Throughout winter, we dream of spring, when we can head outdoors to hike or bike, fire up the grill, and enjoy farmers markets and local festivals.

For more than 24 million people in the U.S. with seasonal allergies, however, the pleasures of warm weather come at a cost: itchy eyes, runny noses, nasal congestion, sneezing and other varieties of respiratory misery.

And, while beautiful autumn weather is always welcome, seasonal allergy symptoms can extend well into November in warmer regions.

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A natural approach to allergy relief

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Dr. Rachel Baldwin

When symptoms strike, many of us go straight to over-the-counter allergy medications. But complementary medicine offers a more natural approach that can sometimes provide relief on par with pharmaceuticals, said Dr. Rachel Baldwin, an integrative medicine specialist at Novant Health Cancer Institute - Kimel Park.

When it comes to natural remedies for seasonal allergies, however, there’s no one-size fits-all approach.

“Every individual everyone responds differently to different interventions, so I suggest that people experiment and find what tends to work best for them,” she said. “It’s good to conduct little ‘trials’ with ourselves. If one particular treatment doesn't work, another one may.”

To that end, she offered a variety of options to try — after checking with your health care clinician, of course — to rule out any potential problems with side effects or drug interactions.

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

Baldwin’s first choice for a natural allergy supplement, stinging nettle is a natural antihistamine that can be taken on an as-needed basis. In fact, many people find they only need to take it for a few days here and there.

In one study, 48% of participants who took capsules containing 300 mg of Urtica dioica (a preparation of freeze-dried stinging nettle leaves) rated it equally or more effective than medications they previously used to treat allergy symptoms.

Note: It is important to look for supplements labeled “freeze-dried stinging nettle” — other formulations are used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), Baldwin said.

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“In one study, some people found butterbur supplements as effective as Zyrtec,” Baldwin said.

She noted one significant caveat, however: In its raw state, butterbur contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (or PA), which may cause cancer or liver damage.

So, when shopping for butterbur supplements, it is important to only purchase those labeled “PA free.” She recommends Petadolex.

Curcumin

A substance found in turmeric, curcumin is a popular antioxidant/anti-inflammatory supplement. Research has found that, by reducing inflammation, curcumin may relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion.

In one clinical trial, allergy sufferers who took curcumin for two months reported better nasal airflow and less sneezing and congestion than the group who received a placebo. Note: Because curcumin is a mild blood thinner, it should be discontinued prior to any surgery or procedure, or if easy bruising/bleeding is noted.

Quercetin

“This plant chemical helps stabilize mast cells that release substances including histamine that contribute to inflammation and allergic reactions,” Baldwin said. “But, unlike stinging nettle, quercetin helps prevent the onset of allergy symptoms, so you can take it daily as a preventive.”

Found naturally in foods like unpeeled apples, berries, red grapes, black tea and red onions, quercetin is also widely available in supplement form. Because our bodies don’t easily absorb it on its own, most quercetin supplements include vitamin C or bromelain — a protein-digesting enzyme found in pineapple — to enhance effectiveness.

Local honey

“The theory is that consuming local honey might act as a natural allergy shot by exposing you to the allergens triggering your symptoms,” Baldwin said. “But, most people who get seasonal allergies react to tree and grass pollen, not the flower pollen bees collect.”

While scientific evidence proving the effectiveness of local honey is scarce — only a few studies have shown that eating or applying honey offers relief — Baldwin feels it’s a safe and reasonable option for most people if they think it’s beneficial. However, some people who are allergic to pollen or bee stings may also be allergic to honey. And children under 1 year of age should never be given honey, because of a risk of botulism.

There when you need it: Over-the-counter allergy relief

When seasonal allergies intensify, people with conditions like angioedema, allergy-associated anaphylaxis or asthma may want to visit their health care clinician. For the rest of us, Baldwin recommends trying over the counter treatments first.

“Trying natural and drug-store options at home before reaching out to a doctor actually allows for treatment to be more tailored,” she said. “Because when you come in, we’ll already have a sense of what does and doesn’t work.”

Over-the-counter treatments include nasal steroid sprays and less-sedating “second generation” antihistamines like loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), and cetirizine (Zyrtec). Because studies have linked the more-sedating “first generation” antihistamines, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl), with poor school performance in children, increased risk of accidents and interference with rapid-eye-movement sleep, these options have fallen out of favor.