I hope you are enjoying the amazing spring we are having this year! Sunshine, blue skies and bird-song – we couldn’t be luckier. However, for some of us the spring is the start of a miserable time of constant sniffling, itchy eyes and more sneezing than anyone should ever have to put up with. Every year we have people pouring in to Organico looking for hay fever remedies in May and June – but by that time their symptoms have already taken hold and it can be much harder to help them. So if you know you are annual sufferer, it’s a good idea to get started early, as herbs and homeopathics are best used to prevent Hay fever rather than to treat it when the symptoms are very strong. Many of the conventional Hay fever medicines have undesirable side effects including drowsiness so if you can find the alternative remedy that works for you your life will be much more comfortable! There are many different causes of Hay fever. Children and adults alike suffer from seasonal allergies to pollens from blooming plants and from allergic reactions to animal hair, feathers, and a huge variety of environmental elements. Hay fever is the result of your immune system mistakenly identifying these normally harmless allergens as infectious agents and attempting to “fight” them, which results in inflammation, sneezing and a range of unpleasant symptoms. Researchers have failed to explain why some people’s immune system goes berserk while others in the same house are unaffected, however anything you can do to help balance your immune system will generally help with this problem. It seems obvious but staying away from certain foods and making sure you get enough of others can really help your immune system to function at its best all year round. Foods to eat lots of include – fruit and vegetables (for vitamins and antioxidants); seeds (rich in selenium and zinc); seaweeds (they come in handy flakes now that you can add to your soup or vegetable dishes and contain loads of immune-boosting nutrients) and anything containing essential fats (for example oily fish, chia seeds) which help reduce inflammation. Also – drink more water! Whenever your body is trying to clear something out help it by upping your water intake – water is the great detoxifier. Foods to reduce: wheat, dairy and sugar – all know as allergens and even though you might think hay fever is just about you nose there is more and more evidence to suggest it is also due to an aggravated system which starts with an unhealthy diet. Alcohol is also associated with an increase in symptoms. There are also a range of natural remedies that can help you. Your immune system is highly complex and you’ll have to find what combination suits you – I have seen people get lucky with the first homeopathic they try and also people who need to go to a qualified therapist for advice because their case is stubborn. A good natural remedy to start with can be honey – specifically a local honey contains pollen from plants and trees that may be causing your allergic reaction. Unfortunately that can be very hard to find at this time of year, and especially this year because of the bee problems. But look for a local honey that has not been boiled and take a spoonful a day starting at least a month before your reaction usually starts. I know people who use Chamomile Tea to reduce the duration of their hay fever attack. Leave the bag in for a good 5 minutes to get the full effect. Nettle Tea can also be helpful as nettles are an expectorant and reduce sinus inflammation. Traditionally nettles are a ‘’spring tonic’’ made into a soup to cleanse the blood after a long winter – which makes sense given they are good for a spring-time illness! Use a bag of each as your first drink every morning. You will find Po Ho Oil inhaler in most health food shops – it’s a combination of essential oils which are great for steam inhalation if you have a cold or inflamed sinuses for any reasons including hay fever. It also now comes in a handy pocket size tube. I especially like the peppermint oil it contains because it makes me feel alert – often having a stuffed up nose can make me feel very fuzzy so this can be very useful! On the vitamin front, Patrick Holford recommends all allergy suffers to take a good multi-vitamin, a good anti-oxidant and a good vitamin C. These form the base of a healthy body in his opinion. In terms of stronger herbal remedies the bioflavonoid Quercetin which is a natural anti-histamine that modulates immune system response to antigens is getting a lot of research attention at the moment for both asthma and hay fever. Solgar make a good Quercetin Complex by combining it with Bromelain which reduces inflammation. Another popular option is Weleda’s ‘’Hayfever kit’’ – it contains a homeopathic remedy made form the most common forms of pollen which can help switch off the allergic reaction, and a soothing nasal spray made from aloe vera which can really help keep nasal passages clear and working effectively. Uur nose is often called our first line of defence so making sure is in working at its best makes sense! Finally, a neat little hay fever remedy is called Hay Max – a blend of beeswax and oils that you put under your nose which makes a barrier and traps the pollen before it gets a chance to cause its mischief. Voted Best Organic Product by the Health Food Institute in the UK Haymax is simple to use and does not cause drowsiness! At the start of April we are celebrating Rude Health Week in Organico which is organised by the Irish Association of Health Food Stores – so have a look at what’s on in the Bantry listings and come along and take advantage of the fantastic free events we have organised! For more details see www.organico.ie or call us on 027 51391. Organico Shop, Café and Bakery is located on Glengarriff Road in Bantry.