Homeopathic remedies for the hayfever season
Hay fever is a sign of imbalance in the immune system and often causes a significant disruption in the life of a sufferer. When working well, our immune system protects us from the bacteria, viruses and toxins that enter our bodies, however sometimes things can go wrong and we over-react to harmless substances, producing histamine and other inflammatory biochemicals, which generate a cluster of miserable symptoms such as itching, watery eyes, sneezing, stuffy or running nose, post nasal drip, headaches, asthma, and fogginess.
These allergic symptoms occur primarily in spring, summer and autumn, when various wind-borne pollens and moulds are most prevalent. The “season” for any individual varies, depending on which substance they are allergic to, with the tree pollens, such as birch, arriving first in the spring, followed by the grass pollens in the summer and ending with fungal spores in the autumn. Some people experience hay fever in only one season, while others experience it during all three seasons. Still others may have some form of allergic rhinitis in the winter months, too, from dust mites, mildew, moulds, fur, feathers, etc.
How is it treated?
Conventional medical practitioners focus on relieving the allergy symptoms with antihistamines, decongestants, steroids, and bronchodilators, but these often produce unwanted side effects. Certain homeopathic remedies have been shown to work well when hay fever is at a peak and are completely safe to use as they are free from side effects.
Treating yourself with homeopathy during an acute phase of hay fever is easy as long as you know which remedy matches your symptoms. Check out the Hayfever Help remedy chart in the Resources section of the website to find out which remedies might be useful. A typical dose for acute symptom relief is 2 pellets of 30C every 4-6 hours until the discomfort resolves. Relief with the correct remedy is usually rapid and if there is no response after four doses of a chosen homeopathic remedy, assume it is incorrect and try the next best choice. However, if symptoms don’t improve, you should contact your homeopathic doctor for advice.
Hay fever can be quite persistent, returning year after year, and we can only address this cycle with constitutional treatment from a professional homeopath when you are not in the throes of fighting off the acute attack. The bonus is that other health problems should also improve along with your hay fever during this deeper treatment.
Other things you can try
• Avoid your triggers as much as possible when pollen counts are high
• Consider using a neti pot and a warm sea salt solution to flush your nasal passages and expel irritants
• Coat the inner surface of your nostrils using a non-absorbent ointment, such as paw-paw ointment, to create a protective film that traps allergens
• Drink plenty of water to keep the mucous membranes of your nose moist to expel allergens more easily
• Get plenty of rest and relaxation to leave your adrenal glands free to manage inflammation