Leave Your Allergies at the Door

August is upon us, and that doesn't just mean it's the hottest month of the year for most states; it also means that allergy season is at its peak.  From humid days that make mold breed like bunnies to bee stings that could send you straight to the ER, the list of allergens is varied and long.  We've found some coping mechanisms for the allergens that ail you:

Bug bites are miserable whether or not you're allergic to them, and nowadays biting and stinging bugs tend to be particularly dangerous, as they carry diseases like Lyme and West Nile.  You could spray yourself down with toxic insect repellants, but rather than poison yourself, you could try Mosquito No Bite.  It's a vitamin B patch that you place on a discreet part of your body, and it successfully repels pretty much all bugs, even in swampy humid weather, for 36 hours.  The downside: these patches get absorbed through the skin, and make one smell a bit like a bottle of vitamins.

For indoor allergens, air purifiers are a great choice.  Apartment Therapy recommends this Honeywell purifier, which retails for around $200.  Air purifiers help year round with everything from  dust to pollen, so they're an investment that will continue to be worthwhile even after the change of seasons.

Allergens are at their lowest during and right after rain, so take advantage of that time for outdoor activities if you or your kids are sensitive to pollen.  You can take walks in bathing suits and galoshes, make mud pies on the lawn, or just let the little ones splash around in puddles.

Organic, raw local honey can actually reduce allergies when consumed regularly. It's a very tasty way to build up a tolerance for allergens, but you can't just buy regular grocery store honey-- it will only be effective if you're eating the product of local bees, who are pollinating flowers in your area.  Buckwheat honey is the highest antioxidant choice, but flower honeys like orange and clover have a milder and lighter flavor.