Photo: Matthew Taplinger

Allergy relief doesn’t come just in the form of over-the-counter antihistamines, you know. We’ve found a couple of spa services that’ll take care of your runny nose and watery eyes in relaxing and peaceful environments. The Asian Ear Candling ($90) at Tiffani Kim Institute (310 W Superior St, 312-260-9000) purportedly helps detoxify the lymphatic system and clears the sinuses. The 45-minute service begins with a neck and sinus massage before a long, hollow candle made out of cotton and high-quality beeswax is inserted into the ear and lit on the end. Smoke spirals down the ear canal and loosens impacted wax, while the hollow candle acts like a vacuum, gently extracting the wax from the ear. Even though the burning flame is close to your head, you never really feel the heat. When it’s over, the attendant dribbles a couple of drops of garlic oil in each ear and you leave feeling crystal clear. Another natural remedy for allergies is acupuncture. By pinpointing certain parts of the body with needles, relief sets in almost immediately, according to Christine Davis, an acupuncturist at Shen Shen Health & Harmony (2764 N Lincoln Ave, 773-935-4325). More than 95 percent of her clients feel complete allergy relief right after an acupuncture session ($65–$90). “In addition to the symptoms, we’re also treating the spirit and the emotional toll allergies take,” she says.