But it is not exclusive to India. Scandinavians have also used this home remedy to ward off colds, relieve allergies, and prevent sinus infections.
Yoga practitioners use a neti pot, a ceramic vessel that looks a bit like Aladdin's lamp. You put teaspoon of salt in warm water and then pour from the neti pot into one nostril. Do this over a sink, as the salt water should then drain out of the other nostril. Once it has drained, repeat the procedure on the other side.
Vitamin C
Everyone thinks vitamin C is good for the common cold. But there is research suggesting that a large does of vitamin C may reduce antibody allergens binding and diminish allergic symptoms. The best does of vitamin C against allergies has not been determined.
Because the effect is fairly short, it probably makes sense to take 500 mg periodically throughout the day up to a maximum of 2.5 of 3 grams. If you have a history of kidney stones, avoid this regimen, and if you experience diarrhea, reduce the dose.
Local Honey Comb
There are reports that eating honeycomb that comes from the area where you live can relieve symptoms of allergy. The theory is that by chewing a little honeycomb made by local bees you can desensitize yourself to local pollens. As with allergy shots, your body gradually builds up tolerance by ingesting the pollen. There is, to our knowledge, no scientific evidence to support this hypothesis, and relief, if it occurs, may take several months.
Several researchers have looked into the possibility that honey itself might precipitate allergic reactions. Finnish investigators found no increased risk when pollen-allergic patients were exposed to honey. Austrian Spanish scientist, however, did find that some people are allergic to honey and experienced symptoms such as itching or even anaphylactic shock. If you are considering honeycomb as a home remedy, first make sure that you are not allergic to honey.
Herbs
There has been as much research on herbal treatments for allergy symptoms as there has for some other ailments. Nevertheless, there are reporters that stinging nettle may be helpful against hay fever. It is a very popular herb in Germany, used there for relieving symptoms of benign prostate enlargement as well as for hives, which are an allergic-type skin reaction.
In one double-blind study, investigators tested freeze-dried nettle in hay fever sufferers. More than half of the subjects experienced significant relief of their symptoms of congestion and runny noses.
