a pigment found in many plants. It’s notable for its potent antioxidative activity. But it also has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties⁶ that block enzymes that trigger allergy symptoms like hay fever, puffiness or swelling, runny nose, and hives. 

While you can take supplements with quercetin, you can also consider including fruits and vegetables rich in said flavonoids in your diet. These include apples, berries, green tea, broccoli, onions, kale, and cherry tomatoes. 

Green tea contains quercetin, which helps get rid of allergic rhinitis.

6. Butterbur

Butterbur is a medicinal plant known to treat migraines. However, over the years, studies have shown its ability to suppress allergic symptoms⁷, specifically for seasonal allergies. Specifically, compounds in its extract can intercept cell signaling involved in inflammatory pathways.

In addition, using butterbur for allergic rhinitis has also been proven safe among healthy individuals⁸. Those with other medical issues, especially liver disease, should consult their doctor first before taking butterbur pills and tea.   

Butterbur sprouts you can soak in hot water to make tea.

7. Bromelain

Bromelain is an enzyme abundant in pineapple. Plus, it’s extracted as a dietary supplement. Because of its prominent anti-inflammatory properties that relieve pain and swelling, it also helps get rid of allergies fast–particularly allergic airway disease⁹.  

Consuming bromelain equates to eating pineapple flesh or drinking its juice–arguably the most delicious natural allergy remedy on this list. You can eat pineapple as it is or make yourself a healthy pineapple smoothie. 

Pineapple contains high concentrations of bromelain for allergy suppression. 

8. Probiotics

Probiotics are microbes that thrive in your gut and help keep optimum digestion and nutrient absorption. You’ll find probiotics in many food products, especially those that have undergone fermentation.

As far as getting rid of allergies goes, probiotics showcased their ability to modulate the immune response¹⁰,  which could trigger allergy symptoms and even asthma. Plus, additional data suggest that probiotics can suppress and provide natural relief for food allergies.  

You can boost your probiotic intake by eating yogurt or fermented foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, or pickles. You can also consider probiotic supplements as an alternative.

Examples of food with probiotics

9. Vitamin C

Vitamin C not only strengthens immunity but also suppresses inflammatory activity. Additionally, it can combat oxidative stress due to its antioxidative properties. 

Oxidative stress¹¹ mediates allergic mechanisms, including rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Thus, it comes as no surprise that it has preventive and therapeutic capacity¹² to combat respiratory diseases, including allergic-induced asthma.  

Examples of fruits rich in vitamin C

10. Essential Oils

While many consider using essential oils for health problems as alternative medicine, studies suggest that bioactivity in oils¹³ derived from herbal plants and certain fruits can alleviate allergy symptoms. 

You can add essential oils to diffusers or humidifiers to boost their benefits in getting rid of allergens. Steam inhalation is another excellent way to use essential oils for natural allergy relief. Peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, and citrus oils are the best options, as they provide instant relief to a stuffy nose.

Steam inhalation using boiled water with drops of peppermint oil

Medical Treatment for Allergies

The most common prescription for allergies is antihistamines. These medications inhibit histamines that activate an immune response against allergens, particularly inflammation, that triggers sneezing, stuffy nose, itching, hives, and swelling. All of which are common symptoms of indoor and seasonal allergies.

When To See a Doctor

Individuals experiencing symptoms of allergies should see their healthcare provider to secure allergy testing. Doing so will allow proper diagnosis and identification of the allergen in question. For example, specific tests can be carried out for latex allergy and even rare food allergies. 

If you don’t consult your doctor, especially when allergy symptoms persist and worsen over time, you’ll be at risk for anaphylaxis. This life-threatening condition requires immediate medical attention; otherwise, it can lead to death. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can allergies be cured naturally?

Natural remedies can alleviate allergies and achieve a cure, albeit during an allergic episode. These include eating foods rich in vitamin C, probiotics, and specific enzymes and antioxidants, as well as doing nasal irrigation and steam inhalation. You can further manage allergy symptoms by keeping yourself hydrated and physically active.

How do you permanently fix allergies?

As of this writing, there hasn’t been a science-backed treatment that permanently gets rid of allergies. However, immunotherapy is known to prevent the development of new allergies or the progression of aggressive ones. 

What foods make allergies worse?

