Hay Fever Home Remedies - How to Get Rid of Hay Fever

Hay fever is the name given to pollen allergy. Hay fever" is a misnomer. Hay is not a usual cause of this problem and it does not cause fever. Hay fever, also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis. It is characterised by sneezing, runny nose and itching eyes. It is a very common condition that affects 20% of people in the UK. It is caused by an allergy to airborne substances. Hay fever usually occurs during the spring and summer months. Exactly when you get it depends on which pollens you are allergic to. From May to July grass and flowers are in pollen, making these the most common cause of hay fever. During spring, from March to May, pollens from trees are the most common cause of hay fever. Some people do get hay fever into the autumn months. However this is rare and is usually caused by weeds such as nettles and docks, late flowering plants, and mould spores. Hay fever symptoms can be similar to a cold, and include a runny nose, watery eyes and repeated sneezing attacks. As with all allergies, the symptoms happen as a result of your immune system (the body's defence system) overreacting to a normally harmless substance - in this case, pollen. When the body comes into contact with pollen, cells in the lining of your nose, mouth and eyes release a chemical called histamine that triggers the symptoms of an allergic reaction. Less common symptoms are loss of smell, face pain, sweats, and headache. Asthma symptoms such as wheeze and breathlessness may get worse if you already have asthma. Some people have asthma symptoms only during the hay fever season.

Hay fever is found equally in both men and women. Hay fever symptoms are likely to be worse if the pollen count is high. The pollen count is the number of pollen grains found in each cubic metre of air. This is not determined simply by how many flowers there are, but also by the weather. The amount of sunshine, rain or wind there is affects how much pollen plants release. Hay fever symptoms tend to begin when the pollen count is over 50. Commonly, allergic rhinitis is a result of an allergic person coming in contact several times with protein from plants. Many trees, grasses, and weeds produce extremely small, light, dry protein particles called pollen. This pollen is spread by the wind. These pollen particles are usually the male cells of the plant and are smaller than the tip of a pin or less than 40 microns in diameter. Even though pollen is usually invisible in the air, pollen is a potent stimulator of allergy. Pollen lodges in the nasal lining tissues (mucus membranes) and other parts of the respiratory tract where it does harm to an allergic person. Some disorders may be associated with allergies. These include eczema and asthma , among others. The development of allergic disease relates to a complex interplay of genetic and environmental differences. Using air conditioning and air purifying devices may help cut down on suffering during the hay fever season, so that normal sleep and work are possible. Avoiding the substance that causes a reaction is the best way to control hay fever.

Home Remedies for Hay Fever

• Some honey to boiled minced grapefruit and lemon. Have this solution three times a day.
• Boil minced grapefruit and lemon rind in a little water for 10 minutes. Add some honey and take three spoonfuls a day
• The herb butterbur ( Petasites hybridus ) has shown promise in trials in controlling hay fever with the added benefit of not having the side effects of standard antihistamines such as drowsiness and fatigue.
• After the morning and evening meals, take one pantothenic acid tablet (50 milligrams [mg]) and one vitamin C tablet (500 mg) along with a bioflavonoid-a grapefruit, orange, a few strawberries, grapes or prunes.
• Try Chia seeds - these are not just for Chia pets. They are often sold in natural food stores. Take them by the tablespoon and wash them down with a cup of water.They act like a decongestant. They have pleasant nutty flavor.
• Vitamin C is a great for healing and is anti-inflammatory. Try taking 3,000 to 10,000 mg daily.
• Local honey. Put it on your cereal, in your tea, and in your recipes. Honey from your area will have a combination of pollens unique to your region. Eating this year round can help get your body used to them and may help you be less allergic.
• Use eucalyptus oil in a steam bath to help clear nasal passages.
• Spicy foods like cayenne and horseradish can help clear nasal passages.
• Magnesium can help with hay fever attacks. Try taking about 180 mg (three bananas worth). Just eating foods rich in magnesium like almonds, soy beans, brown rice and kidney beans can be helpful.
• Bioflavanoids are plant compounds that have shown anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activity. Along with Vitamin C, these supplements can help prevent the formation of histamine - the chemical that causes the common reactions of streaming, itchy eyes and runny nose. Foods rich in the bioflavanoid quercitin include onions, garlic, green tea, red wine and dark chocolate (70%+ cocoa solids). Vitamin C is found in broccoli, green peppers, citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, cabbage and cauliflower.