Allergic Rhinitis: What Natural Treatment?

How to explain this rise in allergic rhinitis?

Several causes are suggested:

• Climate change: it extends the pollination period, increases the quantity of pollen in the air, and enhances their allergenic potential. It also promotes the spread of new plants in areas where they were not yet present, and some of them, like grasses, are allergenic;
• Air pollution: it weakens the nasal mucous membranes and also increases the allergenic potential of particles. For example, ozone weakens the membranes of pollen grains, which can then release smaller particles that may penetrate deeper into the respiratory system. CO₂, on the other hand, stimulates plants and thus promotes the production of allergens. Finally, semi-volatile pollutants, once attached to pollen, spread more easily;
• Changes in our lifestyles: stress, which disrupts the immune system, the combination of certain medications with other allergens, passive smoking, being overweight, or even a more industrial diet are all factors that exacerbate the phenomena of allergic rhinitis;
• Changes in our indoor environments: volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are present in certain construction and furnishing materials, in cleaning products, paints, furniture, adhesives, varnishes... Among them, formaldehyde is currently considered the main gaseous pollutant of indoor air.

What natural treatment for allergic rhinitis?

For a broader overview of home remedies for allergies across all allergy types, see our dedicated guide. This page focuses on allergic rhinitis specifically.

In the most severe cases, medication treatments are available. It is also possible to consider desensitization: long performed by subcutaneous injections, it now exists in the form of drops or tablets and thus becomes less restrictive. In any case, your doctor's advice is essential to identify the best solutions for you and to prevent your allergic rhinitis from turning into asthma. Whether you need treatment or not, the first reflex is to avoid exposure to allergens to reduce the frequency and intensity of your allergic rhinitis. In some cases, such as allergies to animal hair or tobacco, avoiding contact with the allergen is quite simple, but for most of the substances involved (pollen, dust, VOCs, etc.), their presence in the environment cannot be completely eliminated. However, some good practices can help you limit it.

1. What natural treatment for allergic rhinitis triggered by outdoor pollutants?

If you are allergic to outdoor pollutants that may enter your home, it is recommended to:

• Choose times when the concentration of the allergen is lower to ventilate: for example, pollen is less present in the air when the temperature is lower (late evening or early morning). Near a road, choose periods when traffic is less dense.
• Wash your hair regularly;
• Avoid drying clothes outside;
• Change clothes when you come in from outside;
• Clean your home frequently to remove pollutants brought in from outside;
• Brush your pet regularly if it goes outside and forbid it access to bedrooms.

2. What natural treatment for allergic rhinitis triggered by indoor pollutants?

Indoor air can be up to 8 times more polluted than outdoor air and the majority of allergic rhinitis cases are caused by a pollutant present indoors: dust mites are the leading cause of annual allergic rhinitis. They are not the only allergens present indoors: dust, mold, substances from cleaning products, perfumes, furniture such as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and notably formaldehyde… there are many substances that can cause allergic rhinitis. In this context, we advise you to:

• Clean and wash your sheets frequently;
• Use anti-dust mite covers;
• Avoid "dust trap" objects and decorations, carpets, and rugs;
• Regulate the temperature and humidity of your home.

3- Good practices regardless of the pollutant triggering your allergic rhinitis

• Be vigilant about possible allergen combinations, especially by monitoring your diet when the concentration of the pollutant affecting the respiratory tract is high (pollination period, peak atmospheric pollution…)
• Maintain the effectiveness of your immune system by eating a balanced diet
• Favor foods rich in vitamins, magnesium, and quercetin (green vegetables, berries, apples…). Several studies have shown the antihistamine effect of quercetin and recommended its use as a complementary natural treatment for allergic rhinitis ⁽⁵⁾;
• Foods rich in beta-carotene, omega-3 (fatty fish), or chamomile and nettle teas can soothe the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
• Some essential oils may be effective, but we recommend following your pharmacist's advice on their use;
• Rinse your nose with saline solution (nasal saline irrigation) to remove mucus and allergens: a Cochrane review (2018) concludes that this simple, inexpensive, and well-tolerated gesture can reduce allergic rhinitis symptoms. Use previously boiled or distilled water.

4- To go further and improve your quality of life

• Call on a medical environmental advisor who can visit your home to diagnose it and recommend tailored solutions.
• Install an air purifier. As we specify in our guide to choosing an air purifier (available here), different technologies exist, depending on the targeted pollutant and your selection criteria (aesthetics, energy efficiency, ease of maintenance, etc.).
• The technology developed by TEQOYA is based on a principle that exists in nature: ionization, which is the production of negative ions, found particularly in "fresh air" spaces: mountains, rivers... which, by charging the pollutant particles, weigh them down and extract them from the airflow. Ionization acts on particulate allergens suspended in the air (dust mites, pollen, mold spores, dust), responsible for the vast majority of allergic rhinitis cases; gaseous pollutants like VOCs and formaldehyde require other approaches (enhanced ventilation and source reduction).

Do you want to install an air purifier to help you fight against your allergic rhinitis? Check out our suitable products for your bedroom or small rooms, your living room or large rooms, your car, or your kitchen and high-traffic areas (stores, waiting rooms, and other professional activity places).

Are you an architect, fluid design office, or ventilation and carpentry professional? We also offer a filtering air inlet for buildings.