In case you endure from hay fever signs there are many pure treatments except for hay fever tablets that may assist. From consuming native honey to dusting with a moist fabric – we hear from the specialists 

By Eva Gizowska

The solar is shining, the sky is blue and nature is full bloom. But, as an alternative of having fun with the hotter, longer, summer time days, you’re struggling to maintain hay fever signs underneath management.

If this sounds such as you, you’re not alone. Hay fever, also called seasonal allergic rhinitis, at present impacts one in 4 (round 16 million) individuals within the UK based on Natasha Allergy Analysis Basis.

Typical hay fever signs embrace:

• Itchy, streaming, watery eyes,
• sneezing and coughing,
• a runny or blocked nostril,
• itchy throat, mouth, nostril and ears.

Much less frequent signs could embrace complications and fatigue.

READ MORE: From dry eyes to itchy pores and skin – 5 indicators you want omega 7

Hay fever is an allergic response to pollen (a positive mud) produced by bushes and grasses. Signs happen when the immune system reacts to pollen within the physique to supply histamine and different chemical substances.

Hay fever signs are worse on days when the pollen depend is highest

This causes blood vessels to dilate, triggers irritation and will increase mucus manufacturing in try to flush out allergens. The pollen season begins in March, peaks in the summertime, and lasts till mid September.

Tree pollen (eg: ash, elm, birch, willow, oak) counts are highest between late March and mid Might, whereas grass and weed pollen (eg: dock, mugwort, nettle) counts are highest between mid Might and September. Hay fever signs are worse on days when the pollen depend is highest.

The Local weather Change Impact

Within the UK, 20 per cent of the inhabitants are affected by a number of allergic problems, together with hay fever.

But, the Natasha Allergy Basis states that ‘the variety of individuals residing with allergic reactions is rising by 5 per cent yearly’.

Already, the incidence of hay fever has trebled within the final twenty years. Many specialists consider that the rise in allergic reactions could partly be attributed to local weather change. Milder winters, for instance, have an effect on the flowering patterns of vegetation and bushes, resulting in longer pollen seasons.

hay fever has trebled within the final twenty years

‘Sadly, we’re going to see a rise within the international burden of allergy sufferance as a result of local weather change within the subsequent few years,’ says Dr Ross Walton, Immunologist and scientific researcher at Imperial School, London.

‘This will contain extended length and doubtlessly larger severity of signs as seasons are prolonged and the pollen burden is elevated.’

READ MORE: Save the Planet: 12 climate-friendly meals swaps you may make right this moment

10 methods to fight hay fever

‘Though we now have way more publicity to allergens as a result of local weather change, for which international adjustments are required, there are such a lot of life-style changes you may make to minimise and alleviate hay fever signs,’ says Alison Cullen, Dietary Practitioner at A. Vogel.

‘Dietary adjustments, lowering stress, utilizing pure and over-the-counter treatments, supporting your immune system and sleeping nicely can all make an enormous distinction.’

#1 High up your Vitamin C

Vitamin C has pure anti-histamine, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

In a latest examine (2018) on the College of Drugs, Rostock, Germany, it was proven that taking vitamin C (2000 mg two – 3 times per week) helped to scale back allergy associated signs by 38 per cent.

Vitamin C is water soluble, so one of the best ways to take it’s in break up doses all through the day. You too can prime up on vitamin C by ensuring your food plan contains loads of contemporary fruit and greens.

Good sources of vitamin C embrace broccoli, bell peppers, citrus fruits, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes and kiwi fruit.

Strive: A.Vogel Nature–C, £eight.75 for 36 chewable 100mg tablets or Healthspan Vitamin C 1000mg, £14.95 for 160 tablets.

#2 Take a quercetin complement

Quercetin is a plant pigment (flavonoid) present in sure meals akin to apples, berries, cherries, grapes, onions, capers, inexperienced tea and leafy inexperienced greens.

‘It has anti-allergic and anti-histamine properties,’ says Alison Cullen.

‘Analysis means that quercetin could assist to scale back irritation, allergic reactions and help wholesome immunity.’

In a latest meta-analysis (printed in Allergy, Bronchial asthma & Medical Immunology, 2020) it was proven that quercetin can considerably cut back the signs of allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

For greatest results, the really helpful each day dose of quercetin is between 500 – 1000mg a day.

Strive: Healthspan ImmunoVit Elderberry Plus – accommodates quercetin, elderberry, zinc, vitamin B12 and C, £13.95, 60 tablets.

READ MORE: Hay fever driving you mad? 6 confirmed methods to scale back signs naturally

#Three Top off on native honey

Consuming honey could assist to scale back hay fever signs.

‘Native honey accommodates pollens which trigger hay fever, and by taking pollen allergens by mouth, this may occasionally assist to scale back allergic reactions by constructing an immune tolerance,’ says Dr Sarah Brewer, Healthspan Medical Director.

uncooked honey had a major impact in lowering signs of allergic rhinitis

‘Native honey additionally accommodates pure antihistamines, and different anti-inflammatory substances.’

However, for honey to have any therapeutic advantages it needs to be uncooked, unpasteurised and unfiltered. In a single examine (Annals of Saudi Drugs, 2013) it was discovered that consuming native, uncooked honey had a major impact in lowering signs of allergic rhinitis.

For greatest outcomes, eat one to 2 teaspoons of honey no less than a month earlier than the hay fever season will get underway, and proceed so long as you’re inclined to seasonal pollens.

