We know the last few years have been scary for everyone and every cough and sniffle can have you on edge. Some of those symptoms may be due to cedar fever. According to KXAN, cedar pollen counts typically peak in January to early February. We are well aware that cedar fever is a, well, let’s just say it’s a word that rhymes with witch! That’s why we compiled this list!
Here are a few natural remedies that we’ve picked up from other locals who have been battling cedar fever for years.
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Go Homeopathic
As a founding member of the vocal trio Keeper, it’s particularly important to Erin Jantzen to ensure that her voice doesn’t suffer due to allergens. Her go-to remedy is Allergena, a homeopathic remedy that creates remedies based specifically around regional allergy zones. For Central Texas, Allergena has a tincture for Texas Cedar Fever and for Texas Trees. Jantzen picks hers up at HEB, but it’s also available at Central Market, Whole Foods, and Wheatsville Co-Op, among others. Of course, it’s not always a cure-all. “When the cedar is really high, I’ll still use Flonase, but if you build up on the drops it helps a lot,” Jantzen said.
Get Spa Quality Relief
Relax and enjoy a staycation or just pop into the spa for a bit of help with your allergies at Four Seasons. Their spa menu includes an Herbal Apothecary Allergy Relief Massage that combines aromatherapy and massage to clear up your airways and help you get your life back: “Herbal and floral essences, many indigenous to Texas, combine with a targeted upper body massage to alleviate built-up tension in your head, neck and shoulders, while hot towel compresses gently open your airways, allowing you to breathe easy again.”
Myo Massage offers a Lymphatic Drainage service that helps detoxify the body and boost immunity. This treatment can help with a variety of ailments, including allergies, by helping to recirculate bodily fluids, stimulate the immune system, and help people try to relax.
From the Professionals
Independent massage practitioner Sonya Benjamin of Vessel + Spirit also has her own suggestions for allergy relief:
“Many of my clients become congested while lying facedown on my massage table, especially during allergy season. My go to for offering any quick relief from congestion is peppermint oil. I place a tiny bit on both temples and a little behind the ears. This not only helps relieve congestion of the nasal passages, but it will also help ease those pressure headaches that attend that little allergy party in your face,” Benjamin said.
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She also has a remedy that works to help get ahead of the seasonal allergy curve:
“For my other clients that just have seasonal allergies and want to catch it before it starts, I always suggest my favorite preventive, anti-inflammatory called Golden Milk. This will aid in lowering inflammation, which is the root cause of most ailments in the body.”
1 cup dairy-free milk (Dairy only exacerbates congestion)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon coconut oil
dash black pepper (needed to activate the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric)
raw local honey to taste
Try Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be a great way to try to address ongoing allergy problems. Consultations with your acupuncturist will likely lead to a series of treatments, as well as recommendations for herbal accompaniments. Many local acupuncturists can treat allergy issues (a simple Google search of “Austin acupuncture for allergies” returns plenty of results of practitioners addressing this issue specifically).
From Austin Acupuncture:
There may be no cure for allergies, but acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can provide real and lasting relief from the symptoms, and, in a few cases, our patients have reported that they no longer suffer from allergies at all following their full course of treatment. No two cases are alike, however, and you are encouraged to work closely with our acupuncturists to find the best combination of acupuncture and herbal formulas to help you.
And if you just want to feel a tiny bit better about your suffering, just know that Austin is far from the worst in the country when it comes to allergy suffering, according to this list.
We wish you a very clear-headed remainder of the cedar season. Did we miss some of your favorite remedies? Send us a message on Facebook or Instagram so we can share and help everyone benefit from your tried and tested cedar wisdom.
