It’s the last days of May, and everyone I know is talking about pollen.  It’s everywhere.  All you have to do is walk outside to see the insidious greenish-yellow dust covering every square inch of your car.  Need some relief?  Try one or more of these tips:

• Try washing your hair before bed.  Pollen settles in our hair every time we walk outside. When we sleep it burrows into our pillow case, and we breathe it in.
• If you use the a/c in your car, make sure the switch is turned to “inside air” to avoid blowing pollen in through the vents.
• Use a neti pot or saline nasal spray to irrigate your inflamed sinuses.  Avoid medicated nasal sprays.  They’re addictive and can damage the lining of your nose.
• Wipe down any surfaces in the house with a damp cloth to avoid stirring the pollen and change the vacuum bag regularly.
• Eat hot, spicy foods.  They thin the mucous secretions in your nose, making your nose clearer. You’ll breathe easier. The hotter and spicier the better!