#four Entice pollen with a pure barrier balm

Subsequent time the pollen depend is excessive, simply rub a small quantity of balm – this could even be vaseline – across the rim of each nostrils.

This straightforward tactic will assist to lure pollen (additionally mud and different allergens) earlier than you’ve got an opportunity to inhale it into your system.

Be sure to usually re-apply all through the day, particularly in the event you’ve blown your nostril.

Strive: Haymax Pure Natural Drug-Free Allergen Barrier Balm, £7.49 for 5ml.

#5 Sensible ways

Pollen counts are highest within the morning and on the finish of day based on Allergy UK. Pollen counts additionally go up in heat, dry climate.

To minimise your publicity:

• Change your garments and bathe after you’ve got been outdoors.
• Put on wrap round glasses to cease pollen moving into your eyes.
• Examine the each day pollen depend.
• Keep indoors as a lot as doable when the pollen depend is excessive.
• Keep away from exercising outside and gardening when pollen ranges are excessive.
• Vacuum typically and dirt with a moist fabric usually.

READ MORE: 7 hay fever treatments really helpful by an precise physician

#6 OTC Pure Cures

Natural treatments supply a gentler different to standard OTC hay fever treatments, but they are often simply as efficient with none of the unwanted side effects (eg: dry mouth, fatigue).

‘For anybody who needs to keep away from utilizing corticosteroid and antihistamines, natural treatments will be helpful to ease signs,’ says Dr Sarah Brewer.

‘I normally counsel A. Vogel Pollinosan Luffa Nasal Spray. This accommodates seven tropical herbs, together with Luffa inside an isotonic answer. This rinses the nostril of allergens, restores moisture and soothes irritation to alleviate nasal signs.’

For greatest results, use together with A. Vogel Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets, £10.85 for 120 tablets.

Listed here are another therapeutic herbs to strive:

Turmeric – identified additionally as golden spice – is a potent antioxidant herb that has lengthy been recognised for it’s therapeutic properties in Ayurvedic drugs. Turmeric accommodates the lively ingredient curcumin, a strong anti-inflammatory, which may also help to scale back histamine and ease signs. Strive: Healthspan Opti-Turmeric 500mg, £16.95 for 30 capsules.

Pycnogenol is a pure plant extract from the French maritime bark. A latest examine (printed in Phytotherapy Analysis, 2010) confirmed that pycnogenol may also help to alleviate eye and nasal signs of hay fever by decreasing pollen-specific antibodies within the blood.

Nettle leaf is a potent pure antihistamine that may block histamine manufacturing. In a examine (reported by the Natural Science Group, 2009) it was proven that an extract (Urtica dioica) of stinging nettle can inhibit a number of of the inflammatory occasions that trigger the signs of allergic rhinities. Strive: A. Vogel Stinging Nettle Drops, £10.85 for 50ml.

READ MORE: 10 teas that may enhance well being

#7 Eat to beat hay fever

‘In case you endure from hay fever, what you eat can have a big effect,’ says Alison Cullen.

Alison recommends consuming extra:

• Oily fish – eg: salmon, mackerel, herrings. These are excessive in omega-Three fatty acids which have an anti-inflammatory impact.
• Garlic – a pure decongestant and anti inflammatory that helps the immune system.
• Ginger – a pure decongestant that may assist to scale back extra mucus.
• Contemporary fruit and greens which to maintain vitamin C ranges topped up.

Keep away from:

Dairy as an excessive amount of of the milk protein, casein, can result in elevated mucus manufacturing.

Meals and drinks which might be excessive in histamine – eg: espresso, alcohol, chocolate, cheese, processed meals and meats, tomatoes, seafood and shellfish.

A meals diary will allow you to to maintain tabs on which meals make signs worse.

READ MORE: four oily fish recipes that may make you wish to eat it

#eight Probiotics assist too

Newest analysis suggests that individuals with imbalances in intestine micro organism (dysbiosis) are extra susceptible to develop allergic reactions and hay fever.

‘To maintain the intestine wholesome, for good digestion and wholesome immunity, you want loads of useful micro organism,’ says Alison Cullen.

‘When there may be an overgrowth of unhealthy micro organism within the intestine, this causes irritation that may set off allergic reactions and hay fever. Treating dysbiosis with dietary remedy and probiotics will be very useful in assuaging signs.’

probiotics can lower the severity of hay fever signs

A meta-analysis, that checked out 23 research, by researchers at Vanderbilt College Faculty of Drugs, US, discovered that probiotics can lower the severity of hay fever signs. Strive: Healthspan Tremendous 50 Professional, £29.95 for 60 capsules.

Eat prebiotic meals – eg: Jerusalem artichoke, bananas, garlic, onion, leeks, celery, chicory root. These encourage good micro organism to thrive.

Eat probiotic meals – eg: kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha. These introduce useful micro organism into your intestine.

READ MORE: Fermented meals – are they definitely worth the hype?

#9 Natural Soothers

Soothe puffy eyes with chilled chamomile tea baggage, as chamomile has a naturally soothing impact. Strive: Pukka Three Chamomile Natural Tea, £Three.45 for 20 baggage.

Dab aloe vera gel round on pores and skin across the mouth and nostril to calm irritation.  Strive: Aloe Pura Natural Aloe Vera Gel, £6.49 for 200ml.

#10 Examine Signs

Unsure if it’s actually hay fever? Then use the Healthily Symptom Checker to examine signs.

Or you possibly can go to their self-care platform for recommendation and all the knowledge is medically validated at www.livehealthily.com