Stay indoors

Every spring, flowers bloom, trees burst with blossoms, breezes stir. But there’s more than love in the air. There’s pollen. The spores make one wonder why plants and trees don’t carry warning labels: may cause weeping eyes, runny nose and general grumpiness. Hay fever is the fifth-leading chronic condition among Americans, causing millions of lost workdays.

Where to get help? Beyond a visit to an allergist, there’s the option of staying indoors. Showering after spending time outdoors is a good idea, too. Over-the-counter and prescription medications can treat sym-ptoms, but they frequently cause side effects like drow-siness. Acupuncture is becoming popular, as are herbal supplements. Martha Libster, an associate professor of nursing at Purdue University, has a simple solution: for nettlesome spring allergies, she says, ingest nettles. The herb has been effective in fighting allergies, and can be cooked and eaten like spinach. Libster says that taking extra vitamin C and cutting back on dairy products also helps.

Finally, there is the Mr. T. solution. The tough-guy actor, whose real name is Laurence Tureaud, was so inflamed by allergies, he once took a chain saw to more than 100 trees surrounding his home. The approach was extreme, especially considering that he chose to live in a town named Lake Forest. — The New York Times