Bee Healthy: Natural therapies for your allergies

I am often asked about natural allergy remedies for runny, stuffy noses and itchy, watery eyes. Before you run out to stock up on your usual antihistamines and decongestants, here are five alternatives to consider.

1. Acupuncture. In a study published in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, patients who underwent a particular type of needling known as active acupuncture three times a week for four weeks showed a significant reduction in allergy symptoms like nasal congestion and sneezing. Interestingly, patients who had sham acupuncture (improper placement of needles) had a little relief too, but not as much as the active acupuncture group.

2. Nasal sprays. A quick spray or rinse of your nose with saline solution (using neti pots or nasal sprays) especially when done regularly can improve symptoms and decrease the need for medications. The saline wash probably works by physically flushing out mucus, debris, allergens, and air pollutants.

3. Subcutaneous immunotherapy. Commonly known as allergy shots (not to be confused with steroid shots), this therapy is quite natural. A concentrated dose of the actual allergen is injected just underneath the skin. This leads the immune system to develop a better response to the allergen. Once your treatment is done (typically in 3 to 5 years) you will be desensitized to those specific allergens, no longer having significant reactions to them.

4. Sublingual immunotherapy. This is like subcutaneous immunotherapy except the concentrated doses of allergen are placed under the tongue daily for 3 to 5 years, rather than being put under the skin every few weeks. Right now, doses of grass pollen and ragweed allergen are the only ones approved for use in the U.S., but there are more in the pipeline.

5. Herbal remedies and supplements. Extracts of the shrub butterbur may help prevent seasonal allergy symptoms. If you do try butterbur, be sure to use a product that’s labeled “PA-free,” which indicates it has had potentially toxic substances removed.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Bee Healthy: Natural therapies for your allergies."