Hay fever is an annoying annual condition that affects up to 1 in 5 people in the UK. Its medical name is seasonal rhinitis and it is caused by a reaction when the body makes allergic antibodies to certain substances in the air.
Hay fever affects different people with varying symptoms at different times of the year but it is generally worse in the spring and summer months because of an increase in flower pollen, tree pollen, cut grass, and weeds.
If, like me, you suffer from persistent seasonal symptoms including itchy eyes, tickling throat, sneezing, headaches, tiredness, and blocked sinuses, then you may be suffering from a hay fever allergy. The symptoms are often similar to a common cold, however, they last longer and only appear at certain times of the year.
Over-the-counter medication
If you are a hay fever sufferer, you can buy antihistamines over the counter in your local pharmacy. Antihistamines come in tablet, spray, or liquid form and are fairly inexpensive.
Antihistamines are generally helpful in relieving the majority of symptoms, however, not everyone experiences success with this type of medication, especially those who suffer with severe or persistent hay fever. Also, others prefer not to take this type of medication frequently because of side effects such as drowsiness, upset stomachs, dry mouths, and headaches.
Self-help tips
Luckily, there are some self-help ways of managing your hay fever symptoms, which are found to be really effective too. Wearing sunglasses when outdoors should help to prevent excess pollen from getting into your eyes to reduce itching and redness. Also applying a small amount of petroleum-free jelly or beeswax jelly in your nostrils can prevent pollen grains from being inhaled by trapping them upon entry (I say petroleum-free jelly as some people may not be comfortable with using petroleum jelly, as there is evidence to suggest that not all petroleum jelly has been purified enough and therefore leaving potentially carcinogenic substances behind) Therefore, other
Although very annoying on a lovely summer's day, doors and windows should be closed during the day as much as possible to stop allergens from entering your house, but then can be re-opened at night, when levels are generally lower. Also, taking regular cool showers after spending time outdoors is recommended to remove any pollen from your body, hair, and face. Changing and washing your clothes regularly can help too.
Acupuncture for hay fever
Acupuncture is a proven safe and effective treatment to relieve and prevent hay fever for sufferers, and has been so effective for me. It has been used in China and other eastern cultures to alleviate the symptoms of allergic reactions for over 2,500 years.
According to Chinese Medicine, allergies to pollen, as well as other allergies are usually caused by an underlying weakness or imbalance in the functioning of the kidneys, lungs or spleen. By inserting fine needles into the channels of energy that run underneath our skin, an acupuncturist can stimulate the body's own healing response and help restore its natural balance.
Normally, your first course of Acupuncture treatment for hay fever would consist of 1 treatment a week for 6 weeks. After the first session, the benefits would often last 4-5 days but after each successive treatment, the benefits would last longer. After your sixth treatment, it would be usual for you to be symptom-free for a whole week, and at this stage, you could then start increasing the length of time between treatments starting with a two-week gap.
Most people would then usually soon get to the stage where they only need a maintenance treatment about once a month, or so, to remain symptom-free, even when they have experienced hay fever symptoms for many years.
Your progress, however, also depends on your lifestyle habits, stress levels, and your own constitution. For example, chronic stress lowers your immunity to disease.
I really hope some of these tips come in handy for you this hay fever season, and hope you are not suffering too much with the high pollen count in your area x Let me know what works for you. Drop me a message.