You know what’s terrible? After months of freezing, icy, and depressingly gray weather, spring brings with it a whole new problem for a significant portion of Americans: seasonal allergies.

That’s right, spring is not the welcome rescue from winter for everyone. For some poor souls it’s a time of endless sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny noses.

Seasonal allergies are said to impact nearly 35 million Americans each year.

If that’s you, you probably found your way to this article in the midst of a desperate attempt to find relief or figure out a game plan while there’s still time.

Well there’s good news for you as indeed there are ways of effectively dealing with seasonal allergies. Even better, you don’t have to run to your local pharmacy to get prescriptions for the treatments.

The increasingly sought after remedies for dealing with seasonal allergies are in fact simple, and in many cases homemade, natural remedies.

Seasonal allergies. Spring is nearly here.

— May Wang (@MayWang14) February 26, 2014

I hate spring bc seasonal allergies are the death of me #foreversneezing

— caitlyne♡ (@caitlynesamonte) February 25, 2014

One popular choice is called butterbur. Butterbur is a European herb that has behind it a series of successful clinical trials.

According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, a tablet of butterbur extract or Ze 339 taken four times a day was just as effective as popular antihistamine medications at controlling seasonal allergies. The big difference is that it did so without the familiar side effect of drowsiness.

You may have noticed an increase in saline nose sprays in the allergy section of the local drug store. This simple salt water mixture is said to be good for the removal of pollen from the sinuses and for getting rid of mucus.

Saline nose sprays can be used in conjunction with herbal supplements such as goldenseal, which is an astringent with antibacterial properties.

Other popular choices include grape seed oil, freeze-dried nettles, and quercetin (a flavanoid compound).

Before getting carried away with all things Mother Nature, it’s strongly recommended that you do your research on any herbal remedy and the possible side effects.

Even though a growing number people are seeking natural remedies to avoid the unpleasant side-effects of man-made medicines, side effects and allergic reactions are still something to be wary off when opting for all nature treatments.

There is hope for seasonal allergy sufferers, just be certain the natural remedies you choose are safe and effective.

Image via Wikimedia Commons