12 Natural Ways to Deal with Seasonal Irritants*

Tis the season: Flower and trees are blooming, and the whole world seems to be green and lush. While beautiful, spring can be a challenging time. Along with nice weather – and the desire to be outside enjoying it – comes a whole lot of pollen. For the 82 million American adults who experience seasonal issues with outdoor and environmental irritants, spring is a time for mixed emotions. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to deal with seasonal transitions. Read on to learn everything you need to know to breathe a sign of relief any time the seasons change.*

Keep reading to learn about: 

• Your reaction to seasonal, indoor and outdoor irritants is your body’s immune system coming to your defense.*
• The best way to deal with irritants is to identify and then avoid them.*
• Simple lifestyle and housekeeping changes can help you breathe easier.
• Enzymes can target and break down mucus.*
• MucoStop ® and Allerase® are natural, non-drowsy formulas free of side effects.*

Why are Seasonal Transitions So Challenging?

Our bodies are creatures of habit, and they love balance. Homeostasis is always the name of the game for them. Shifts in the seasons are more than a change in temperature. Barometric pressure changes, different plants are in bloom and our preferred activities change. Even the insects and pests we encounter change from season to season. Sometimes, it feels like too much for your body.

Your body responds to seasonal irritants via the immune system. Something in the environment (like your home or the great outdoors) is misconstrued by your immune system as being a threat. This could be dust, mold, dander or pollen. Your body reacts to this substance and sets off a series of immune responses.

If you feel like there’s more pollen than ever (and it’s sticking around for longer), you’re not imagining it. As temperatures rise on the planet, pollen is proliferating. And, that means it gets to wreak havoc on your daily life for even longer each year.

What are Some Natural Ways to Manage Seasonal and Other Respiratory Irritants?*

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to manage seasonal and respiratory irritants.*

Avoid your known irritants. 

One of the best ways to deal is to avoid what irritates you. While this tip won’t work for annoying neighbors, it can help you manage your responses to irritants. If you know that you’re triggered when a certain type of tree goes into bloom, change up your running schedule and work out indoors for a while. If a certain flower has you tearing up just thinking about it, go ahead and replace it in your garden.

First pinpoint the culprits. 

Of course, this only works if you know your irritants. One way to figure out your personal irritants is to look at the weather forecast. Many apps now feature “pollen forecasts” as well as air quality outlooks for an area. The app can tell you whether grass, tree or ragweed pollen is high in your area. If you notice something is high and you are reacting to it, you might want to plan indoor activities or choose to be outside at times when pollen counts are lower.

Cover up when you’re outside. 

Long sleeves, hats and masks can filter out irritants when you’re working in the yard or garden. Don’t forget about eye protection, since it’s easy to get pollen or dust in your eyes but harder to get them out. 

Change clothes after being outdoors. 

If you’re the person who does laundry in your home, sorry for this tip but it works. You will pick up all sorts of things after being outside. Changing into clean clothes can prevent you from transferring irritants onto your furniture to aggravate you later on. For best results, pair this tip with #5.

Shower and wash your hair after being outside. 

Your hair and skin will also hold onto irritants, including campfire and other types of smoke. Whether you’ve been hiking, at a cookout or working in the yard, a shower will help you rinse off those irritants so they don’t bother you all night long.

Change your HVAC filters. 

Your home’s heating and cooling system plays an important role in filtering your indoor air. Make sure you replace your filters as directed by the manufacturer, and look for high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. This type of filter is designed to trap airborne irritants to help clean the air in your home.

Run an air purifier. 

In addition to your HVAC filters, consider buying a stand-alone air purifier. These work better when they run in an enclosed space, like a bedroom or an office. They can also help remove unpleasant odors if, for example, someone lit a decorative candle or smoked a cigar and you don’t want to smell or breathe it.

Keep the windows closed. 

Fresh air is wonderful, but it brings more than just air into your home. All those outdoor irritants become indoor ones when you leave the windows open. If you do want to freshen the air, open the windows but place a fan in or near the window, pointing out. This will help circulate air without bringing in more irritants.

Rinse your sinuses. 

Saline nasal irrigation (sometimes called a neti pot) has been studied as a beneficial way to offer seasonal sinus support. A 2012 review found that the practice was affordable, easy to use and well-tolerated.

Give pets a bath. 

If it seems like your furry friends are the culprit of your irritation, it might be whatever they’ve carried indoors. While they may not like it, regular baths (or a quick wipe with a damp towel) after spending time outside can help keep your home cleaner – and reduce the pollen and dust they track inside.

Get help with spring cleaning. 

There’s a common urge to want to clean your home top to bottom when the weather warms up. And while a tidy home is always worth the work it takes, the process of cleaning can stir up lots of dirt, dander and dust. If you’re cleaning on your own, wear a mask. If possible, hire someone to help or enlist family members to give you a hand.

Reach for enzymes. 

Yes, enzyme supplements can help you digest your favorite meals. But they can also offer support for inhaled irritants during seasonal transitions or any time of year. Read on to learn about a pair of enzymes that could offer support.

Allerase®: Support for environmental challenges

When the seasons start showing off, your body sometimes gets the memo a little too loudly. That’s where Allerase® comes in. This unique enzyme formula is designed to support your body’s natural response to seasonal, indoor and outdoor irritants — without the drowsy drag.* Instead of just masking the issue, Allerase® works with specialized enzymes, including Mucolase, to help break down excess mucus and support clearer, more comfortable breathing.* 

Think of it as a little extra backup when pollen, dust or everyday environmental challenges try to steal the spotlight. Whether you’re heading outside, tackling housework or just trying to enjoy the day without the sniffles stealing center stage, Allerase ® helps you stay ready for whatever the air has in store.* Because seasonal support should feel simple, not sleepy.

Allerase ® uses a combination of amylase (a starch-digesting enzyme) and Mucolase (an enzyme that targets and breaks down mucus).* Together, these enzymes naturally break down the mucus and irritants so that you can go back to feeling good again.* 

Because Allerase ® uses all-natural enzymes, it’s non-drowsy and free of side effects. That means you can take it day or night, without worry.

How do enzymes break down irritants? Like it’s their job. We include protease enzymes, a category designed to break down protein. They target the protein component found in many seasonal irritants.

MucoStop®: the MVP for breaking down mucus*

Let’s face it: Mucus is gross, but it’s how your body gives irritants the boot. Throughout the year and as the seasons change, airborne irritants may lead to your body producing an uncomfortable amount of mucus.

When things start to feel a little stuck, MucoStop® steps in to help keep things moving. This targeted enzyme formula is designed to support the breakdown of excess mucus, helping your body maintain clear, comfortable airways.* Because let’s be honest — feeling weighed down by buildup is not the vibe.

MucoStop® works behind the scenes with specialized enzymes that help thin and loosen mucus, so your body can do what it naturally does best — clear it out.* It’s a simple, non-drowsy way to support respiratory comfort when you need it most, whether that’s during seasonal shifts or everyday environmental challenges.

Think of it as a reset button for when your system feels a little overloaded. With MucoStop ®, you can breathe a little easier, feel a little lighter, and get back to your day without the extra baggage.*

MucoStop ® includes amylase and protease enzymes to help break down everything else that comes along with occasional and seasonal congestion.* Plus, it’s easy to take MucoStop ®: You only need to take 2 capsules 3 times daily on an empty stomach, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. More may be taken as needed.