Foods that promote inflammation might worsen allergies. These include processed meats, refined carbohydrates, red meat, and foods high in sugar and trans fats. 

The Bottom Line

Getting the answer to how to get rid of allergies naturally begins with understanding the allergen that triggers your allergic reaction. While the remedies mentioned on this list are backed by scientific evidence, it’s always best to seek personalized treatment and symptom management. That said, work with your healthcare provider to ensure you’re on the right path toward maintaining optimum health.  

Sources:

¹ Sansila K, Eiamprapai P, Sawangjit R. Effects of self-prepared hypertonic nasal saline irrigation in allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2020 Sep;38(3):200-207. doi: 10.12932/AP-090618-0331. PMID: 30525740.

² Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael M, Alberte RS. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytother Res. 2009 Jul;23(7):920-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2763. PMID: 19140159.

³ Asad Mahmood Khan, Muhammad Shahzad, M. B. Raza Asim, Muhammad Imran & Arham Shabbir (2015) Zingiber officinale ameliorates allergic asthma via suppression of Th2-mediated immune response, Pharmaceutical Biology, 53:3, 359-367, DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.920396

⁴ Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL. The Potential Use of Honey as a Remedy for Allergic Diseases: A Mini Review. Front Pharmacol. 2021 Jan 26;11:599080. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.599080. PMID: 33574752; PMCID: PMC7870997.

⁵ Lee VS, Humphreys IM, Purcell PL, Davis GE. Manuka honey sinus irrigation for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis: a randomized controlled trial. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2017 Apr;7(4):365-372. doi: 10.1002/alr.21898. Epub 2016 Dec 9. PMID: 27935259; PMCID: PMC8989183.

⁶ Mlcek J, Jurikova T, Skrovankova S, Sochor J. Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules. 2016 May 12;21(5):623. doi: 10.3390/molecules21050623. PMID: 27187333; PMCID: PMC6273625.

⁷ Thomet OA, Wiesmann UN, Blaser K, Simon HU. Differential inhibition of inflammatory effector functions by petasin, isopetasin and neopetasin in human eosinophils. Clin Exp Allergy. 2001 Aug;31(8):1310-20. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2001.01158.x. PMID: 11529903.

⁸ Özergin Coşkun Z, Bayar Muluk N, Turgut Cosan D, Cingi C. Efficacy of butterbur in allergic rhinitis: a cell culture study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2023 Jun;27(4 Suppl):1-5. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202306_32725. PMID: 37350686.

⁹ Secor ER Jr, Szczepanek SM, Castater CA, Adami AJ, Matson AP, Rafti ET, Guernsey L, Natarajan P, McNamara JT, Schramm CM, Thrall RS, Silbart LK. Bromelain Inhibits Allergic Sensitization and Murine Asthma via Modulation of Dendritic Cells. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:702196. doi: 10.1155/2013/702196. Epub 2013 Dec 5. PMID: 24381635; PMCID: PMC3870104.

¹⁰ Sadrifar, S., Abbasi-Dokht, T., Forouzandeh, S. et al. Immunomodulatory effects of probiotic supplementation in patients with asthma: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 19, 1 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-022-00753-4

¹¹ Bowler, R. P., MD, & Crapo, J. D., MD (2022). Oxidative stress in allergic respiratory diseases. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 110(3), 349-356. https://doi.org/10.1067/mai.2002.126780

¹² Ghalibaf MHE, Kianian F, Beigoli S, Behrouz S, Marefati N, Boskabady M, Boskabady MH. The effects of vitamin C on respiratory, allergic and immunological diseases: an experimental and clinical-based review. Inflammopharmacology. 2023 Apr;31(2):653-672. doi: 10.1007/s10787-023-01169-1. Epub 2023 Feb 27. PMID: 36849854; PMCID: PMC9970132.

¹³ Mitoshi M, Kuriyama I, Nakayama H, Miyazato H, Sugimoto K, Kobayashi Y, Jippo T, Kuramochi K, Yoshida H, Mizushina Y. Suppression of allergic and inflammatory responses by essential oils derived from herbal plants and citrus fruits. Int J Mol Med. 2014 Jun;33(6):1643-51. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2014.1720. Epub 2014 Mar 31. PMID: 24682420.