17 Home Remedies To Treat Dust Allergy: Causes, Symptoms, And Prevention Tips

Saline nasal sprays are an age-old method of relieving symptoms of nasal congestion and irritation. A neti pot not only rinses trapped dust and mold but also reduces congestion and helps control the inflammation and swelling caused due to the dust allergy (17).

You Will Need

• A neti pot
• Saltwater

What You Have To Do

1. Fill your neti pot with saltwater. The ratio is ½ to 1 teaspoon of salt to two cups of warm water. Adding ¼ teaspoon of baking soda per cup can keep the salt from drying the mucous membranes.
2. Bend over a washbasin with one ear parallel to the sink and insert the neti pot spout into one nostril. Pour half the solution into one nostril.
3. The saltwater will automatically flow from the other nostril.
4. Insert the spout in the other nostril and repeat the process.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this 2-3 times daily.

9. Vitamins

Vitamin C is widely known for its antioxidant potential. Vitamin C supplementation can help treat dust and seasonal allergies (18), (19).  This is because it not only prevents the release of histamines but also helps speed up their breakdown. An increase in the levels of histamines is known to cause extreme allergic reactions.

A diet rich in citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables will increase your daily intake of vitamin C. You can also opt for additional supplements at a moderate dosage of 500 mg to 1,000 mg per day after consulting your doctor. 

10. Peppermint Tea

Rat studies show that peppermint has anti-inflammatory and decongestant properties (20). It contains a volatile oil called menthol that rises to the sinuses and acts as a natural decongestant, providing immediate relief from sneezing, wheezing, and a runny nose (21). This can help in relieving the symptoms of dust allergy.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Add a teaspoon of dried peppermint leaves to a cup of hot water and allow it to steep for 10 minutes.
2. Strain the tea and allow it to cool a bit.
3. Add honey to it.
4. Drink it up.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink peppermint tea 2 times daily. 

11. Nettle Leaf Tea

Nettle leaves are derived from the stinging nettle plant. This plant has natural anti-histamine properties that reduce the release of the allergy-causing histamines within your body (22). This, in turn, reduces the symptoms of dust allergy. The anti-inflammatory properties of this plant help reduce the inflammation and swelling of the airways that occurs as a result of the allergy (23). It has been a go-to solution for dust allergies for decades.

You Will Need

• 1 teaspoon of dried nettle leaves
• 1 cup of water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Boil a teaspoon of dried nettle leaves with a cup of water in a saucepan.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes and strain the tea.
3. Allow it to cool for some time. Add a little honey and consume it.

How Often You Should Do This

You can drink nettle tea 2-3 times daily.

12. Green Tea

Green tea has been found to help treat a wide range of allergies. It is abundant in a catechinⁱ  XA naturally occurring chemical compound abundantly found in tea, cocoa, and berry plants rich in antioxidant properties. called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has antioxidant properties and helps treat dust allergy and its symptoms (24), (25).

You Will Need

• 1 green tea bag
• 1 cup of hot water
• Honey

What You Have To Do

1. Steep a green tea bag in a cup of hot water for 5-10 minutes.
2. Make sure that your tea has cooled a little before adding some honey as required.
3. Consume it.

How Often You Should Do This

Drink green tea 3-4 times daily. 

13. Ghee

Pure ghee can help warm your nasal passage and relieve constant sneezing. Hence, it is widely used in treating dust allergy and its symptoms. This is mainly due to its anti-inflammatory properties (26). However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to establish the efficacy of ghee in treating dust allergies. 

You Will Need

• 1/4 teaspoon of ghee
• Jaggery (cane sugar), optional

What You Have To Do

1. If you are sneezing uncontrollably due to an allergy, suck on one-fourth teaspoon of ghee for immediate relief.
2. You can also mix ghee with a little jaggery for better results.

How Often You Should Do This

You can consume this whenever you get sudden allergy attacks. 

14. Wasabi

Wasabi is also known as Japanese horseradish. It contains a compound called allyl isothiocyanate, which acts as a decongestant and stimulates mucous flow, thereby helping to ease the symptoms of dust allergy. You can also consume the common horseradish if you are unable to get hold of wasabi (27).

Note: Wasabi is very strong. Hence, start with an amount the size of a pearl.

You Will Need

1/4 teaspoon of grated wasabi

What You Have To Do

1. Consume grated wasabi whenever you experience allergy symptoms.
2. Alternatively, you can also consume wasabi paste.

How Often You Should Do This

Do this whenever you experience an allergy attack. 

15. Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathy has developed many remedies for allergies. The top five are Arsenic alb, Sulphur, Natrum mur, Sabadilla, and Allium cepa. There are also combination homeopathic remedies. However, it is important to consult a homeopathic practitioner before trying out any of these. 

16. House Plants

You may also consider keeping a few allergy-friendly plants inside your home to combat dust allergy. Plants like dracaena can be quite useful in trapping allergens in their leaves. Other plants like bamboo and lady palm help keep insects at bay and also act as air purifiers and air filters (28), (29).

17. Herbal Tea

This includes tea from herbs like tulsi, licoriceⁱ  XA herb whose root bears a sweet aromatic flavor and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. , ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom. Studies show that ginger has anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger can help modulate the immune response that is associated with asthma and other related allergic conditions (30). However, ginger may interact with certain drugs, including Coumadin and aspirin. Hence, exercise caution.

Cinnamon contains polyphenolsⁱ  XNaturally occurring compounds are found in fruits, vegetables, and beverages with antioxidant properties. that possess antiasthmatic and antiallergic potential (31). Licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which also exhibits anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties (32).

Ayurveda sure does have wonderful solutions for dust allergies. But make sure you check with an Ayurveda consultant for diagnosis and medical prescriptions.

Medicines For Dust Allergy

Your doctor might prescribe antihistamines to relieve sneezing and runny nose and nasal corticosteroids to combat inflammation. Decongestants are given to shrink stuffy nasal passages. However, though antihistamines can help lessen allergy symptoms, they can worsen the next attack. Corticosteroids can make your mucous membranes thinner and make things worse in the long run. Therefore, take these medicines only under medical surveillance.

In addition to these remedies, you can also follow the tips mentioned below to reduce your exposure to indoor dust.

Preventive Tips

• Get rid of wall to wall carpeting, especially in your bedroom.
• Try and keep your pets outside the bedroom and, if possible, outside your house.
• Keep your indoors humidity-free.
• Use mite-proof linens on your beds and pillows.
• Use a high-efficiency filter in your air conditioning unit.
• If your house is invaded by cockroaches, schedule regular visits by the pest control services.
• Keep your house clean and dust-free by vacuuming. You can use a central vacuum or vacuum with a HEPAⁱ  XHigh-efficiency particulate absorbing filter refers to the efficiency standard that air filters must meet. filter for this purpose.
• Avoidance of direct exposure to fog and cold weather (especially in the morning) can help. You may want to cover your head if you need to go out.
• Avoid cold drinks, ice creams, fried, and reheated foods.
• Eat seasonal and local fruits and vegetables.