BY CLAIR WHITTY
For many people, summer means sunshine, longer days and spending more time outdoors. But for hay fever sufferers, it can be weeks or even months of sneezing, itchy eyes, blocked noses and feeling downright miserable. If antihistamines haven’t given you the relief you were hoping for, perhaps it’s time to consider a more natural approach.
Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to pollen from grasses, trees, weeds and flowers. When pollen comes into contact with the lining of the nose and eyes, the immune system mistakes it for a harmful substance and releases histamine and other inflammatory chemicals. This causes symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy, watery eyes, headaches and irritation of the mouth and throat. While many people only suffer during the summer, others can experience symptoms from early spring right through to autumn, depending on the type of pollen they are sensitive to.
Natural remedies include Irish Botanica All Seasons Complex, formulated by Medical Herbalist David Foley. The carefully selected herbs are designed to support the immune system, help calm inflammation and reduce the body’s histamine response, making it an excellent choice for those struggling with hay fever, sinus congestion and seasonal allergies.
Other remedies include Vitamin C, a natural antihistamine, or A.Vogel Pollinosan Hayfever Tablets, a combination remedy. For symptomatic relief there’s Pollinosan Luffa Nasal Spray for the nose or Pollinosan Spray for Hayfever to relieve itchy eyes.
Simple lifestyle measures can also make a noticeable difference. Keep windows closed where possible. Changing your clothes and showering after being outside can help remove pollen from your hair and skin. Apply a natural nasal barrier balm like HayMax around the nostrils helps trap pollen before it enters the nasal passages.
Eat a colourful diet rich in fruit and vegetables, drink plenty of water and enjoy herbal teas such as nettle, elderflower or rosehip. Some people also find that eating local honey helps them cope better during the pollen season.
If hay fever is stopping you from enjoying the summer, don’t suffer in silence. Call into for a chat so that we can help recommend the natural remedy that best suits your symptoms. With the right support, you can breathe more easily and make the most of everything summer has to offer.
Check us out in store or online at www.naturalhealthstore.ie
Natural Health Store, Market Cross Shopping Centre
Phone: 056 7764538
Email: info@naturalhealthstore.ie
