Safe and natural resolution of allergic conditions
Natural Allergy Therapy

Hayfever - Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

The hayfever season now starts as early as late February and for some it can last right through until Late October or even November.

Hayfever symptoms include: itchy eyes, sneezing, runny or blocked nose, tickly throat and can exacerbate asthma symptoms. For some the symptoms are mild but for many sufferers the symptoms are so bad that they seriously affect normal activities.

If you have a child with hayfever, clearing this allergen is key and may even help them improve their school performance. The pollen season always coincides with exams SATS/GCSEs/A-Levels and exams are stressful enough without feeling lousy or worse still sleepy because of the medication.

Allergy testing will identify the specific type of pollen that you or your child are sensitive to. This will be one or more of the following: grass, tree, plant, weed & Shrub or rape seed (which is prevalent in the South East and East Anglia.

Here are some self-help tips that may ease symptoms

The pollen count peaks mid-morning and early evening:

  • Check the daily pollen forecast for where you live at www.metoffice.gov.uk/health/public/pollen-forecast
  • Avoid being outside when the pollen count is at its peak, try to stay indoors with windows and doors closed, this can reduce pollen exposure by a factor of 10,000
  • Wear wraparound sun glasses when you do venture outside and smear a little Vaseline just inside the nostrils to trap pollens
  • Keep the car windows closed when driving and ideally choose a car with air conditioning and a pollen filter
  • Air bed linen in the early morning when the pollen count is lowest
  • Keep bedroom windows closed to prevent pollen blowing in
  • Use an ioniser in the bedroom
  • Take an annual holiday at the height of the pollen season in an area with less pollen e.g. by the sea
  • Try to avoid direct contact with pollens - do not pick flowers and do not have them in the house
  • Take 2000 mg of vitamin C daily
  • You can find natural homeopathic remedies for hayfever at Boots and Holland and Barratt that can help to alleviate the symptoms, or purchase the Homeopathic first aid remedy from me

Non-Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is caused when the body makes allergic antibodies to a substance that is inhaled and exposure causes the release of chemicals from cells in the nasal passages, eyes or airways. This results in inflammation and irritation to the lining of the eyes, nose and throat. The difference between this and hayfever is that symptoms are all year round.

If you suffer with allergic rhinitis you are likely to be allergic to one or more of the following:

  • Dust or house dust mite
  • Any type of pollen or moulds
  • Feathers or animal dander
  • Chemicals in the atmosphere
  • Certain foods that also irritate the lining of the airways

The most common allergen for Allergic rhinitis is house dust mite which can also be a trigger for asthma and eczema. Dust mites are minute creatures that live off human skin scales and thrive in humid environments. They are found in bedding, carpets, soft furnishings and clothing. It is often not the mite itself but proteins in their droppings that cause the allergy.

House dust mites are found in all rooms of the home however house dust mites also inhabit offices, schools, hotels and almost all indoor environments where there are people, soft furnishings and carpets. This makes it very hard to control exposure to the allergen.

Natural allergy testing will identify whether house dust mite is a problem for you, as well as picking up any other allergens that may be causing your symptoms. Desensitising your immune system to the identified allergens will allow your body to deal with them again normally.

Self-help tips for allergic rhinitis

Treat dampness in the house:

  • Try not to dry wet clothes indoors, use a tumble dryer or put them in one room that has the door shut and has a window open
  • Air bedrooms with the windows open in the early morning when the pollen count is lowest
  • Don't have the central heating on too high in bedrooms
  • Ventilate bathrooms well
  • Wipe windows and window sills every morning with a cloth to dry them. If you get mold on windows then use a microfiber cloth to remove the mold as soon as it appears
  • Tackle areas of damp and mould in the home as a priority
  • If necessary, invest in a dehumidifier to tackle damp
Dealing with dust:
  • Damp dust regularly and using a microfiber cloth that collects the dust immediately rather than knock it off surfaces back into the room
  • Vacuum carpets and soft furnishings regularly and vacuum mattresses every few weeks; invest in a hoover with a HEPA filter
Beds and bed linen:
  • Wash bed linen weekly or at least fortnightly at 60c
  • Try to buy washable curtains and wash every 6 months
  • Invest in anti-allergy bedding (mattress and pillow protectors)
  • Hoover mattresses fortnightly
  • Hoover under the bed once a week or at least fortnightly
  • Cuddly toys can be treated monthly by either washing in the washing machine or putting in the freezer for 12 hours. Some families even keep cuddly toys in a box and only let their children choose 1 each night to reduce their exposure to dust mites!
  • If furniture has to be moved make sure you hoover under the furniture and air the room
Carpets:
  • Hoover carpets daily in heavily used areas
  • Invest in a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner
  • Wash rugs regularly or avoid them altogether in bedrooms
  • You can use a steam cleaner to kill dust mites in carpets

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