How To Ease Your Child’s Allergies Without Medication

Medication can be a useful aid during allergy season. However, you don’t want your child to walk around in a fog or suffer the side effects of too many prescriptions. Fortunately, you can reduce your child’s allergies so your little one breathes easier and feels more comfortable without medication. Here are three places to start for allergy relief.

Stock Up on Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar

Image via Flickr by MarinaAvila
Many parents swear by apple cider vinegar as an aid for allergy symptoms. Apple cider vinegar is thought to reduce mucus production while cleaning the lymphatic system. Unfortunately, your child might not enjoy drinking a glass of watered-down apple cider vinegar, which is where the honey comes in. Many experts tout the health benefits of honey, and some have found that eating locally produced honey can help allergies; essentially, you’re eating the local pollen and building up a tolerance.
Mix the apple cider vinegar with honey and water, and maybe mix in some orange juice for flavor and vitamin C. This should help ease the worst symptoms during allergy season.

Maintain a Clean HVAC System

Even if you’re dusting and cleaning in your child’s room on a regular basis, you could be treating the symptoms of the problem, not the source. Dirty HVAC systems can actually spread dust and dirt throughout your home by way of your air ducts. Even worse, if there’s a water leak near your HVAC system you could be spreading mold spores any time you turn on the air conditioning.
To prevent this, change your filter once a month for maximum effect. You may even consider getting a higher-end filter to trap more dust and allergens. Then, schedule a check on your HVAC system twice a year (typically in spring and fall when it’s not in use) so a specialist can clean it. They might be able to make suggestions for cleaner indoor air, as well.

Know the Peak Pollen Times in Your Area

Treating a child who has pollen allergies means taking on the role of doctor, meteorologist, and personal assistant. Keep an eye on pollen counts in your area to learn when to keep your child inside. Not only should you be concerned during dry days, but you should also watch out for windy days when spores get blown through the air.
Pollen counts are also affected by the time of day. The highest pollen counts typically run between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m., which means saving playtime until the afternoon can be of benefit. If you’re worried about sending your child outside but still want them to exercise and run around, look for indoor activities to get them moving. Many rock climbing gyms are child-friendly, while roller rinks are an affordable and low-maintenance choice, as well.
The best way to reduce the effects of allergies is to find the source. By preventing exposure in the first place, you won’t have to spend as much time treating the symptoms, which means you won’t need as much medication.