UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Some doctors are predicting this allergy season will be one of the worst in a very long time .

"Lately, my eyes have been watering and I have been sneezing and coughing a lot," said Gage Rice of Utica.

Rice is not alone. Millions of people across the country have been experiencing all types of allergy symptoms. The most common time to have allergies is between the months of April and July and doctors say that this year, more people are having issues as compared to years past.

"The very mild winter that we had resulted in a whole lot of pollen and increased allergens being available in the springtime," said Dr. William Jorgensen, St. Elizabeth Medical Center. "We also haven't had a lot of the frost and heavy rains to wash them out of the system."

Dr. Jorgensen said that if you are experiencing mild symptoms that are simply an annoyance, there are things you can do in your home that could help.

"Cleansing, cleaning, use a dehumidifier to get moisture into the air at night," said Dr. Jorgensen. "Using the normal saline nose spray flushes allergens out of the system."

People who are looking to try an alternative treatment often turn to acupuncture, one of the most popular of holistic therapies. Acupuncture has been practiced for over 3,000 years. The acupuncturist locates points on the body and then taps a very thin needle into the skin, no deeper than one inch to offer relief.

"Acupuncture itself is a healing procedure," said John Zhang, acupuncturist. "The needle itself stimulates a point on the meridians and it sends a signal to the brain and the body re-balances itself to relieve symptoms."

If you are having any type of respiratory problems or trouble breathing, you should consult a doctor.

While there is no cure for allergies, a physician can prescribe an antihistamine or a decongestant which can help relieve mild symptoms.

You can also try a home remedy such as drinking hot tea with honey or gargling salt water.