The term "hay fever" is quite an enigma, as it is not really caused by hay, and the symptoms do not include fever. The official term for hay fever is "allergic rhinitis," which refers to allergic reactions, usually including sneezing, nasal inflammation and itchy eyes. Experts believe the term "hay fever" originated when most people lived around farms and were inclined to develop allergic reactions during the hay harvesting season. There are some effective natural remedies you can partake to avoid and cure hay fever.
About Hay Fever
When you inhale allergens, they quickly land on the mucous membrane in your nasal passage. Then the allergen sensors in your cells release abundant inflammatory chemicals such as histamine, leukotrienes and prostaglandin. These chemicals can cause a runny nose, sinus congestion, watery eyes and itchiness in your nose, eyes and ears. Other less common symptoms include stuffy ears, sore throat, coughing and swollen eyes.
Types of Hay Fever
There are two main types of hay fever:
1. Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, which occurs to people who are allergic to pollens from grasses, weeds and trees. Spring and summer is usually when the symptoms strike, as the pollen counts in the air tend to rise during these seasons.
2. Perennial Allergic Rhinitis, which can occur year-round. The triggers are usually dust mites and pet dander.
Natural Remedies vs. Conventional Drugs
Taking conventional drugs may help fix your hay fever fast; however, it also makes your kidneys work harder. In addition, most allergy medications cause side effects. For example, antihistamines thicken the mucus in your nasal cavity, and ironically that makes your nose a perfect place for bacteria to grow and spread. Nasal corticosteroid sprays can sometimes cause a burning or stinging sensation in your nose, or even a nose bleed. Decongestants, which are medications used for shrinking the nasal blood vessels and decreasing the amount of fluid in the nose, do not help at all with sneezing or itchiness in the nose, and may cause insomnia, anxiety and irregular heartbeat.
Natural remedies, on the other hand, do not cause serious side effects and can help strengthen your immune system, allowing it to battle allergens by itself.
Diets and Supplements for Hay Fever
Quercetin. This is a plant-derived flavonoid with anti-inflammatory properties. It works by keeping mast cells from releasing inflammatory chemicals like histamine, leukotrienes and prostaglandin. You can take quercetin capsules as a daily supplement, or add more citrus fruits, tea and buckwheat to your diet. Taking quercetin, however, is only a preventive strategy.
Nettle. Dr. Robert Rountree, a holistic physician and coauthor of the book Immunotics, suggests that taking nettle capsules can help keep hay fever symptoms under control. According to recent research, the symptoms most alleviated by nettle capsules are sneezing and itchy eyes.
Fatty Acids. Oils high in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), such as borage and black currant seed oil, are extrememly beneficial for people who are prone to hay fever. They can reduce inflammation and lessen overall allergic reactions. Dr. Rountree recommends that allergic individuals take 300 mg of borage or black currant seed oil daily.
Nasal Wash
Since hay fever is caused by allergens breathed into the nose, rinsing those allergens out of your nose a few times a day can solve the problem and substantially improve your nasal hygiene. There are several ways to do this, the most convenient of which is to use a saline nasal spray. Experts say, however, that this method may not clean the nasal passage as thoroughly as the neti pot and nasal irrigator.
The neti pot has become a popular nasal-wash device due to its simplicity and low price. It is shaped like an Aladdin's lamp with a spigot. Put saline water in the pot, tilt your head a bit to one side, breathe through your mouth, pour the water into one nostril, and let the water emerge from the other nostril.
A nasal irrigator is basically a waterpik with a special nasal adapter. It is said to be the most effective nasal wash device, as it can spurt out saline water at 20 pulses per second and thoroughly dislodge stubborn mucus in the nasal passage. Pour the saline solution into the water reservoir, adjust the pressure on the irrigator to the lowest setting, lean over a sink, insert the tip of the nasal adapter into your nostril and let the water run out of the other nostril.
Saline Solution for Nasal Wash
This saline solution formula is recommended by Dr. Robert Rountree: Mix tsp. sea salt with 4 oz. warm water. Stir well. Then add 1/8 tsp. baking soda.
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