Dust Allergy

Dust allergies are particularly difficult to deal with as they can be triggered by a host of agents and are difficult to control once the body reacts to an allergen.

Symptoms of Dust Allergy:

• Sneezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Red, itchy or teary eyes
• Wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath
• Itching

Causes of Dust Allergy:

• Dust mites
• Cockroaches
• Mold
• Pollen
• Pet hair, fur or feathers

Home Remedies for Dust Allergy:

1. Nasal Wash or Saline Solution

• Mix a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and add a pinch of baking soda.
• Sniff a bit of the solution into one nostril at a time and allow the wash to drain back through your mouth or nose.
• Repeat by sniffing the wash through the other nostril.
• Doing this about four or five times helps to reduce nasal irritation and gives you relief from dust allergy.

2. Body Wash

• Wash your face, arms and hands as soon as you get indoors to get rid of pollen, dirt and other allergens that could trigger an allergy.
• If you have spent an entire day outdoors, it is advisable to take a bath and wash your hair as well, as pollens sticking to your hair can trickle down and tickle the nose.
• If you are having an allergy attack, wash your eyes and nostrils immediately to ease the sneezing and inflammation. Take cup water in your folded palm and blink rapidly about three or four times to wash your eyes. Use the same technique to clean your nostrils of irritants.

3. Peppermint Tea

•  Place handful of dried peppermint leaves in a glass filled two thirds to the brim with water.
• Bring the water to boil with the leaves in it.
• Allow the mixture to steep for about ten minutes, strain, cool and drink the tea.

4. Steam

• Boil about 250 ml of water in a large bowl.
• When you see steam rising, drape a towel over your head and gently inhale the steam for about ten minutes.
• Hold your position for as long as you can before surfacing to breathe in fresh air.
• Once the water has cooled sufficiently and is lukewarm, dip a clean wash cloth in it and hold it to your sinuses for relief from an allergic reaction.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar

• Mix a teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink the solution thrice a day. This tonic helps to cure allergy symptoms as well as prevent further attacks.

7. Local Honey

• Drink a teaspoon of honey to ease allergic reaction symptoms.
•  Dip a clean cotton ball in a drop of honey and gently dab on rashes and blisters on your hands, legs and elsewhere on the body, triggered by the allergic reaction.

8. Green Tea

• Soak a tea bag of green tea in a cup of boiling water and drink the brew to relieve sneezing, inflammation of the nasal tract and pain in the sinuses.
• Once the teabag has been drained, gently rub the bag along your skin where the rashes are most prominent.
• Drink green tea at least twice a day in the season you are most vulnerable to allergies, to prevent an attack.

9. Ghee

• Dip a clean cotton ball in ghee and gently dab it on rashes and blemishes that have broken out on your skin. Ghee reduces the itch and swelling to quell the allergic reaction of the body.

How to prevent Dust Allergy:

• Ensure you wear a scarf with your nose and mouth covered when you are outdoors during the pollen season.
• Cover your nose when you are dusting furniture at home, cleaning your closet or accessing areas of your home.
• Remove wall-to-wall carpets, particularly in the bedroom.
• Keep pets out of the bedroom, and preferably out of the house.
• Minimize household humidity.
• Use “mite-proof” cases on mattresses and pillows; wash bed linens frequently in hot water.
• Install a high-efficiency media filter in your furnace and air conditioning unit.