When the flowers begin to bloom and the scent of new plant life begins to waft through the air, it’s the beginning of spring — and for many, the start of allergy season. Some new kratom users might be wondering if kratom will help with allergic rhinitis (aka allergies), so we thought we’d cover the topic of kratom and allergies and explore some other natural remedies for seasonal allergies.
Understanding Kratom & Allergies: First, What is Allergic Rhinitis?
According to an article by Healthline, hay fever or allergic rhinitis is a condition that affects 8% of Americans. It is characterized by sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes, and other ear-eye-nose-throat symptoms that present most commonly during the pollen and grass-cutting season.
But why do they happen? To understand how natural remedies for seasonal allergies work, we have to understand why allergies occur in the first place. Allergies happen because our body identifies a generally harmless substance (pollen) as something dangerous, and the immune system goes into overdrive to overcome the threat. To do that, the body releases a chemical called histamine, which, in turn, brings on those all-too-familiar runny nose, itchy eye allergy symptoms.
What Causes Allergic Rhinitis?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, a history of taking antibiotics appears to increase the risk of suffering from this condition, especially when they were taken before 12 months of age. Exposure to diesel exhaust has also been linked with seasonal allergies, though both of these answers are still under research and do not offer comprehensive answers.
Fortunately, there are also some factors that have been identified as reducing the risk of developing allergies, including:
- Being breastfed as an infant
- Receiving allergen exposure in utero
- Previous infection with the measles
- Having started on a multivitamin before the age of 4
- Eating a diet rich in seaweed, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorous
Sometimes the best natural remedies for seasonal allergies include preventative changes to your diet and lifestyle!
Kratom and Allergies: Can Kratom Help?
If you already suffer from hay fever and you’re looking for natural remedies for seasonal allergies that can help you find quick relief, it could help to know that fresh kratom possesses two properties that could make it helpful for allergic rhinitis. The first is its anti-inflammatory activity, which might help to reduce inflammation that results from a heightened immune response. The second is its role as an immunostimulant, which could strengthen your immune system and help to prevent a full-blown allergic reaction.
As of yet, no clinical studies or kratom testing has been done to confirm whether these properties might help with seasonal allergies, but some kratom users have commented on online forums that they noticed a reduction (or complete elimination) of their symptoms of allergic rhinitis once they started kratom.
Other Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies
Numerous other natural remedies for seasonal allergies have been identified and studied for their therapeutic potential if you want to try something for your allergies that isn’t kratom. Here are four of the top research-based substances to try for hay fever, and of course, please consult with your health practitioner before starting any course of treatment!
Probiotics
Health begins in the gut, and balancing your intestinal flora could help you get closer to a more pleasant spring and summer season. To get your gut into tip-top shape, make sure you are ingesting plenty of dietary fiber in the form of dark leafy green vegetables. These act as prebiotics which then feeds the good bacteria in the intestines. Neat, right?
Second, taking specific probiotics has also been shown to help reduce symptoms of seasonal rhinitis. These strains include:
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus plantarum fermented in citrus juice
Black Seed Oil
Black cumin seed oil (commonly referred to simply as “black seed oil”) is an extract taken from the seeds of the Nigella sativa plant and has been trialed in recent years for a wide range of health problems. So far, studies indicate that black seed oil might be one of the best natural remedies for seasonal allergies.
As an example, in one study, 66 patients with allergic rhinitis were exposed to Nigella sativa oil or a placebo over two weeks. By day 15, the black seed oil group displayed significant improvements that were not seen in the placebo group, including less nasal congestion, less nose drip, less sneezing, and reduced mucosal pallor.
Cinnamon Bark Extract
A popular culinary spice that originated from the Indian subcontinent, cinnamon is often used as a natural aid for weight loss and a blood sugar balancing agent, especially in the case of diabetes. This spice has also been tested for its potential in improving seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and appears to have been quite effective.
In a 2019 placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that sought to test natural remedies for seasonal allergies, a polyphenol-rich standardized cinnamon bark extract was given as a nasal spray over seven days to adults who showed symptoms of SAR. Compared to the placebo, the cinnamon bark extract spray was found to bring about a clinically significant reduction in nose and eye symptoms and improved the productivity and quality of life of the participants.
If you can’t get access to the standardized extract, you can boil down a bundle of cinnamon sticks at home.
Essential Oil Blend
For all the fans of essential oils out there, this third home remedy could be just the one for you. According to a study published in 2011, inhaling a blend of essential oils could reduce unpleasant sinus symptoms from various causes.
In this study, a Russian team used a blend of essential oils in an early-childhood setting with children aged 3 to 4 years, as these natural remedies for seasonal allergies don’t require ingestion. They found a 42.5% decrease in acute respiratory diseases and clinical manifestations of rhinitis across the entire group, with only a third of the frequently ill children getting sick and an 80% overall reduction in the severity and duration of symptoms overall.
Unfortunately, the English-language abstract doesn’t tell us which essential oils were used and for how long, but guides to natural remedies for seasonal allergies often recommend:
- Peppermint
- Basil
- Eucalyptus
- Lemon
- Tea tree
Shop Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies at Kratora
Hopefully, more research will be done on kratom and allergies in the future, but for now, the natural remedies for seasonal allergies that we’ve described above could provide some welcome relief from symptoms. At Kratora, we supply premium kratom powder, liquid kratom, kratom capsules, and kratom gummies for a more holistic approach to wellness. All of our products are organic, sourced from sustainable avenues, and third-party lab-tested to ensure safety. Shop with us today to receive same-day shipping on orders submitted before 3 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday and 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturdays (excluding holidays).
Please note that the US FDA has not approved kratom to be sold for human consumption, sold for external use only. None of the products sold on our website are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.
Want to learn more about kratom quality and value? Start here:
Why Buying Cheap Kratom Can Be Dangerous
A great thing to add to this list is Bee Plooen. Generally when it’s mention, it seems like it would be common sense that Bee Pollen would help with allergies, but a lot of people don’t even know it exists. It really is something that is great to take all year around because of all the other benefits as well.