Most people associate hay fever with the spring - but you could also find yourself suffering through summer and autumn, depending on the source of your allergy. During earlier months from March to May, the most common cause of hay fever is pollen from trees, while from May to July it is due to pollen from grass and flowers. Suffering from hay fever into autumn is rarer, but still occurs, and is caused by plants such as nettles and docks, as well as late flowering plants and mould spores.
No matter when you experience them, the symptoms of hay fever are the same: a runny nose, itchy, bloodshot eyes, and, of course, plenty of sneezing. The reason these symptoms happen is because the immune system overreacts to a substance, i.e. pollen, which is normally harmless, and causes your body to release a chemical called histamine, triggering the symptoms of an allergic reaction. While antihistamines are usually prescribed for hay fever, many people have said that, while they do sometimes help to tone down the symptoms, they don't always work to get rid of them completely. Fortunately, nature has provided several of its own alternative remedies. It usually works best to start on an anti-hay fever programme a few weeks before the time you tend to experience symptoms.
Natural remedies include...
Bilberry is rich in flavinoids which are known to help improve blood and oxygen flow to the eyes and help prevent the release of inflammatory chemicals, such as histamines.
Eyebright helps with inflammation, styes, sensitivity to light and eye fatigue symptoms such as weeping and stinging. It can also help with nasal catarrh and congestion when taken internally.
Luffa is particularly helpful for symptoms in the eyes and nose. It deals with both blocked and runny noses, and also aids symptoms such as watery, itchy eyes and tickly throat. As Luffa is taken internally, it's a great alternative to eye drops for those who wear contact lenses.
Pycnogenol is a natural pine bark extract and is a powerful anti-histamine. It also has the lovely side-affect of helping to improve skin appearance!
Quercetin is found naturally in fruit rind and is another bioflavinoid which contains powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine properties by inhibiting the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators.
Vitamin B5 is often called the 'anti-stress' vitamin, as it is important for the production of stress-regulating hormones. It also helps to produce cortisone, which is the body's anti-inflammatory hormone.
Click the links above to be directed to a variety of choices for each remedy on our website.
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