Some Natural Antihistamines to Help with Allergies

Seasonal allergies can be difficult to manage. Common treatments typically include over-the-counter drugs, but natural antihistamines can also be a great option. Examples include butterbur, vitamin C, and quercetin.
If you have seasonal allergies, you know they can be challenging. Symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and sinus pressure can become hard to deal with.

Whether your symptoms are due to hay fever, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), or seasonal allergies, numerous medications can help combat them. But some of these medications have their own lengthy list of side effects.
You’ve likely already tried many of these over-the-counter (OTC) solutions to attempt to lessen your seasonal symptoms. Now you may want to try something else.

Some evidence suggests that completely natural solutions may help ease your symptoms.
Understanding how antihistamines work can help you better determine whether natural antihistamines can help your symptoms during allergy season.
How do antihistamines work?
Allergies are an immune response to an otherwise harmless substance. This substance — whether it’s pollen, animal dander, or dust — comes into contact with cells in the mucous membranes of your nose, mouth, throat, and lungs.

In a person with allergies, this ends up triggering the release of a chemical called histamine. Histamine is a part of the immune system that causes all the symptoms associated with allergies, such as sneezing, itching, and cold-like symptoms.
Antihistamines work by blocking histamine activity to stop the allergic reaction.
Many allergy medications on the shelves of your local drugstore work as antihistamines. Certain foods and plant extracts may similarly block the effects of histamine.

Examples include:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin found in plant foods such as citrus, leafy greens, and berries. It has several functions, such as being able to heal wounds and manage infections.
A 2023 research reviewTrusted Source found that it can also help improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis, such as itching and sneezing.
Vitamin C can also be found in supplement form. A doctor may suggest taking this if you have a vitamin C deficiency and are not getting enough through your diet.

Probiotics
Probiotics are microorganisms that can help maintain or improve your gut’s good bacteria levels. They can be found in several food sources, such as:
• sauerkraut
• yogurt
• tempeh
• sour cream
• kombucha

A 2021 reviewTrusted Source suggests that probiotics may also help reduce and prevent allergy symptoms. The review also suggests that probiotics may help reduce symptoms of asthma and atopic dermatitis.
If you regularly experience seasonal allergies, you may want to consider adding more probiotic foods to your diet.
Stinging nettle
It can also be a natural antihistamine. An older 2009 studyTrusted Source found that stinging nettle may lead to a decrease in allergy symptoms.

Quercetin
Quercetin is an antioxidant found naturally in onions, apples, grapefruit, okra, and other produce.
A 2022 studyTrusted Source found that it may also work as an antihistamine and be able to effectively reduce allergy symptoms.
You can purchase quercetin as a supplement, or simply add more quercetin-rich foods to your diet (the better choice of these two options).
Bromelain
Bromelain is a compound most commonly found in pineapples, but you can also find it in supplement form. It’s known to be effective at treating respiratory distress and inflammation associated with allergies.