Hay Fever Blues

Every summer do you stare outside at the fabulous weather and the people frolicking around in the sunshine, while you grab another box of tissues?

Hay fever is miserable. Who wants to be sunbathing with cold symptoms? Colds are for winter so you can bundle up and feel terrible by the fireside sipping hot whiskey. You can’t stick a cocktail umbrella in hot whiskey and hope for the best.

So What Can You Do To Help?

Well, apart from moving to the Antipodes for the next 6 months or becoming your local pharmacists best friend, there are a number of things you can do.

• Honey, surprisingly comes up top of most lists as the most effective natural cure. Best to seek out local honey as the pollen collected by the bees will be what is affecting you most. the pollen trapped in the honey gradually desensitise your body. So start now with small amounts building up to 3 teaspoons a day during your worst affected season.
• Vitamin C is a well-known natural anti-histamine which can be found in all citrus fruit. Combined with bioflavoinoids which are also present in these fruits which have anti-allergy properties alleviate most symptoms. So fresh citrus fruit juice, or infuse citrus peel in your honey for combined help.  Or supplements of 1,000mg per day will help. Clinical trials have shown that increasing vitamin C doses to around 2 to 3g (2,000-3,000mg) daily for a month or more can cut the histamine response in half.
• Oily fish, Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) is effective in regulating an overactive inflammatory response. The best fish to help with allergy and inflammation issues are mackerel, salmon, kippers, herrings, sprats, trout, sardine and pilchards or good sources are found in evening primrose oil, borage oil, flaxseed oil, and blackcurrant oil if fish oils are not your thing.
• Acupuncture – Research has found that the ancient Chinese medicine of acupuncture can reduce hay fever symptoms, such as a runny nose and itchy eyes, dramatically. Using sterile needles, acupuncture pinpoints specific areas of the body and helps relieve any symptoms caused by current ailments. Studies have shown that acupuncture has a positive effect on alleviating hay fever symptoms.
• Herbs – calendula and chamomile make wonderful eye soothers for those who suffer from itchy eye symptoms. Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) reduces congestion and secretions. It’s good for itchy eyes, sneezing, and excess mucus. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is used to help build the body’s resistance to allergies. Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica)  are used as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory. while yarrow (Achillea millefolium) reduces congestion and secretions. Your herbalist will mix a blend of herbs that will work best to alleviate all your symptoms either as a tea which can be brewed or as a tincture which can be taken orally.
• Homeopathy – If the right remedy is chosen, symptoms should improve shortly after the second dose. If there is no improvement after 3 doses, a different remedy is given. Your homeopath will work closely with you to get the best results. The following remedies have been shown to be effective in acute, symptomatic relief of hay fever or allergies: Allium cepa – Indicated for bland, non-irritating discharge from eyes; copious, watery, acrid discharge from nose; hoarseness; and feeling better in cool air and open room. Euphrasia – Indicated for symptoms such as copious, watery, acrid discharge from eyes; non-irritating discharge from nose; dry, hard cough; much sneezing; diarrhoea; and feeling worse in the open air. Natrum muriaticum – Indicated for watery or egg white-like discharges; cold sores; no sense of taste or smell; headaches; and feeling better outside. Nux vomica – Indicated for a runny nose in the daytime, then dry nose at night; violent sneezing; nose feels blocked but there is watery nasal discharge through one nostril, and feeling worse outside.

We have spoken to several people who used these remedies and no longer suffer from hay fever, so if you’re suffering give one or two of them a go!

Book An Appointment

To book an appointment with any of our clinic’s therapists please call 01 677 9859 or email info@the-elbowroom.com.