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HAYFEVER
The appearance of a few warm sunny days reminds us that spring is around the corner but unfortunately for some of us this is not such good news because it brings with it the misery of hayfever........ As the weather gets warmer, the amount of pollen released into the atmosphere from trees, grasses and flowers increases. Hayfever is a seasonal form of allergic rhinitis and in susceptible people, these higher levels of pollen stimulate the body to produce a substance called histamine which is released by cells in response to an allergic reaction. Histamine causes the dilation of capillaries, the contraction of smooth tissue and irritation to mucus secreting glands, resulting in the classic symptoms of running nose, sneezing, sore itchy eyes, sinusitis and sore throat.
If you want to avoid the conventional treatment route of using drugs such as anti-histamines and corticosteroids, there are more natural ways of trying to reduce the symptoms. Hayfever is often at its worst in the morning and evening when the most pollen is released, so it makes sense to try and avoid high pollen areas at these times. Frequently splashing the face with cold water and bathing the eyes will help wash away the irritating pollen.
Because bees use that same pollen that may be causing your hayfever to make their honey, eating locally made honey containing those ‘local’ pollens, helps acclimatize your immune system to the allergens. For the best chance of good results, start eating 2 dessert-spoonfuls of locally made honey with each meal 2-4 months before the season begins.
If your hayfever is chronic, try cutting dairy produce out of your diet. Dairy products encourage the production of mucus in the body which is not helpful at this time. Also, in some cases hayfever has been associated with an allergy to milk.
There are also many herbal treatments that can help with hayfever. As a preventative measure, it is a good idea to start treatment 2 - 4 months before the hay fever season starts. Elderflower, echinacea, chamomile, licorice, lemon balm and yarrow all can help towards reducing allergic tendencies by their anti-inflammatory properties and by improving circulation. Herbs to clear catarrhal congestion and desensitize them to the allergens (pollens) would include plantain and eyebright. Nettles are also excellent allies for hayfever sufferers as they reduce inflammation of the mucus membranes and taken consistently over time will reduce the sensitivity to pollen.
Herbal medicine is safe and natural, but it should be said that to gain really effective treatment it is always best to seek the advice of a professional herbal medicine practitioner, particularly if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or plan to become pregnant: have a long standing illness, have undiagnosed health problems or are on medication.
Written by Davina Hopkinson, BSc (Hons) Herbal Medicine, MNIMH.
References: Bartram, T. (1995) Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine.
British Medical Association. (2004) New Guide to Medicines & Drugs.
McIntyre, A. (2006) The Top 100 Herbal Remedies.
Ody, P. (1995) Home Herbal |