Natural remedies for hay fever

Spring and summer are a wonderful time of year. We’ve made it through a long and cold winter and the sun is starting to shine again (hopefully). The once bare landscape makes way for tender buds and glossy greens – an awakening for all of nature, including ourselves. For those of us who suffer with hay fever, spring and summer can symbolise a time of apprehension as we prepare for the increase in pollen.

Luckily, help is also at hand with some of nature’s finest remedies:

• Nettle: Nettles are thought to have the ability to block histamine activity and other pro-inflammatory molecules involved in hay fever. Holistic Hayfever capsules contains nettles which has a natural cooling effect, helping to calm any irritation. Histamine, a key player in allergic response, is broken down by the liver, so supporting liver function with cooling and cleansing herbs can be helpful for managing hay fever symptoms.

• Licorice: An excellent herb for releasing stuck congestion and mucus around the nose and a ‘heavy head’. Licorice soothes the lung and throat and acts as expectorant.

• Elderberry: Vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin E, constipation, flu, cold, hay fever, nerve problems,  toothache, stress, inflammation, boost immune, stress

• Lime Flower: Lime Flower - Colds, stuffy nose, sore throat, breathing problems, headaches (sinus + migraines), fevers, breaks phlegm, antidepressant, relaxant, sleep, anxiety
• Mullein - Cough, tuberculosis, bronchitis, pneumonia earaches, colds, chills, flu, fever, allergies, tonsilitis, sore throats, migraines, asthma

• Elderflower : The elder tree is traditionally known as ‘’nature’s medicine chest’. Elderflowers can dry and tone mucous membranes which line the nose and throat, reducing sneezing and a runny and blocked nose from hay fever. could provide relief from those irritating symptoms throughout hay fever season.

Other diet and lifestyle tips to help ease hay fever symptoms

• For 3-5 days drink plenty of hot water with grated fresh ginger or honey, this will help to digest toxins and regulate digestion.

• Favour foods that are warm and nourishing but easy to digest such as soups, grains and leafy green vegetables.

• Minimise the time you spend outside on high pollen count days.

• Keep windows closed at night when you sleep.

• Avoid substances which are mucus producing such as dairy products, wheat and sugar.

• Wash your face and hands after being outside.

• Dry washing inside on a high pollen count days.

• Use a saline nasal spray to rinse out your sinuses, at least twice a day.

Why does hay fever occur?

Hay fever is often seen as a reflection of the change in seasons that occurs during the transition from winter through to spring. As the warmth of spring increases, it also warms the body influencing a ‘melting’ of congestion and toxic accumulation that has occurred over the winter period. Hay fever is an allergic reaction (an immune system overreaction) to pollen released primarily by grasses, but can also be triggered by pollen released from trees. You can have an allergy to tree, grass, or weed pollen, which all have different times of release throughout the year, with grass pollen allergy being the most common. 

Pollen particles contain a protein that causes inflammation, irritation and swelling of the nasal passages, but can also affect the eyes and the throat. The pollen causes the release of a substance known as an inflammatory mediator called histamine. It is the histamine that influences the symptoms of ‘hay fever’ in the body such as sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, swelling and inflammation of the nasal passages. 

The symptoms of hay fever can often be split into two categories:

1. Sinus congestion, watery eyes, copious mucus, itchy nose

2. Red eyes, itchy eyes, inflamed nose and mucus membranes, headache

These are a reflection of our current state of health. Those of us who are more prone to mucus accumulations will tend to suffer more from runny eyes and nose. Those who perhaps have a greater tendency towards hot, irritated and itching skin conditions will suffer more from itching and red eyes, ears and throat.

To minimise hay fever symptoms, start taking natural remedies 2-3 months before the pollen season kicks in as the beneficial properties of the plants need time to take effect on the body. 

However, for those that are susceptible and highly sensitive to hay fever attacks, it’s best practice to start hay fever support during the winter before the trees and blooms begin the bloom.