For years, reports Dr. William Howland, allergy sufferers have perpetuated the myth that eating the honey of local beekeepers will resolve allergy problems. In this brief article, Dr. William Howland has addressed those, as well as other myths plaguing Austin residents. With allergy problems so prevalent in the Austin area, Dr. William Howland isn’t surprised that people seek natural remedies to such an intrusive problem. But Dr. William Howland assures patients that eating local honey is as ineffective as buying air ionizers that claim to “clean the air” or taking over-the-counter “allergy drops.”

With more than fifteen years of allergy and asthma research, Sirius Clinical Research director Dr. William Howland has dedicated his life to finding the best treatment for allergy symptoms. For mild to moderate allergy problems, however, Dr. William Howland believes that alternative treatments aren’t a bad idea.

One natural way Dr. William Howland advises combating allergy problems is to avoid the allergen. If your allergies are pet-related, Dr. William Howland advises not keeping indoor pets. Since dust mite allergies are common, Dr. William Howland recommends buying special allergen-free mattress covers, and always washing bedding in hot water. To help prevent allergic reactions to outdoor irritants, Dr. William Howland recommends wearing a face mask while doing yard work or housecleaning.

Saline rinses have become a popular treatment to allergy problems in recent years. Available in eye drop, nose drop, and rinse form, Dr. William Howland often recommends saline treatments to patients. Saline solution, which is salt water, can wash pollen, mold or irritants from the nose and thin mucous, Dr. William Howland says. When used on a regular basis, Dr. William Howland says these rinses can cause a general reduction of allergy symptoms, as well as cleaning bacteria from nasal passages. Some patients find they develop fewer episodes of sinusitis or colds if using saline on a regular basis.

While Dr. William Howland understands some patients prefer to treat allergy problems without medication, for more severe cases, it is necessary to seek medical assistance. Dr. William Howland can test a patient to determine the cause of allergy problems, which will help him or her find the best treatment.

Dr. William Howland is an Austin-based medical doctor specializing in the treatment of allergies and asthma. Board certified in Allergy and Immunology, as well as Internal Medicine, Dr. William Howland is research director at Sirius Clinical Research, an allergy research facility in Austin.