Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies
Picture the scene: a beautiful day, the sun is shining, the garden is fi lled with blooms and the air fi lls with the scent of cut grass and… achoo! Yip allergy season is here and for the one in four aff ected, that scenic day is hampered by streaming eyes, sneezing and reaching for tissues every two minutes. Oh the joys of nature.
So when does the ‘season’ begin? It all depends on what you are allergic to. Hayfever or seasonal allergic rhinitis is an allergy to pollen, mould or fungal spores. Pollen is the plants attempt at reproduction, so it’s produced in mass quantities, fi lling the surrounding air. We are not the targeted recipient of the pollen but we inhale it through our mouths or noses. Trees can release their pollen as early as January through to April; grasses pollinate over the summer months and many plants continue to pollinate through to autumn. Fungal spores occur all year round. So if you have multiple allergies, it can be a long season.
Not everyone has the same reaction. An over-sensitivity to pollen can run in families and be linked to asthma or eczema (called atopy), or there may be environmental factors: children who grow up with smokers or who are exposed to dust mites at an early age are more likely to develop hayfever. And it’s not just starting in childhood: half a million people in their thirties, forties and fi fties are expected to develop it in the next decade.
If the body perceives the pollen to be harmful, the immune system will be primed to produce antibodies to mount an attack on the ‘invader’. The antibodies trigger the release of histamine which encourages us to sneeze, or release extra mucous from glands to try to fl ush the pollen out the body. Histamine is also involved in keeping us alert and supressing sleep which is why some anti-histamine drugs can make us sleepy.
Managing allergy symptoms can boost our enjoyment of the summer months and it is important in asthmatics as hayfever can trigger asthma attacks. 80% asthmatics have allergic rhinitis so on high pollen count days, minimise exposure by staying indoors, and close windows and change clothes when you get home.
Over-the counter anti-histamines and nasal sprays off er relief and there are also herbs to ease symptoms.
Nettles (Urtica dioica) - have an anti-histamine action as they contain quercetin which dampens down the immune response. Nettle tea would be the perfect beverage over the season and it is also available in tincture or capsule form. Quercetin is also found in red onions, garlic and apples.
Eyebright (Euphrasia offi cinalis) - is astringent and anti-catarrhal to mucous membranes, so its helps clear up running eyes and noses. As the name suggests, it has a traditional association with the eye health and its anti- infl ammatory action may reduce itchy, stinging eyes.
Plantain (Plantago major) - the tea makes a cooling drink while the active ingredients help soothe infl ammation and it has both anti-allergy and anti-histamine eff ects. I often add plantain to herbal prescriptions for allergic rhinitis as it is gentle on mucous membranes and supports the immune system.
There is also growing evidence that gut microfl ora is linked to the immune system and a recent trial found that the probiotic Bifi dobacterium longum relieved rhinitis-related sneezing and runny noses.
What we eat may also help. Nuts and seeds are high in vitamin E which can reduce blocked sinuses while vitamin C found in citrus fruit is both antioxidant and antihistamine.
Please consult with your herbalist or health practitioner before using any herbs if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication or have underlying health issues.
Nikki Biddiss BSc (Hons), MNIMH, is a Medical Herbalist, Aromatherapy Massage Therapist and Cognitive Coach. She has a clinic in Napier’s, Glasgow and has her own practice in Bridge of Allan.
www.botanicalhealing.co.uk or contact Nikki on 07528 341 206.
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