Do you anticipate the arrival of spring with mixed feelings because you suffer from hay fever? According to NHS England up to 20% of the population suffers from this condition each year, which ranges from being a mild nuisance to making your life a misery. Conventional treatment with anti-histamines can cause drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth and sometimes moodiness or confusion.
There are various natural alternatives which can help reduce symptoms without any unwelcome side effects. One popular natural treatment is to take a teaspoon of local honey each day leading up to and throughout hay fever season. This is said to desensitise you to local pollens and to help alleviate symptoms. Various plants have been shown to have anti-histamine properties, including root ginger, elderflower and chamomile, whilst others can boost your immune system, for example raw garlic, turmeric and echinacea. A useful preventative measure is to put vaseline around your nostrils when going outside as this reduces the amount of pollen inhaled.
Another natural alternative which can be very effective is Homeopathy, a system of medicine that has been around for over 200 years and is used by millions of people worldwide. It can offer not only relief of symptoms but can reduce the severity of symptoms year on year, leading to a progressive cure (for research evidence see www.britishhomeopathic.org) Homeopathy is a holistic and individualised form of medicine which means there are many different homeopathic hay fever remedies depending on your particular symptoms, for example burning, itching or watering eyes; a bunged up, itchy or constantly runny nose; a sore or tickly throat; a headache from congested sinuses or flu-like fatigue. Each combination of symptoms will require a different remedy.
It is possible to buy over-the-counter homeopathic remedies but treatment is more likely to be successful if you visit a homeopath who will match a remedy to your particular symptoms, and can also address the underlying imbalance in your system which makes you susceptible to hay fever. This may be hereditary, or if you have developed hay fever as an adult, due to stresses in your lifestyle. Homeopathy is gentle and has no side effects as it works by stimulating the body’s own self-healing potential.
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