Homeopathy for hayfever
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen (the allergen) which can ruin the seasonal pleasure of spring and summer for severe sufferers, causing distressing and debilitating symptoms, or may be just a mild irritation for others.
It can begin in early spring ( Feb, March, April, May) in reaction to the tree pollens. Beautiful blossoming ornamental and fruit trees, catkins and less obvious tree pollen from birch and pine trees are typical culprits. The pollen is blown around by the seasonal wind and gets widely scattered, including into our noses and eyes. About one in five of us will react with a significant allergic reaction.
Later, in the summer months (May, June, July, August ) the grasses pollinate and are stirred up into an aerosol by lawn-mowing and hay-making on farms. Garden and wild flower pollens may be blown into houses through open doors and windows, and by vases of flowers placed indoors.
It is no wonder that hayfever sufferers welcome the rainy days which help to settle the pollen and reduce the aerosol of the hot, sunny, breezy days ! Summer sports, holidays and exams can be annoyingly and significantly compromised. The sheer misery of incessantly sneezing and rubbing itchy eyes can be very debilitating, with loss of concentration, stuffy headaches. The effect on quality of life can be marked and depressing.
Hayfever symptoms are caused by a reaction of the body to the stimulus of pollen settling onto the linings of the nose, throat and eyes. The body reacts to this ‘invading foreigner’ by naturally producing defensive fluid ( tears) and mucus (runny nose and phlegm) and a cough to wash away and expel the allergen. This ‘allergic’ immune reaction is mediated mainly by histamine released by mast cells and can become quite exaggerated in some people, producing a lot of inflammation, whilst imperceptible to others.
Standard conventional treatment is therefore to use anti-histamines in the form of pills, nose and eye drops and sprays. Stronger immune suppressants such as steroids may be needed in more severe cases (prescribed by a doctor) and inhalers may be needed if wheezing and breathing difficulties occur *.
General avoidance advice
Most hayfever sufferers are well aware of barrier/protective measures, but they may not be so easy or practical to implement :-
1)Stay indoors when the pollen count is predicted to be high ( see Met Office weather reports)
2) Try to keep appropriate windows and outer doors closed.
3)Wear wraparound sunglasses
4) Wear a face mask , remove it carefully to prevent contamination of hands and face. Wash or replace it after every use .
5) Try cold (or hot) wet flannel/cotton wool pad applications to sore eyes for comfort , and try to relax and not rub the eyes, which can make the inflammation worse.
6)Shower and shampoo ( and wash outer layer clothes) to remove pollen after a day outdoors. Dry clothes indoors - not on the washing line outside!
7)Consider outdoor leisure outings to the coast/seaside if possible , or indoor venues such as museums or galleries , rather than to the outdoor countryside where pollinating trees, flowers, fields and grasses are hard to avoid. Keep car windows closed and A/C filter on.
8) Do not bring flowers into the house!
General Treatment for Hayfever
Many types of pills, drops and sprays are available over-the-counter, and a good Pharmacist will help recommend appropriate ones for you to try.
Although there are generally less sedative side effects from anti-histamines nowadays than in the past, Some people have a tendency to get a ‘rebound’ runny nose when they stop using the nose drops and sprays after a while.
Many people prefer to use other non-medicinal remedies available these days, either alongside or instead of anti-histamines.
It is a matter of trying various options and combinations, and seeing what works for you. Homeopathy offers an alternative, or complementary, treatment with a choice of many remedies that might help, or may at least help reduce the frequency and intensity of the symptoms and reduce the need for regular medication.
Choosing and matching the appropriate homeopathic remedy for the specific and individual characteristics of the person and their symptoms is the challenge, to get the optimum effect, and this may require the help of a qualified homeopath.
Homeopathic Remedies for Homeopathy
Some commonly used remedies can be purchased in high street chemists, or be obtained from Homeopathic Pharmacies by telephone or online (eg Ainsworths, Helios, Nelsons and others), who can also offer brief telephone advice.
Self-selected remedies may help if you can match the characteristics of the remedy to the specific symptoms , but there is a lot of choice and cross-over, with the various modalities and particular characteristics of each remedy. But even a partial response may be of benefit. An additional more comprehensive and ‘constitutional prescription’ may be needed which assesses the characteristics of the whole person aswell as the particular hayfever symptoms. Isopathic remedies may help aswell, made from specific pollens. This is best done by consulting with a qualified homeopath , preferably before the specific pollen season starts so that a plan of treatment can be made.
Some commonly used homeopathic remedies and brief details.
Allium cepa (red onion).
Eyes - itch and water, but do not ‘burn’. Nose - runny with a clear acrid stinging discharge that makes the nostrils sore and irritates the upper lip. Bouts of sneezing. Tickly hacking cough. Feels thirsty; is worse in the evening and in a warm room; better in a cold room, and open air.
Ambrosia (rag weed)
Eyes - profuse tears, burning of the eyes and intolerably itchy eyelids with swelling. Nose runny but also feels stuffed up. Chest can be wheezy.
Apis ( bee)
Eyes - conjunctival swelling around the eyes, puffy, red and stinging. Better from cold applications to the eyes. Dislikes heat. ’Hot and bothered’. Busy and active, likes exercise. Better in cold air.
Ars Alb (white arsenic)
Eyes watery and burning (better for warm rather than cold applications). Nose - watery burning discharge. Irritation in nose and obstructed feeling. Violent sneezing. Generally chilly and very restless, better for warmth.
Arundo (reed)
Itchy everywhere! Burning and itchy ears and eyes. Itchy throat and roof of mouth(palate).
Euphrasia (eye-bright)
Eyes - severely affected with profuse watery acrid tears, burning and swollen eyelids. Eyes may hurt from too much bright light. Nose - runny with bland discharge (not burning) and sneezing. Cough - worse daytime, better at night. Worse for warmth. Euphrasia can also be prepared for eyedrops or diluted as an eyewash to bathe and soothe the eyes.
Galphinimia glauca
Spasmodic sneezing
Nux Vomica
Spasmodic sneezing and runny nose. Worse in the early morning on waking. Nose runny in the morning, runny in open air, blocked up at night. Chilly, may be irritable and headachey.
Sabadilla
Eyes and eyelids red and burning. Nose - itchy and tingling. Thin copious nasal discharge which can be acrid. Tremendous sneezing in long spasms of 10 or more at a time! Worse for perfumes and odours. Sensation of something in the throat , needs to keep swallowing. Shivery , sensitive to cold air, cold room. Wants to wrap up warm. Craves warm drinks.
Wyethia
Intolerable itching of palate, back of the nose, extending to the throat and ears. Dry wheezy cough.
What dose?
Generally the ‘low potencies’ are used for this condition eg 6c and 30c. The remedy is usually taken 1-3 times daily but can be taken more frequently in the acute situation for strong symptoms ( eg 3-4 times in the first hour) and then reduced and stopped when the response is felt and symptoms settle. If there is no response to the remedy after several doses, it is probably not the best match and consider selecting another remedy. For further information seek advice from a Homeopath or Homeopathic Pharmacy.
*N.B. If hayfever or allergy symptoms become severe, particularly if wheezing worsens, a tight chest and/or breathing difficulties develop, you must seek urgent medical attention.