At the end of 2020, my husband retired at the age of 48. As joyous as the moment was, it was followed by a tough transition period as his day-to-day routine was drastically slowed-down.
So, we did what any pandemic-confined couple does––we got a puppy!
We opted for a hypoallergenic dog breed with the hopes that I could easily keep my allergies to pet dander at bay; however, we quickly learned that hypoallergenic does not mean it won’t incite an allergic reaction at all. As much as my husband and I have grown to love our little Oliver (Ollie, for short), I sadly realized that I was experiencing allergy symptoms shortly after getting him. So, I got to work on finding holistic solutions that would allow my husband and I to keep our little Ollie, while also not compromising my health. Here are some of the things that have been working for me:
The first thing I did was get an air purifier, robotic vacuum, and lint roller. The latter two did exactly what you’d expect––allowed me to minimize the dander I could and couldn’t see in and around our home. The air purifier had a similar function, consistently keeping the air in our home (and subsequently the air we breathe in) as clean and allergen free as possible.
In conjunction with those three things, I also began diffusing my essential oils consistently. Specifically, I created a blend of three allergy-attacking oils: Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint. Each of these oils has properties that aid in reducing inflammation, and Lemon has the added benefit of boosting alertness and energy.
The best part about these methods is that they are holistic, easy to do/use, and cost effective! Rather than consistently purchasing pricey allergy medications, I’m able to put most of these solutions to use without even thinking about it (hello automation!).
So, if you have a beloved pet but also suffer from pesky pet allergies, or you simply experience seasonal allergies at the top of every year, try some of these solutions. I’ve found them to be helpful, and I can guarantee you will too!