While hay fever may seem to be about surface symptoms only, it is really a deep-seated complaint. Commonly prescribed sprays and tablets that suppress hay fever symptoms may bring temporary relief but they never get to the root of the problem. They are also associated with many side effects and are the least helpful option for long-term improvement. The majority of hayfever symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, blocked nose etc. are caused by the histamine levels in your body soaring in reacting to the pollens from flowers, grasses, shrubs or trees of the season. Taking some natural products with their own antihistamine action can help to provide relief:
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, so small doses throughout the day and increasing your consumption of fresh fruits and veg, especially tomatoes, peppers and green leaves may be helpful.
Nettles are surprisingly great for relieving histamine reactions. Either drink some tea made by infusing a few fresh leaves or take the tincture in herbal form, or you can use some fresh, young leaves in pesto instead of basil. Pick them with rubber gloves of course!)
Ginger in fresh root form is also a decongestant as it widens constricted bronchial tubes and is also an antihistamine and Vitamin A helps to keep your mucous membranes healthy. Eat plenty of carrots, tomatoes, dried apricots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, spinach and watercress. Keeping alcohol and caffeine intake low as well as refined sugar may help, as they will trigger histamine production.
HOWEVER: Homeopathic remedies are traditionally used to repair any damage which our body has the potential to mend. Thus, many common ailments can often be treated safely and effectively at home because various remedies have affinities for particular tissues. Indications come historically from several homeopathic Materia Medica and the traditional principles of homeopathy.
Treating yourself with homoeopathy during an ACUTE phase of hay fever is easy as long as you know which remedy that matches your symptoms. Relief is usually rapid and all remedies are safe for use with babies through to the elderly when given according to instructions.
Look through the remedies listed below to see which one matches your symptoms. If there is no improvement by 3-4 doses, just reassess your symptoms and choose a different remedy that matches your symptoms more closely.:
ALLIUM CEPA for profuse and burning nasal discharge with non-burning tears and red eyes, sneezing and itching nose. Symptoms worse indoors and better in open air.
ARSENICUM to relieve burning tears and nasal discharge which are worse late at night/early hours of the morning. Person is likely to be restless, anxious and chilly with their symptoms.
EUPHRASIA - Opposite symptoms to Allium Cepa: profuse, burning tears from the eyes with a bland nasal discharge. Eyes and cheeks are reddened, worse in open air. Nasal symptoms are worse at night.
KALI-BIC - Thick, gluey and stringy nasal discharge, often with pain at root of the nose that is better for applying pressure there and sneezing. Symptoms are worse in the open or cold air.
MIXED POLLENS & GRASSES for persistent but non-specific hayfever symptoms.
NAT-MUR - Recurrent hayfever attacks every year with profuse, clear watery nasal discharge and frequent sneezing. Symptoms are worse in the mornings and are often accompanied by dry, cracked lips or a cold sore.
NUX-VOM - Irritation of nose, eyes, face and throat with prolonged bouts of sneezing.
For deeper, longer-lasting relief & in severe cases, always consult your qualified homeopath. Your own, individual constitutional remedy will put you and your health back on track – permanently. Remedies can either be obtained from your local independent health shop or by post from Homeopathic Pharmacies such as Helios (www.helios.co.uk tel: 01892 5372540), AInsworths (www.ainsworths.com tel: 01883 340332) or Nelsons (www,nelsons.com tel: +44 20 70791288).
Hints for a Good Night's Sleep
Sleep or a lack of quality rest are areas of heath that can affect the rest of the body. Sleep deficiency is associated with heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure, so making sure that the quantity and quality of your sleep time are right is important for your general health and wellbeing.
Sleep hygiene is vital ~ ideally sleep in a dark room, without any electronic devices, including & especially your mobile phone ! No blue light interference can make all the difference to your sleep quality and rest. Put your phone/tablet in anither room if possible, and well away from your head at bedtime, Reserve your bed for rest!!
But for those who still struggle, there are supplements which can also help. The minerals zinc and magnesium are both required to convert tryptophan to serotonin and then to melatonin, which controls circadian rhythm (body clock). Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland in the 'third eye' area of the brain and is guided by the action of the lack of light upon it, making it even more helpful for you to sleep in a room that is as dark as possible.
Sour cherry is a good natural source of melatonin and may help reduce time taken to fall asleep and improve sleep quality. Vitamin B6 also affects serotonin as well as increasing GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter needed to facilitate dropping off. Herbal supplements such as 5HTP to improve serotonin; adaptogens (to reduce stress) and chamomile, which mimics the sedating effects of some medications are also helpful for those struggling with lack of sleep.
As with all supplements however, making sure you purchase a reputable brand will ensure that you get the most effective form of nutrient you need, so please ask your homeopath or local independent health store for recommendations.
The Vaccination Issue
Before considering whether you or your family should have a seasonal ‘flu or any 'booster' jab, or indeed any 'of the recommended' vaccines doiung the rounds, remember there are other much SAFER & NATURAL (and certainly painless!) options to prevent you from getting ill:
1) You can take a homeopathic 'flu prophylactic;
2) You can use homeopathic remedies to help your overall constitution and/or herbal remedies and supplements to boost your immune system, especailly Vit D3 and D3 with Vit K2.
3) Make sure your diet contains plenty of Vitamin C, Zinc and Omega 3 and 6;
4) Get as much sunlight as possible. In winter months its is advisable to supplement with s good brand of Vitamin D3;
5) If you do decide to go ahead with a vaccine, then its advisable to consult a qualified homeopath who will be able to prescribe remedies to counteract any side effects.
All vaccinations contain potentially toxic chemicals like aluminium, mercury and formaldehyde, amongst other substances such as animal by-products, as well as the live disease microbe or virus. These often skew our immune systems so there is no guarantee that you won’t get the disease that you’re trying to avoid in the first place, and the risk of an adverse reaction to the jab itself is increased. There are various websites which detail the (quite startling) ingredients of various vaccines that are well worth checking out. Travel vaccinations are (mostly) only recommended and NOT compulsorary, so do think twice about these too.
It is important that you make a well-INFORMED choice for yourself about having ANY vaccination and don’t feel bamboozled or pressurised into having this potentially damaging cocktail of chemicals needlessly introduced into your system. Remember that the seasonal flu jab contains the previous year’s strain of flu as its active ingredient, and so will NOT offer any protection whatsoever against the current year’s mutated version of the virus. Over-use of the flu vaccine and other anti-flu drugs applies genetic pressure on flu viruses themselves so that they are more likely to mutate into a more resistant strain.
You are frankly, better off without travel vaccinations. If you are concerned, consult your homeopath for advice. Vaccines and prescription medicines are huge business for the major pharmaceutical companies who are quite shameless in their tactics to boost 'big pharma' sales.
