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Allergies

Sneezing, itchy eyes, hives or worse when the immune system overreacts to something usually harmless — pollen, dust, pets, foods, stings or medicines.

What is an allergy?

An allergy is your immune system overreacting to something that is normally harmless, such as pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander, certain foods, insect stings or a medicine. Allergies can range from minor to severe (MedlinePlus) — from a runny nose or sneezing to sudden swelling of the lips, mouth or throat (NHS).

Seasonal and environmental allergies (hay fever)

Allergic rhinitis — called hay fever when pollen is the cause — brings sneezing, an itchy nose, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, red and watery eyes, a cough and an itchy roof of the mouth (NHS). Hay fever can also cause an itchy throat and ears, loss of smell, headaches, pain around the forehead and tiredness (NHS), and dark circles under the eyes (MedlinePlus). Seasonal hay fever comes from pollen that trees, weeds and grasses release into the air (MedlinePlus); pollen counts tend to be highest when it is warm, humid and windy (NHS). Mold, dust mites and pet dander can cause similar symptoms year-round (FDA), and you’re more likely to have allergies if other people in your family do (NHS).

Food allergies

A food allergy is the immune system reacting to certain proteins in food (FDA). It is different from a food intolerance, which usually causes only digestive symptoms such as bloating and gas, and reactions are usually mild but can be serious or even life-threatening (MedlinePlus). In the U.S., nine foods are recognized as major allergens: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame (FDA). Symptoms usually start within a few minutes to two hours and can include hives, tingling or itching in the mouth, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, vomiting, belly cramps, coughing or wheezing and dizziness (MedlinePlus). Some children outgrow food allergies, and adults can develop new ones (MedlinePlus).

Anaphylaxis: the emergency

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can begin very quickly and can be life-threatening. The most common causes are foods (especially peanuts), medicines and stinging insects; exercise and latex can also trigger it, and sometimes no cause is found (MedlinePlus).

Signs of anaphylaxis — act right away. Trouble breathing, wheezing, a hoarse voice or tight throat; swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or throat; trouble swallowing; a swollen, raised or itchy rash; vomiting or stomach cramps; dizziness, confusion or fainting; or skin, lips or tongue turning blue, grey or pale (NHS, MedlinePlus). Some people feel a sense that something terrible is about to happen (AAAAI).

Epinephrine is the only life-saving treatment for anaphylaxis (FDA). No herbal remedy, acupuncture or other complementary approach can treat it.

When to see a doctor: if your allergy symptoms are getting worse, are affecting your sleep and everyday life, or aren’t helped by pharmacy treatments; if you’re not sure what’s causing them; or if you also have asthma and it’s getting worse (NHS). Anyone who has had anaphylaxis should see an allergist to find the exact cause and make a treatment plan (AAAAI).

Side by side

Six approaches compared

For every condition we look at the same six approaches: what each involves, what it typically costs, and what a patient can realistically expect.

ApproachWhat it involves Estimated costWhat to expect
Conventional medicine (AMA) Avoiding triggers, antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, allergy testing, allergy shots or under-the-tongue tablets, and epinephrine for anyone at risk of a severe reaction. Allergy tests about $99–$570 in published examples; allergy shots about $1,000–$4,000+ for the first year without insurance; a generic epinephrine two-pack about $169–$379 with a discount card. Medicare covers some antigen tests to check for and treat allergies; in most cases, after the Part B deductible, you pay up to 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for Part B drugs. With a SingleCare discount card, the lowest listed prices without signing up (updated October 31–November 1, 2026) were about $12.39 for one 16-gram bottle of generic fluticasone propionate nasal spray and $10.21 for 30 tablets of generic levocetirizine (also sold over the counter); other pharmacies were listed higher. Still unpriced: office visits, brand-name sprays and under-the-tongue tablets. Other costs: being researched. Guidelines strongly recommend nasal steroid sprays as an everyday treatment; they work best used regularly and can take a while to reach full benefit. Allergy shots take months to build up and usually continue for 3–5 years.
Chiropractic Being researched — coming soon.
Acupuncture A course of needle treatments, usually weekly or twice weekly over several weeks, alongside normal allergy medicine. About $125–$230 for a first visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90. Some trial evidence of modest benefit for hay fever, including less antihistamine use; in the largest trial the advantage faded after treatment stopped. Ear, nose and throat guidelines list it as an option. Not for food allergies or anaphylaxis.
Herbal medicine Butterbur (PA-free products only), stinging nettle and quercetin are the herbs most often tried for hay fever. Cost estimate being researched. Weak or mixed evidence. Butterbur carries a liver-safety warning; nettle and quercetin can interact with medicines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist first.
Massage therapy Being researched — coming soon.
MBHA Wellness Coach Cutting triggers at home, tracking pollen counts, safe saline rinses, reading food labels and keeping an emergency action plan up to date. Cost estimate being researched. Practical habits that reduce exposure and make medical treatment work better. Saline rinsing has reasonably good evidence for modest relief.

