As a Texan, let me tell you, the only thing works any more is Sudafed.

That said, from my research the Bay Area lacks ragweed and mountain cedar. Those two are on another level of symptoms. Allergies affect everyone to some degree, but mountain cedar is toxic in a way other allergens are not.

Allergies suck. They have a large but largely unnoticed effect on cognitive abilities. IMO, it’s part of the reason continental climates are not often the places of great intellectual productivity.