hay fever

It’s that time of year again, dreaded by nearly a fifth of the UK population who suffer from hay fever.

Many over-the-counter drugs work by suppressing symptoms, bringing short-term relief. However, they do not reduce underlying susceptibility and may produce side effects such as drowsiness or in the case of corticosteroids they can suppress the immune system. Alternatively, there are more natural approaches to the problem of hay fever.

The homeopathic view of hay fever is that it is a sign of an imbalance in the immune system. Ideally this should be treated ‘constitutionally’, which means a full homeopathic treatment is given which will tackle an underlying predisposition to hay fever by boosting the immune system and strengthening the body as a whole so reducing sensitivity to environmental factors like pollen. This approach usually reduces severity of hay fever during the first year, with significant results and very often elimination of this allergic reaction in the second or third season.

A visit to a homeopath is needed for a constitutional treatment, but you can alleviate your symptoms this hay fever season with a bit of self-help. See if your symptoms fit any of the following commonly used hay fever remedy pictures.

Allium Cepa- nose dripping like a tap, discharge feels burning and can lead to very sore nose or upper lip. Eyes watering, and are worse for light. Lots of sneezing and nose feels blocked. Throat hoarse and feels as if there are hooks in it. Worse late afternoon or evening, and late summer. Also worse for warm food/drink. Better out of doors. Symptoms often begin on left side and go to right.

Euphrasia-Eyes inflamed, swollen, extreme irritation with burning and itching. Wakes with crusty eyelids. Intense sneezing and coughing up phlegm with tickly cough and retching on waking. Worse morning and worse indoors.

Sabadilla- Violent sneezing, nose dripping with very watery discharge and nostrils stuffed up. Nose constantly itching and sometimes bleeding. Redness, swelling and watering of eyes. Frontal headache. Symptoms worse in open air, and better for heat and warm drinks.

Gelsemium- Non-stop sneezing, worse morning. Discharge as if hot water passes through nose. Eyes heavy, puffy and watering. Feeling of heaviness, apathetic, listless, dizzy and shaky. Feels worse if overheated or in humid weather.

If one of the latter descriptions matches your symptoms then you could get the remedy in 6c and take it as often as necessary for up to 10 doses.

There are many homeopathic remedies, and if the right one for your symptoms is found it can greatly help to alleviate your symptoms without side effects. However, this type of ‘acute’ treatment is unlikely to cure the hay fever problem long term, so sometime before the next hay fever season it would be beneficial to have a ‘constitutional’ treatment to try to eliminate the problem in the future.

Cathy Morris-Adams is a registered homeopath working in Wells and Castle Cary. She can be contacted on 01749 899 228.