Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer
  • For Medicare
  • For Providers
  • For Brokers
  • For Employers
  • Search
    Search
    Español
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

    • Plans through your employer
    • Learn about the medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral, and voluntary benefits your employer may offer.
    • Explore coverage through work
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

  • Member Guide
  • Find a Doctor
  • Home Knowledge Center Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

    Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies

    For seasonal allergy relief, a range of seasonal allergy treatments are available to help you feel better, from prescription and over-the-counter medications, to natural remedies.

    What causes seasonal allergies?

    Many people are allergic to pollen. Their reactions are stronger in the spring, summer, and fall when the amount of pollen in the air is high. Mold is also a common seasonal allergen.

    What are symptoms of seasonal allergies?

    • Congestion, including stuffy nose and coughing
    • Itchy eyes, ears, nose, and throat
    • Swollen eyelids
    • Skin irritation
    • Low energy

    How can I tell the difference between seasonal allergies and a cold?

    Congestion is a symptom that allergies and cold viruses have in common. While cold-related congestion lessens over time, allergy-related congestion lasts as long as you are exposed to whatever is causing the allergy. Colds develop over several days and usually clear up within several days.

    What are some seasonal allergy treatments?

    Prevention is key for seasonal allergy relief. The following tips can help your recovery:

    • Remove any plants that could be causing your reaction. It’s common for people to be allergic to hard-to-see things like pollen.
    • Change your daily routine so that you’re not around the source of your discomfort. Avoid the outdoors between 5:00 am and 10:00 am. Save outside activities for late afternoon or after a heavy rain, when pollen counts are lower.
    • Change your clothes when you get home to avoid tracking allergens around your living space.
    • Keep windows in your home and car closed to lower exposure to pollen. To keep cool, use air conditioners and avoid using window fans.

    What are some other natural remedies for seasonal allergies?

    As a first step, gargling with salt water can soothe a sore throat.

    Clearing your nose and throat of potential allergens such as mold or pollen may also be helpful. Use a saline nasal rinse or a neti pot to do so.

    If you’re using a rinsing device, such as a neti pot, it must be used and cleaned properly.

    When should I see a doctor about my allergies?

    Talk to your health care provider about the best way to manage your seasonal allergies, especially if you’re considering using an over-the-counter medicine or dietary supplement. Be aware as some over-the-counter medicines and supplements may interact with medications or other supplements, or have side effects of their own.

    A medical professional should treat any serious breathing problems. However, if you’re trying to treat your symptoms before seeing a doctor, don’t use more than one kind of over-the-counter medication at a time. If you have an existing condition such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, or if you are pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor.

    Distinguishing between allergies and a cold is key to finding relief from your symptoms. Most natural remedies for seasonal allergies are readily available, but if your symptoms are getting worse, see your doctor.

    Tags

  • Managing Pain
  • Natural Remedies
  • This information is for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Do not rely on this information as a tool for self-diagnosis. Always consult your doctor for appropriate examinations, treatment, testing, and care recommendations.

    I want to...
  • Get an ID card
  • File a claim
  • View my claims and EOBs
  • Check coverage under my plan
  • See prescription drug list
  • Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility
  • Find a form
  • Find 1095-B tax form information
  • View the Cigna Healthcare Glossary
  • Contact Cigna Healthcare
  • Audiences
  • Individuals and Families
  • Medicare
  • Employers
  • Brokers
  • Providers
  • Secure Member Sites
  • myCigna member portal
  • Health Care Provider portal
  • Cigna for Employers
  • Client Resource Portal
  • Cigna for Brokers
  • The Cigna Group Information
  • About Cigna Healthcare
  • The Cigna Group
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Investors
  • Suppliers
  • Third Party Administrators
  • International
  • Evernorth Health Services
  • Cigna Healthcare. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy
  • Legal
  • Product Disclosures
  • Company Names
  • Customer Rights
  • Accessibility
  • Non-Discrimination Notice
  • Language Assistance [PDF]
  • Report Fraud
  • Sitemap
  • Cookie Settings
  • Disclaimer

    Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna Healthcare name, logo, and other Cigna Healthcare marks are owned by The Cigna Group Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of The Cigna Group.

    All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna Healthcare sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

    Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna Healthcare website. Cigna Healthcare may not control the content or links of non-Cigna Healthcare websites. Details