›› Hay fever: complementary therapies
Hay fever affects 15 to 20 per cent of the British population. But are you one of many who is prescribed medication, yet struggles to get relief from your symptoms?
| Try alternative treatments. |
We look at whether the natural way is the way forward.
What is hay fever?
Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is caused by an allergic reaction to pollen that is breathed in, or that gets into the eyes.
The pollens that are most likely to cause hay fever are birch pollen, which is released in March, and grass pollen, which starts to appear in late May.
But you can get hay fever at any time of year depending on what type of pollen you are allergic to.
Word of caution
Please note that studies have not established whether alternative treatments are as good or better than conventional medication.
Although some people find them helpful, in general there is conflicting clinical trial evidence as to their effectiveness.
The condition can interfere with your concentration, energy levels and sleep. Many of us resort to antihistamines, decongestants and nasal steroids to get some relief.
But a growing number of drug-free approaches are available for preventing and reducing symptoms.
A recent One Poll survey found that 72 per cent of people prefer a natural alternative to conventional hay fever medicine, such as acupuncture or homeopathy.
What alternative treatments are available?
Herbal remedies
Herbal extracts can improve hay fever and asthma symptoms by reducing the immune systems' allergic response and easing inflammation.
You could try a herb called butterbur petasin (Petasites hybridus), which acts as an anti-inflammatory, a muscle relaxant (anti-spasmodic), and pain reliever (analgesic).
A small study published in the British Medical Journal found that after two weeks the effects of butterbur, compared to the antihistamine cetirizine, in controlling hay fever symptoms were similar. There were also fewer side effects, such as drowsiness.
Homeopathic help
A Vogel Luffa Complex is a nasal spray that contains a blend of seven anti-allergy herbs, including galphimia glauca. There is some evidence that this particular ingredient can ease sneezing and itching of the nose, throat and eyes.
Containing minute traces of red onion, eyebright and sabadilla, Pollenna is a homeopathic remedy designed to relieve hay fever sufferers of sneezing, nasal irritation and a runny nose.
For best results take Pollenna when hay fever symptoms first appear. Suck or chew tablets at two hourly intervals, six times a day, then three times daily until symptoms subside.
'While there isn't any clinical evidence to show the effectiveness of these remedies, they can be effective in relieving and reducing symptoms,' says Dr Flemming.
The best thing to do is visit a registered homeopath or GP pr pharmacist with interest in homeopathy to discuss treatment options.
Infrared light
It may not be the most flattering way of tackling your hay fever, but by placing two probes that emit infrared light into your nostrils, you could help prevent and reduce hay fever symptoms.
Although scientific data behind the hand-held product Medinose is limited, a trial at Tel Aviv University revealed that 72 per cent of hay fever patients reported a reduction in symptoms and an improvement in their overall condition.
Reduce inflammation
' The infrared light consists of wavelengths that have been found to reduce inflammation and trigger healing of the nasal membranes,' explains Dr Flemming.
Membrane protector
Care allergy defence is a cellulose powder that when applied to the nasal passage forms a coating that traps allergens and prevents an allergic response.
Some clinical studies have found Nasaleze effective at reducing itching, irritation and a runny nose.
A study at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa revealed a 77 per cent success rate in the ability of Nasaleze to control hay fever, with 102 people taking part in the trial (66 female and 36 male).
'Apply this regularly during hay fever season to reduce and prevent symptoms,' says Dr Flemming, GP with an interest in allergies. 'Used in the long-run, this type of treatment may prevent your hay fever or allergies from getting worse.'
Applying a little Vaseline just inside the nose may also be useful for protecting the nasal membranes from pollen.
Nasal cleansing spray
Sterimar is nasal spray that contains pure and natural sea water. It can be used to cleanse and clear the nasal passages, removing pollen, dust and other airborne allergens from the nose and stopping them from causing irritation.
Sterimar is a medical device that can be prescribed on the NHS and is recommended by Allergy UK as one of the most effective ways of relieving hay fever symptoms.
You spray the product into the nostrils two to six times a day, or more if necessary, and allow the excess solution to drain away before blowing your nose.
Two strengths are available; Isotonic 'Nasal Hygiene', which has the same concentration of salt as the cells in your body, and Hypertonic 'Blocked Nose', which has a higher salt concentration and a stronger decongestant effect.
Sterimar can be used on its own, or in combination with hayfever medicines.
The air you breathe
You could try using an air purifier to remove pollen, dust and other potential allergens from the air at home or work.
Air purifiers contain carbon filters to absorb unpleasant odours, filters to remove large particles.
An air ionizer creates ions that remove microscopic particles from the air. By minimising the root cause of hay fever and other allergies, you may reduce your need for medication, although this isn't conclusive.
People who suffer from hay fever often find that their symptoms are worse in rooms that are humid.
In this case, try using a dehumidifier to reduce mould and mildew growth by reducing the moisture in the air.
Immunotherapy
This involves being given low doses of the pollen that causes your hay fever in order to desensitise the immune system to it.
Grasses, rye or tree (Alder, Birch or Hazel) pollen allergies can be treated with injections of Pollinex.
A pill form is also available for reducing the symptoms of hay fever caused by allergy to timothy grass pollen.
Grazax sublingual tablets contain an extract of this particular pollen and are taken once a day, starting at least four months before the pollen season for up to three years.
These prescribed treatments are aimed at people who don't respond to conventional medication.
They will only work for preventing hay fever caused by allergy to these specific pollens.
Your diet
Garlic
Garlic is great for boosting your immune system. A source of quercetin and B-group vitamins, garlic is also a natural antihistamine, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and decongestant, and can help reduce inflammation and excess catarrh.
Local honey
While evidence remains anecdotal, Dr Adrian Morris of the Surrey Allergy Clinic recommends taking a tablespoon of local honey every day to reduce hay fever symptoms, starting a few months before the pollen season.
‘Traces of local pollen in the honey may ‘desensitize’ the immune system so that it doesn’t react as strongly to airborne pollen,’ he says.
Most commercial honey is heat-treated and won’t be local, so is unlikely to have these benefits. Instead, look out for organic, local honey at farms.
Green tea
A cup of green tea contains catechins, which are powerful antioxidants that help maintain a healthy immune system and reduce inflammation. Aim to drink two or three cups a day, especially in the hay fever season.
Fruit and vegetables
By eating your five a day, you’re helping to stock up on allergy-fighting flavonoids as well as vitamin C, which acts as a natural antihistamine.
Aim to eat as much raw or lightly-cooked vegetables as you can.
Camomile tea
This herbal tea contains essential oils bisabolol and chamazulene, which can reduce inflammation and calm allergic reactions. The tea also has calming properties which may help reduce the anxiety that can be linked to hay fever symptoms.
What else can I do?
While there is still insufficient evidence for the effectiveness of the numerous complementary and alternative medicines that are available, there are some basic lifestyle changes that you can make to help minimise your hay fever symptoms.
Try the following:
- keep an eye on the pollen count and stay indoors as much as you can when it's high
- wear wrap-around sunglasses to stop pollen getting in your eyes
- keep car windows closed and switch on the air conditioning to prevent pollen entering the car
- keep bedroom doors and windows closed mid-morning and early evening when pollen levels peak
- avoid areas such as parks or fields, particularly in the early evening when there's a lot of pollen floating at nose level
- get someone else to mow the lawn and don't lie on freshly cut grass
- shower and wash your hair after being outdoors, especially if you’ve been in the countryside.
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