PADUCA – Many locals may be enjoying the summer weather right now; however, with allergy season still lingering, pollen, ragweed and grass can make it difficult for people with allergies to enjoy the outdoors.
That's why doctors at Paducah Baptist Health say there are some natural remedies people can try to improve their condition.
Brother and sister Rachel Straub and Elliott Straub decided to play pickleball at Noble Park in Paducah on Tuesday afternoon. They both love the outdoors.
“We had been playing sports in high school. We actually ran cross country at this park. So with the allergies, it was pretty bad,” Rachel said.
Rachel said that over the years, she had to become a master at controlling her allergies.
“Having a shower at night, washing everything off me, taking my allergy medicine, and just relaxing. That always helps me stop craving sniffles and stuff like that in the morning,” Rachel says.
There are many natural remedies that can relieve allergy and some asthma symptoms caused by allergens like pollen and ragweed, said Dr. John Cecil of Paducah Baptist Health.
To relieve a stuffy nose, “If you really want to do it right, mix a quarter teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Mix it up. The first time is the worst, pour in a handful of warm salt water, then pour Take a whiff,” Cecil said.
To help keep allergens out of your home, make sure to keep your windows closed.
“But we don’t think too much about air conditioning filters, we need those that capture a lot of allergens, so, you know, sometimes those are a little more expensive and harder to buy, but if you have a lot of allergies , how much pain they do cause,” Cecil said.
A common allergy myth is that local honey can also help. Cecil says there's no evidence to support it, but if it works for someone, he's okay with it.
Elliott said he will stick with his natural remedies.
“I find that when I have an allergy attack at work, I can take hot water like a wet rag and put it over my sinuses. That usually helps clear up a little bit of the allergy,” Elliott says.
If these remedies still don't work, it's time to see a doctor, Cecil says.