Approach 1 of 6

Conventional medicine (AMA)

Allergy care usually means avoiding what you react to whenever possible, using medicines such as antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays to control symptoms, carrying emergency epinephrine if you’re at risk of a severe reaction, and, for some people, desensitization (immunotherapy) (NHS).

1. Allergy testing

The skin prick test is the most common allergy skin test (MedlinePlus); an allergy blood test may be used instead if you can’t have skin testing (MedlinePlus). Ear, nose and throat specialists recommend testing when first treatment doesn’t work, the diagnosis is unclear, or the exact trigger needs to be known to guide treatment (AAO-HNS guideline, 2015). For food allergy, skin and blood tests are very sensitive and can show an allergy when there isn’t one, so they are usually ordered only after symptoms; a supervised oral food challenge is the only test that can confirm a food allergy (MedlinePlus).

2. Avoiding triggers

Avoiding the allergen is the main way to stay safe if you are at risk of anaphylaxis (AAAAI). With things like pollen it isn’t always possible, but steps to cut your exposure can help (NHS). See MBHA Wellness Coach below for practical steps.

3. Medicines for hay fever

  • Nasal steroid sprays (such as fluticasone) calm inflammation and ease allergy symptoms, including a stuffy nose; they are sold both over the counter and by prescription (FDA). Symptoms may start to improve within a day or two, but the full benefit can take longer, and they work best used regularly (MedlinePlus). Guidelines strongly recommend them when symptoms affect quality of life (AAO-HNS guideline). Side effects can include stinging and nosebleeds; talk with a provider if a child needs one for more than two months of the year (FDA).
  • Antihistamine tablets help sneezing and itching, and guidelines strongly recommend the newer, less-sedating kinds for these symptoms (AAO-HNS guideline). Some antihistamines cause drowsiness and can affect your ability to drive, while others don’t (FDA).
  • Decongestants can ease a stuffy nose for short periods, but using decongestant nasal sprays for more than a few days can cause a “rebound” effect that makes congestion worse; check with a provider before using a decongestant for more than two to three days (FDA). Decongestants should not be used by children under 6 (NHS).
  • Prescription options include antihistamine nasal sprays (FDA) and montelukast. Montelukast carries an FDA boxed warning about serious mental health side effects; for hay fever, the FDA says it should be reserved for people who aren’t helped by, or can’t tolerate, other allergy medicines. Tell your provider about any history of mental illness before starting it, and stop it and call them right away if you notice mood or behavior changes (FDA).

4. Allergy shots and under-the-tongue tablets (immunotherapy)

Immunotherapy gives gradually increasing amounts of an allergen so the body builds up tolerance (FDA). Everyday allergy medicines stop working soon after you stop taking them, but allergy shots can lead to lasting relief (AAAAI). Shots are usually given once or twice a week for about 3–6 months while the dose builds up, then every 2–4 weeks for about 3–5 years (AAAAI). Serious reactions are rare but possible, so shots are given only where staff can treat them (AAAAI). Prescription tablets that dissolve under the tongue are a no-needle option for seasonal allergies caused by certain pollens; they are started three to four months before the season, and the first dose is taken with a health professional present (FDA). Guidelines recommend offering immunotherapy when medicines and avoidance aren’t enough (AAO-HNS guideline).

5. Food allergies

  • There is no cure for food allergy; avoiding the food and reading labels carefully are the main treatment (MedlinePlus, FDA).
  • People prescribed epinephrine should carry two auto-injectors or nasal sprays with them at all times (NHS).
  • For children aged 4 to 17 with peanut allergy, an FDA-approved oral immunotherapy (Palforzia) can reduce reactions after accidental exposure, but only to peanut (FDA), and children should still avoid peanuts (NHS). Omalizumab (Xolair) injections are approved for certain people aged 1 and older to reduce reactions to one or more foods after accidental exposure, but it is not an emergency treatment and the foods must still be avoided (FDA).
  • For babies with severe eczema, egg allergy or both, U.S. guidelines recommend introducing age-appropriate peanut-containing foods early — as early as 4 to 6 months, after other solid foods — and advise strongly considering allergy testing first, so talk with your baby’s doctor before starting. Whole nuts are a choking risk and shouldn’t be given to children under 5 (NIAID-sponsored guideline, 2017).

What it costs

  • Allergy testing: published examples run from about $99 for a basic blood test to about $570 for a food skin-prick panel with a new-patient visit; these are examples, not a national average (The Pricer).
  • Allergy shots: roughly $1,000–$4,000+ for the first year when paying yourself, depending on the clinic and schedule; many insurance plans cover medically necessary immunotherapy (The Pricer).
  • Epinephrine auto-injectors: a generic two-pack was listed at about $169–$379 with a discount card, depending on the pharmacy (price listing: SingleCare); prices change.
  • Over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal sprays: MBHA cost estimate being researched.

How well it works — what to expect

For most people, allergic rhinitis is easy to treat with medicines from a pharmacist (NHS), though there is no cure for hay fever (NHS). After a full course of immunotherapy some people stay symptom-free for a long time, while others find symptoms return (AAAAI).

