6 all-natural ways to deal with allergies so you can actually smell those spring flowers

The weather is *finally* taking a turn for the better and you can swap out your big puffer coat for a cute denim jacket. You probably have a mental list of everything you want to do now that the weather’s warmer. Yoga in the park! Weekend trip to the shore! Actually leaving the office at lunchtime to go for a walk! So it really sucks when instead of being able to enjoy the great outdoors, you’re stuck inside with what feels like a head cold. Damn allergies.

Antihistamines, decongestants, steroid nasal sprays, and eye drops aren’t your only choices for living your best, allergy-free life. There are many holistic, all-natural ways to help manage your symptoms, and chances are you already stock much of what can help at home. Let’s take a look at some of the all-natural alternatives, shall we?

1. Take precautions with a few simple steps. Ready for an easy doctor-approved tip? Block yourself from direct contact with potential triggers by wearing sunglasses and a hat when you’re outside, and wash your hands when you come back inside.

2. Add bee pollen to your smoothie. Bee pollen is made of flower pollen, which bees collect, and then turn it into small particles using saliva and honey. Sure, it may sound a little unappetizing—and counterproductive since it has flower pollen—but according to board-certified allergist Heather Moday, MD, consuming bee pollen is believed to be similar to taking an allergy shot. “The idea is that when you ingest pollen on a daily basis, it’ll desensitize your immune system over time,” she previously told Well+Good. Plus, it’s full of nutrients like protein, amino acids, and a litany of vitamins—and it’s also believed to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties

3. Give your house a good clean. While you may think staying inside means avoiding all possible triggers, allergens could be hiding in fabrics at home, like drapes, carpets, and furniture. This could be a major reason why you’re waking up with red eyes and congestion each morning. So dust, vacuum, do all the things!

4. Be on the lookout for mold. Similarly, mold could be unknowingly attacking your immune system. (And it’s a common allergen.) One place in particular it goes overlooked is on shower curtains. Keep it clean with a spray made of baking soda, vinegar, and water.

5. Add manuka honey to your tea. “The active ingredient [in manuka honey], MGL methylglyoxal, has been shown to be effective for treatments against nasal mucus—which is [one of the symptoms] you experience when you have allergies,” Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, previously told Well+Good. While all honey is antibacterial, manuka honey is even stronger.

6. Use an allergy-fighting toothpaste.Allerdent is an allergy-desensitizing toothpaste created by allergist William Reisacher, MD—what a time to be alive, right? And it still cleans your teeth, too!

Now that you don’t have any annoying allergies to worry about, start planning your spring vacation. Here’s how to stay healthy while you’re somewhere exotic.