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For some people, spring signals a change in seasons heading towards sunshine and the blooming of flowers. For others, however, spring is dictated by runny eyes, coughing fits, and fatigue. As the pollen count rises, many people find their hayfever symptoms rise accordingly. Many of the worst symptoms of hay fever are caused by histamine levels rocketing as your body reacts to pollen. It can be really helpful to monitor pollen counts so you can plan accordingly and divert symptoms before they take over. Conveniently, the Met Office provide pollen count levels on their website or there are even handy apps you can install on your phone to inform you of pollen levels in your area. When dealing with hayfever symptoms, planning is important. Ideally, you want to be taking preventative actions before you're showing symptoms. Take a scroll through the rest of this post where we've outlined some of the most useful advice we've found.
SUPPLEMENTS
VITAMIN C
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, ideal for helping reduce allergy symptoms. Vitamin C is water-soluble (meaning your body will essentially flush out any it hasn't used within a few hours) so it's best to take small doses regularly throughout the day. You can also increase your intake of fresh fruit, peppers, tomatoes, and green, leafy vegetables which are all rich sources of vitamin C.
NETTLES
Nettles are surprisingly effective at reducing histamine-type reactions - drink nettle tea or try a Fresh Herbal Tincture For added benefits, you can add grated ginger to your chosen nettle remedy. Ginger can be used as an antihistamine and decongestant, helping to widen constricted bronchial tubes. Another added benefit of ginger is in easing scratchy throats. If this is a hayfever symptom you experience, try adding some local honey to ginger tea to help ease and soothe your throat.
QUERCETIN
Quercetin is thought to have a significant antihistamine action. Research suggests this is because quercetin can stabilise the mast cell membranes which are responsible for the release of histamine. By directly impacting these cells, quercetin can have a noticeable effect on hayfever symptoms. Oftentimes, Quercetin supplements are formulated with vitamin C. These two remedies work particularly well together for hay fever. We often recommend Solgar Quercetin with Ester C but for those with more severe symptoms, we sometimes suggest taking extra Vitamin C to keep levels of this important vitamin stable throughout the day.
LUFFA
This herbal remedy is a really useful option for tackling hayfever symptoms that tend to manifest around the eyes and nose, such as itchy eyes or runny noses. It tends to work quickly in dealing with blocked and runny noses, as well as watery eyes and tickly throats. Taken either as a herbal tincture or tablet, Luffa is a good option for those who wear contact lenses and can't use eye drops.
DIETARY & LIFESTYLE
CALM DOWN WITH THE CAFFEINE
Unfortunately, for the caffeine lovers amongst us, caffeine has been shown to trigger the release of histamine. Histamine is the protein that triggers the symptoms experienced by hayfever sufferers - therefore it is important to avoid those things known to release histamine from your body's cells. So try to minimise your caffeine intake, especially when pollen counts are high. Don't fret too much though! We have some excellent caffeine-free coffee substitutes including the very popular Bambu by A. Vogel.
Alcohol is also believed to trigger histamine release, worsening symptoms for some people. It might be worth monitoring your own symptoms and cutting back on alcohol consumption if it seems to make yours worse.
DAIRY & SUGAR
Avoid, or cut back on, dairy products because they tend to cause mucus formation that can further exacerbate hayfever symptoms. Another culprit to keep an eye on is refined sugar. Refined sugar is thought to trigger a sharp spike in blood sugar levels, causing them to rise and drop sharply. This triggers a surge in adrenaline which then activates histamine. We have found that more often than not, hayfever sufferers tend to be particularly sensitive to this effect of refined sugar.
WATER
Drinking water regularly, throughout the day, helps to rinse any allergens that may be lurking worsening your symptoms. Ensuring your vocal cords are well-lubricated, further helps soothe an itchy sore throat and can help lessen hayfever-associated coughing. If plain water isn't really your thing, you can try adding different fruits or herbs to jazz it up to your personal taste. Water really does not have to be boring! Try experimenting and see what you like. Popular additions include lemon, cucumber, apple slices, or mint sprigs.
This article is meant for information purposes and does not substitute medical advice.
It is advisable to check with your G.P before taking supplements - particularly if you are already taking medication or have a pre-existing condition.