Natural Ragweed Allergy Remedies Deliver Relief in as Little as 5 Minutes, MDs Say — Without the Side Effects of OTC Meds

We love fall's crisp air, the colorful leaves and the return of pumpkin spice lattes. But we could do without the sniffling and sneezing the change of seasons brings. The cause of the discomfort? Ragweed pollen, a troublemaking allergen that can trigger everything from sinus congestion to itchy eyes to headaches. Luckily, you don't need to trek to the drugstore to tamp down symptoms. We've rounded up the best home cures that deliver powerful natural ragweed allergy relief.

What is a ragweed allergy?

You may have heard the terms ragweed allergy and hay fever used interchangeably. But technically, they're not the same thing. Hay fever is another name for allergic rhinitis, an umbrella term that refers to inflammation in the nose caused by various types of allergens. Ragweed is the most common allergen that triggers hay fever.

Understanding what causes hay fever

Hay fever is relatively common, affecting 30% to 40% of the population to some degree, says asthma, allergy, and immunology specialist Jill Poole, MD, a professor and chief of the allergy and immunology division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.