How to Live With Allergies to Dust Mites

Despite dust mites' microscopic size, they can be a significant cause of your allergic reactions. They thrive in moist, warm environments, on a diet of human skin flakes - which are especially abundant in your bedding. The following steps will help you get rid of dust mites in your home and breathe a little easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Air Filters
• Flitered Vacuums
• Allergy Free Matress Covers
• Allergy-free Bedding
• Latex Mattresses
• Bioflavonoid Complex
• Bromelain
• Coenzyme Q10
• Echinacea
• Quercetin
• Vitamin C

1. Encase mattresses, box springs and pillows in plastic covers. Special covers are now sold for this purpose, but any plastic cover will do as long as it is airtight.
2. Buy a natural latex mattress. Natural latex is completely resistant to dust mites, as well as being very good for your back.
3. Remove clutter such as books and magazines from rooms - these are prime dust targets.
4. Wash bedding in hot water. It will kill all dust mites. Cold water will only remove about 90 percent of them. Change bedding once a week.
5. Dry clean drapes and other nonwashable items - this will get rid of dust mites.
6. Use superheated steam to clean carpets, which are great sources of dust mites. If possible, remove carpeting completely, especially in bedrooms.
7. Vacuum often - at least every week - including carpets and upholstery. Use a vacuum with a high-efficiency filter.
8. Spray carpets every two months with a 3 percent tannic acid solution. It may help keep dust mites at a minimum.
9. Use polyurethane covers over the matting on your furniture, especially if you plan to be away for an extended time.
10. Keep it cool - leave the air conditioner running when it is hot and humid out. Dust mites thrive in heat and humidity.
11. Wipe and mop exposed surfaces regularly. Pay attention to dust collectors such as air conditioning vents and ceiling fans.
12. Take allergy medication as prescribed to help keep symptoms under control.
13. Add 1,000 to 5,000 mg of vitamin C plus bioflavonoid complex to your diet daily in divided doses, plus 500mg of quercetin twice daily. These both help to minimize allergy symptoms and boost the immune system.
14. Take 100mg bromelain twice daily. It enhances quercetin absorption.
15. Add herbs burdock, dandelion and echinacea to your diet. Take as a tincture or in capsules, or drink as a tea. These herbs help relieve allergy symptoms.
16. Supplement with coenzyme Q10. Take 100mg daily. It helps the immune system, and research is under way to determine whether it helps relieve allergy and asthma symptoms.
17. Use stinging nettle and mullein leaf to help relieve allergic reactions. They are good for respiratory reactions. Take as capsules, tea or tincture.

Tips & Warnings

• It is impossible to get rid of dust mites completely; you can only minimize their presence. After trying some of the above steps, evaluate how you're feeling. If symptoms are still there, you may need to take more aggressive steps - or you may have other allergies that need to be evaluated.