8 Natural Ways To Nip Hay Fever In The Bud
The sniffly season is upon us! Even during spring and early summer, pollen counts are high and itchy eyes, sneezing and stuffy noses are becoming quite a problem for people of all ages. Skin rashes, feeling hot at night and difficulty sleeping are other common symptoms due to seasonal allergies. People in a high histamine state can feel tired, dizzy and even a little brain foggy and irritable.
If hay fever or seasonal allergies are problematic for you or your loved ones, then here are my handy tips to help you nip your allergies in the bud. I hope these really help you so that you can get out and about more in the summer without needing to take a box of tissues with you. All of these things can be taken alongside prescription and over the counter antihistamines.
Get our lovely Healthy Bites newsletter each week!
Each week, you’ll get an amazing recipe, a useful health tip, and an ingredient to jazz up your shopping basket! We don’t share your details with anyone else.
Quercetin
Quercetin is one of nature’s most powerful antihistamines, and it is contained in low levels in many fruits and vegetables, ranging from broccoli to apples to red peppers and pea shoots. But it is most concentrated in onion and garlic, especially in the outer skins of onions. However to avoid pungent breathe from eating garlic and onions, food supplements using quercetin are very popular instead. Pineapple is also rich ion bromelain which is one of nature’s anti-inflammatories.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the simplest ways to support histamine intolerance. You can boost up your dietary vitamin C with berries, citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli and kale. You may also need to take an additional vitamin C supplement during the sniffly season.
Beta Glucans
Beta glucans are special dietary fibre that also have immune modulating properties. Beta-glucans are found in oats, rye grass, barley, some mushrooms (such as reishi, shiitake and maitake) as well as in yeast. There are various studies showing that seasonal allergic symptoms can be relieved by beta-glucan supplementation. This is why we recommend boosting up your diet with beta-glucan rich foods and a supplement rich in beta glucans during the hay fever season.
Nettle
Stinging nettles in the form of nettle tea or nettle soup can be a helping hand over the summer to help with your stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, headaches and coughing. Nettle works by reducing inflammation in the body, a common problem with food and environmental allergies. Nettle makes a delicious herbal tea. Try my mango and nettle ice lollies.
Tulsi
Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil has many far reaching therapeutic applications including faster wound healing and is one of nature’s antioxidants. Holy Basil prevents mast cell degranulation, helping treat allergic disorders and is known as one of the best respiratory system rejuvenators. Tulsi Tea is delicious and can be drunk throughout the allergy season.
Nasal protection
One of the reasons why allergens are so irritating is that pollen gets stuck in the nasal passage causing, sneezing, stuffiness and itchiness. Blocking the pollen from affecting the nasal passage is easy using natural pollen barriers. You can take this one step further by flushing out the nasal passages with saline solution using a small neti-pot which can be purchased very cheaply online.
Shower and wash more frequently
Pollen can accumulate on clothing and skin, leading to irritation for people who suffer from hay fever. By increasing the frequency of showers and laundering clothes, you can minimise the discomfort caused by pollen exposure.
When you shower, make sure to thoroughly wash your hair, as pollen can easily get trapped in it. Using a gentle and natural body wash can help remove pollen from the skin without causing further irritation. Additionally, it’s a good idea to shower before bed to ensure you don’t transfer pollen to your bedding, which could exacerbate symptoms during the night.
Washing clothes that have been exposed to pollen is essential in reducing the risk of continued irritation. It’s best to wash them as soon as possible after wearing them outdoors, using a detergent suitable for sensitive skin. This will help to remove any residual pollen and reduce the likelihood of it causing further discomfort.
Also, consider keeping your outdoor and indoor clothes separate, as this can prevent the spread of pollen inside your home. Regularly cleaning your living spaces, including vacuuming floors and wiping down surfaces, can also help to minimise pollen build up.
Wear shades and a hat
Wearing sunglasses can be an effective strategy to prevent pollen from entering your eyes, which is particularly helpful if you’re prone to itchy eyes due to hay fever. By shielding your eyes, you can reduce irritation and the urge to rub them, which can exacerbate symptoms.
In addition to wearing sunglasses, you may also consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat to provide further protection against pollen exposure. A hat can help to keep pollen from landing on your hair and face, reducing the risk of it reaching your eyes.
I hope that you find these summer health tips useful and that it makes a big difference to how your immune system responds to environmental allergens. Please comment below with your feedback!
Thank you for the advise I suffer terribly with hay fever whilst in the UK so will keep these ideas in mind
Thanks for your lovely comment Moira. I guess this is never a problem in the Himalayas! x
Love Aller-C. Find it really makes a difference to my seasonal allergies.
Hi Lucinda
is it okay for children to take these tablets? We have some very itchy eyes in our house at the moment and the prescription eye drops, nasal spray and anti-histamines aren’t doing much to help!
Thank you x
Yes absolutely – they are safe to take from 12 months upwards and you can open up the capsules and sprinkle the contents into a small amount of fruit puree.
Thank you so much for all this information, it’s super helpful. Is it ok to give the ‘three tulsi tea’ to a 7 year old?
Yes it is! Young children can drink tulsi – add a teaspoon of honey and ensure it has cooled down a bit.