Our wonderful Osteopath Margaret suffers each year with the streaming eyes and sneezing caused by hay fever – and each year she seeks a natural approach to relief and prevention. Here she shares with you the remedies she has found that can help.
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It is finally spring. We’ve said goodbye to the dark mornings and evenings of winter. Hello to trees bursting with buds and happy singing birds with splashes of colour from spring flowers. The world is waking up and everything is great…
Unless you are one of the 10 million hay fever sufferers in the UK. I am one of them.
Hay fever is an allergy to pollen which is produced in various forms from early spring till early summer. It causes inflammation and irritation to nasal airways and mucosal membranes. Symptoms include itchy eyes, sneezing, sore throats, congested sinus and a general feeling of being unwell. It can also irritate other conditions such as eczema and asthma.
So what can you do about it?
There is no cure but there is evidence to say it usually reduces in severity, as you get older. That is great but what can you do in-between?
There are many ways you can help relieve the symptoms, some orthodox, some slightly less. Each person needs to find what works.
Talking to your pharmacist if you suffer badly is the first step. They may give you antihistamines to help relieve the symptoms. If you suffer very badly you may need to see you doctor and consider steroid injections.
For a more natural approach there are several simple things you can try:
- Honey – local. It needs to be eaten for at least one month before you usually get your symptoms. The theory is that as it is made from local pollen you gradually accumulate some immunity. And it tastes good. 1-2 teaspoons a day.
- Wear glasses/sunglasses. Sounds simple but it will keep the pollen out of your eyes, reducing the irritation. It will also stop you being able to rub them easily – which makes it worse.
- A thin layer of Vaseline inside your nose. The pollen will stick to the Vaseline preventing it getting in to your system, reducing the reaction you have.
- Breathe through your nose, not your mouth. Your nose is especially designed to filter as much out of the air before it goes into your body. This reduces the pollen getting into your body naturally. If you breathe through your mouth the pollen will go into your throat and cause a reaction.
- Shower/change your clothes when you get in. The pollen sticks to everything. When you get in change your clothes and have a quick shower. This will reduce your exposure. Reducing your symptoms.
- Don’t dry your clothes outside – the pollen will attach to them.
- Avoid areas where the pollen count will be high – parks, etc.
- Exercising outside? – Do it first thing in the morning. The pollen count is lower then as is the pollution level.
- Diet – ginger is known as a decongestant and may help if your sinuses are bunged up, cumin is known as an anti-inflammatory.
- Water intake – if you don’t drink enough water your mucus remains thick and is harder to get rid of. Also helps flush toxins out.
- Cucumber over the eyes – thin slices help cool itchy eyes. And it is relaxing.
- My favourite is to go away where there is no pollen; Thailand, Trinidad and the Seychelles are amongst the list.
If you try any of these you are not allergic to any of the items suggested! Good luck and have a happy hay fever free spring.
Refs:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hay-fever/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3021052.stm
And if you have any more ideas – please let me know!