Spring has sprung! Great news for most of us as we welcome the lengthening of the days, unfortunately for others this means the start of the dreaded hay fever season. Personally I have never suffered from this condition, but I have some family members who do and it can be really miserable. Hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen causing the release of histamine around the nose and eyes. Characteristic symptoms include red, itchy eyes, and a runny or congested nose.
The conventional medical approach to hay fever generally consists of three types of medication: antihistamines which block the release of histamine which is responsible for swelling and congestion; steroid-based nasal sprays; and decongestants such as ephedrine. However, dietary changes and natural supplements may significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for conventional medication, which can have undesirable side effect or simply not work for some sufferers.
We get a lot of enquiries about alternatives remedies to hay fever at this time of the year in Organico. There are no silver bullets and finding a suitable remedy takes time and effort but we often find that individuals with hay fever also suffer from food sensitivities as well. When these foods are successfully identified and eliminated, the hay fever very often gets much better. It is thought that the reactions to food 'sensitise' the tissues in the eye and/or nose, making it more likely that pollen will trigger an allergic reaction there.
Any food may give a problem, but many people find that dairy products are the main culprits. You might like to try eliminating milk, cheese, ice cream and yoghurt (butter is usually a well tolerated food) from your diet to see what this effect this has. Our experience is that this often helps clear a hay fever problem. Rice or coconut milk make a decent alternative to cow's milk for drinking and as an addition to breakfast cereal. You will need to make sure, however, that you are getting enough calcium; lots of leafy green veg will help with this as well as eating whole grains rather than white (in terms of flour, pasta, rice and so on).
One of the first supplements to try if you are expecting your hay fever symptoms to kick in soon is vitamin C. Vitamin C has natural antihistamine activity in the body and there is some evidence that it can help control hay fever symptoms. 1 to 2 grams of powder taken as a drink though the day is the best way of taking it - the best thing is to get yourself a stainless steel bottle and make a vitamin C ‘drink’ every morning to take to work or school. There are a couple of good brands of vitamin C powder available but Biocare is a very high quality and trustworthy one.
Several customers have reported benefits from taking a supplement called Quercetin. This 'bio-flavonoid' compound appears to reduce the release of histamine from immune system cells known as 'mast cells'. In practice, quercetin does seem to help a proportion of hay fever sufferers.
A.Vogel have a new hay fever remedy called Pollinosan which contains homeopathics to treat a range of hay fever type symptoms, such as sneezing, itchy nose, scratchy throat and burning eyes. Their advice is to start a month before your symptoms typically appear.
Another helpful habit to take up is nasal washing - call in and have a look at our different options of Neti Pots that can help reduce nasal symptoms and help a cough if caused by a nasal drip. If you are out and about you might want a portable solution for a nasal drip - why not try Potters Aller Clear which is a tried and tested remedy from a very reliable company.
Local Honey is another traditional ‘remedy’ many people find helpful; by eating it regularly the idea is that you will build up a tolerance to the pollen that is common to your area (as the bees will have gathered this pollen as they make the honey). I’m not sure that this is supported by research but anecdotally a lot of people have found it beneficial. And if you manage to find a raw, unheated honey produced locally then there really isn’t any risk - other than to your waistline if you eat too much! And Nettle tea has been used for years as a traditional herbal remedy for, among other things, hay fever symptoms. The best thing to do is pick fresh nettles and steep them in hot water and drink it - they will all be coming up soon!
Organico Shop Cafe and Bakery is open Monday to Saturday from 9.15 - 6pm .. Please call us on 027-51391 or visit us online at www.organico.ie for more information. None of this information is intended to replace medical advice, so if you are on medication or are concerned at all about your health please consult a medical practitioner before taking any foods in medicinal quantities.
