Whether you call it rose fever, hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, it's a big problem for the 50 million sufferers in America.
Many allergy symptoms can be controlled with drugs such as antihistamines (also called histamine blockers in some commercials). Your doctor can recommend an over-the-counter or prescription medication that's right for you.
You may be prescribed a drug which controls the lungs' response to allergens and prevents airway swelling. Called antileukotrienes, they have been shown to effectively prevent both allergy and asthma attacks.
Prevention
If you know what you're allergic to, try to avoid contact with the allergens. Check the mold and pollen forecast, and limit outside activities on high-level days or wear a paper mask. Researchers at the Woodcock Institute of Medical Research in Australia say an inexpensive pollen filter that fits over the nose and mouth can dramatically reduce allergen exposure.
The super antioxidant in green tea could also ease symptoms. It blocks the biochemical process involved in producing an allergic response, according to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Green tea may be useful against a wide range of sneeze-starting allergens, including pollen, pet dander, and dust.
Drinking two or three cups a day of green tea helps to bolster the body's defenses, according to Lester Mitscher of the University of Kansas. Mitscher is the author of The Green Tea Book: China's Fountain of Youth (Avery).
Fresh tea made with loose leaves retains more antioxidants than tea bags. Water with chlorine can lower antioxidant levels. For the highest quality tea, use distilled water.
