Hayfever

Alternative Hay Fever Treatments

Hay fever has had a strong year so far, with more people affected than before. The changing and erratic weather has resulted in the simultaneous release of grass and tree pollen. The pollen season usually follows as: Tree Pollen – Late March to mid May. Grass Pollen – Mid May to June Weed Pollen – End of June to September The result of the recent weather has been that people who usually suffer in March and April have had a longer exposure to tree pollen as well as grass pollen. Conventional medicines for hay fever are anti-histamines, steroid nasal sprays and eye drops containing sodium cromoglycate. Many hay fever sufferers are finding that conventional anti-histamines are no longer working. Doctors are prescribing anti-histamines such as cetirizine, chlorpheniramine and loratidine in very high doses just to control the symptoms. Most hay fever sufferers take a combination of these products on a daily basis just to get through the day. Even the collective use of tablets, nose sprays and eye drops does not help many hay fever sufferers. These medicines do also have a number of side effects, and some people do not find them very effective. The main side effects are drowsiness and dry eyes.   A new device that claims to relieve allergy symptoms is the Allergy Reliever made by Lloyds Pharmacy. This device claims to be an effective treatment for the irritating symptoms such as sneezing and itchiness that are associated with hay fever. The Allergy Reliever uses red light therapy to stop the cells releasing histamine. Histamine is released from the mast cells in the lining of the nostrils and eyes which causes many of the symptoms of hay fever. The device works by using phototherapy of two different wavelengths. One wavelength promotes increased blood flow and circulation and the other stops the mast cells from releasing histamine and reduces inflammation. This product can be used safely alongside conventional antihistamine hay fever treatments and other complementary remedies for allergies. Each treatment lasts for approximately three minutes and the portable device can be used up to three to four times a...

Probiotics for Hayfever

Probiotics have traditionally been used for digestive complaints and as supplements for the immune system. New research has found that these supplements can reduce the allergic symptoms of grass and tree pollens. Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen that causes the immune system to release histamine which causes many of the symptoms such as itchy sore eyes, sneezing, runny nose and itchy throat. Conventional medicines for hay fever are anti-histamines, steroid nasal sprays and eye drops containing sodium cromoglycate. I have noticed, in my work as a pharmacist, that these medications are not as effective as they were a few years ago. Doctors are prescribing anti-histamines such as cetirizine, chlorpheniramine and loratidine in very high doses just to control the symptoms. Most hay fever sufferers take a combination of these products on a daily basis just to get through the day. These medicines do also have a number of side effects, and some people do not find them very effective. The main side effects are drowsiness and dry eyes. A clinical trial was performed on 47 school children in Finland who had an allergy to birch pollen (the most common tree pollen offender in the UK). The group was split into two, one group took a placebo, and the other a combination of Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium Lactis. The results found that during the month of May, the probiotic group had less symptoms of runny nose and in June the group had three times less nasal congestion than the placebo group. Other studies have confirmed that probiotic supplements are also effective at reducing the symptoms of hay fever caused by grass...

Natural Remedies for Hay Fever

Most people can’t wait for the start of summer, but if you are one of the 25% of the population that suffers with hay fever, then this time of year can be miserable due to the high pollen count. The hay fever season usually starts in March, but some people are affected earlier in the year. People who have symptoms from March are usually affected by tree pollens. Grass pollens are released from April- May onwards and affect most people. The symptoms of hay fever are very similar to a common cold. The common hay fever symptoms are red, itchy and streaming eyes, sneezing, itchy throat and tiredness. All of these symptoms are due to the release of histamine from the mast cells in our body. Hay fever is affecting more people every year. The reason for this is as yet not known, but may be related to the fact that more people than ever have allergies. This may be due to the multiple vaccines that are administered to children and young adults. These vaccines do not allow our own natural immune systems to fully develop. Another possible reason could be the stringent methods of cleanliness that we now have in modern life. It is interesting to note that allergies are not very common in developing countries, where people spend most of the time outdoors and do not take much conventional medication. Conventional medicines for hay fever are anti-histamines, steroid nasal sprays and eye drops containing sodium cromoglycate. I have noticed, in my work as a pharmacist, that these medications are not as effective as they were a few years ago. Doctors are prescribing anti-histamines such as cetirizine, chlorpheniramine and loratidine in very high doses just to control the symptoms. Most hay fever sufferers take a combination of these products on a daily basis just to get through the day. These medicines do also have a number of side effects, and some people do not find them very effective. The main side effects are drowsiness and dry eyes. There are a number of natural remedies that you can take, which are free of side effects. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that works by stopping the manufacture and release of histamine...

Hay Fever is a form of allergy due to pollen of flowers, grasses, trees and other plants. The main symptoms are itchy, watery eyes, runny nose or blocked nose, itchy throat and symptoms of sneezing. Hay Fever is also known as Allergic Rhinitis. The Hay Fever season usually starts in March and ends in late summer, although this may vary between individuals. Some individuals suffer with the complaint all year round. Hay Fever affects 20% of the population in the U.K.  The symptoms usually start in childhood, but more adults are increasingly beginning to experience this illness. Different plants can cause problems to hay fever suffers at different times. The tree pollens usually cause problems from February to late May, then the grass pollens appear from May to late summer.  Most people suffer from an allergy to grass pollens. The body recognises these pollens as allergens, and stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies to fight against the pollens. This stimulation causes the release of histamine from the nasal passages, eyes and mucous membranes. This in turn causes the symptoms that are commonly present with hay fever sufferers. Remedies There are a number of homeopathic alternatives to conventional antihistamines that can be used for hay fever. The most commonly used ones are mentioned below, with brief descriptions of their symptom pictures: MIXED POLLENS AND GRASSES 30C This is usually a good starting point. The remedy is made from a combination of tree, grass and plant pollens. It works on the principal of Isopathy (taking a remedy made from the specific allergen). ALLIUM CEPA 30C This remedy is characterised by watery eyes and nose. The eyes are itchy, red and sensitive to touch. The eyes also stream but the  tears are bland, and do not burn. The eyes may also be sensitive to light. There is also a profuse watery discharge with sneezing. The nasal discharge is normally watery and causes burning to the nose and upper lip. EUPHRASIA 30C This is the main remedy for the eye symptoms. The eyes water continuously  and  will be burning. The eyes will also be red and the lids will become inflamed. There is usually a lot of discharge from the eye which is yellow...