Find a medical doctor in our directory

Approach 3 of 6

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been studied more for hay fever than most complementary approaches, and the results are cautiously encouraging. It is for seasonal or year-round nasal allergy symptoms only — not for food allergies or anaphylaxis.

What the research says

In short: acupuncture may offer modest extra relief during allergy season, best used alongside — not instead of — standard treatment.

Safety

Complications are uncommon when acupuncture is done properly with sterile, single-use needles, but poor technique can cause infections or injury, so choose a licensed practitioner (NCCIH).

What it costs

Private sessions run about $125–$230 for a first visit and $90–$185 for follow-ups; community clinics about $50–$90 a visit (The Pricer). The trial above used 12 sessions, so a course can add up.

Find an acupuncturist in our directory

Approach 4 of 6

Herbal medicine

Several herbs are sold for hay fever. The evidence is limited, and “natural” doesn’t mean safe with your other medicines. The national ear, nose and throat guideline makes no recommendation for or against herbal therapy (AAO-HNS guideline), and the NIH calls the evidence for complementary approaches limited or conflicting (NCCIH). Herbs have no role in treating food allergy or anaphylaxis.

Butterbur

Some studies of butterbur extracts suggest they may ease hay fever symptoms (NCCIH); one 2002 trial of 125 people found a butterbur extract worked about as well as the antihistamine cetirizine over two weeks (trial, BMJ). Overall, though, the NIH says the data are not convincing (NCCIH).

Liver warning. The raw butterbur plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which can damage the liver and lungs and may cause cancer. Only use products processed to remove PAs and labeled or certified “PA-free” — and even with these, rare cases of liver injury have been reported. Avoid butterbur if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or allergic to ragweed, daisies, marigolds or chrysanthemums (NCCIH).

Stinging nettle

A small 1990 study found people rated freeze-dried nettle slightly better than placebo (study, Planta Medica), but a 2017 placebo-controlled trial found symptoms improved just as much on placebo (trial, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research). Memorial Sloan Kettering concludes evidence is lacking. Nettle may add to the effects of diuretics (“water pills”) and blood-pressure medicines and may interact with other drugs (Memorial Sloan Kettering).

Quercetin

Quercetin is a plant compound found in many foods. Lab studies show it can reduce histamine release, but it hasn’t been tested for allergies in clinical trials. As a supplement it may interact with several medicines, including losartan and warfarin (Memorial Sloan Kettering).

Honey and probiotics

There is no convincing evidence that honey relieves seasonal allergies, and it should never be given to babies under 1. Probiotics show some promise, but products differ so much that firm conclusions aren’t possible (NCCIH).

Before you try any supplement, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take other medicines, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are buying for a child (NCCIH, NCCIH). We don’t list doses here.

Approach 6 of 6

MBHA Wellness Coach

An MBHA Wellness Coach can help you turn medical advice into daily habits — fewer triggers at home, smarter timing outdoors, and being ready for an emergency.

Cutting triggers at home

  • Dust mites: use synthetic bedding and covers and wash bedding regularly on a hot wash (60°C, about 140°F, or above); dust with a damp cloth and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter (NHS). Allergy-proof bed covers and air filtration are options doctors may suggest (AAO-HNS guideline).
  • Pets: keep pets out of bedrooms, wash them regularly and groom them outside if possible, and wash their bedding on a hot wash (NHS).
  • Mold: keep your home dry and well ventilated, and deal with any damp and condensation (NHS).

Tracking pollen

Saline nose rinses — with safe water

Rinsing the nose with salt water has reasonably good evidence for modest relief of seasonal allergy symptoms (NCCIH). The water matters: plain tap water is not safe for nasal rinsing because of a rare risk of serious infection (NCCIH). The FDA advises using:

  • water labeled distilled or sterile; or
  • tap water boiled for 3–5 minutes, cooled to lukewarm, kept in a clean closed container and used within 24 hours; or
  • water passed through a filter designed to trap infectious organisms (FDA).

Wash and dry the device after each use. Ask your pediatrician before using one with a child, and talk with a provider first if your immune system is weakened (FDA).

Reading food labels

  • U.S. labels must name each of the nine major allergens, either in the ingredient list (for example, “whey (milk)”) or in a “Contains” statement (FDA).
  • “May contain” and “produced in a facility that also uses” warnings are not required by law (FDA), so read the full ingredient list every time.
  • Check restaurant menus carefully and tell staff about your allergy; tell airlines and cabin crew before you fly (NHS).
  • Don’t cut foods out of your diet without talking to a doctor first (NHS).

Your emergency action plan

Still being researched: Chiropractic, Massage therapy. We add each approach once its costs and results are sourced. Are you a practitioner with experience treating Allergies? Tell us.

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Sources

This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Costs are typical U.S. ranges and estimates; yours will depend on your provider, location and insurance. Talk with your doctor before starting, stopping or combining any treatment. In an emergency, call 911. See our disclaimer.

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