Hay Fever homeopathic remedies, Hay Fever Cure, Pollen Alergy, Allergy Symptoms

Hay fever is the name given to pollen allergy. Other terms for hay fever include "seasonal allergic rhinitis" or "pollinosis." If you have hay fever, you are not alone. An estimated 26.1 million Americans have hay fever symptoms each year. 14.6 million Americans have asthma, which can often accompany hay fever.

Anyone can develop an allergy to a common substance, but those who do usually have inherited the tendency as a family trait. The sensitivity is developed after exposure to the substance. Hay fever is a good example of this process.

During the seasons when plants are pollinating, everyone in the surrounding area is exposed. People with allergic tendency may develop sensitivity to any one or more of the pollens, although certain pollens are more likely to cause an allergic reaction than others.

Pollens that are light enough to be wind-borne are what cause the problem for most hay-fever sufferers. Heavier pollens that are carried from plant to plant by bees and by other insects can also be allergens, but they cause trouble only when a person comes into direct contact with the plant. Airborne pollens can penetrate anywhere, indoors and out, and are most numerous at the height of the pollinating season for the particular plant.

Sneezing that is repeated and prolonged is the most common mark of the hay fever sufferer. A stuffy and watery nose is also a main sign of hay fever. Other symptoms include redness, swelling and itching of the eyes; itching of the nose, throat and mouth and itching of the ears, or other ear problems. Breathing difficulties at night due to obstruction of the nose may interfere with sleep.

These symptoms differ in degree according to the individual, ranging from mild to severe. When severe, they are very uncomfortable, make it difficult to carry out daily tasks, and may cause loss of time from work and school.

Health complications from repeated hay fever attacks, year after year, may be an even more serious problem. Chronic sinusitis -- inflammation of the sinus cavities -- is one of these problems. Another is nasal polyps, or growths. In addition, a significant percentage of people with hay fever have or develop asthma.

The Reason For Hay Fever

The "hay fever season" can be a different time of year for different people. In part, this is because trees, grasses, and weeds produce pollens during different seasons. For example, people in the eastern and Midwestern United States who are sensitive to tree pollen may suffer in the early spring when trees such as elm, maple, birch and poplar are producing pollen. People who are sensitive to pollens produced by grasses may suffer in the late spring, and early summer, the time when most grasses are pollinating. About half of all hay fever sufferers are sensitive to grass pollens.

Weeds flourish in most parts of the country from midsummer to late fall. In the late fall, ragweed is the most common problem. In fact, ragweed is the plant that causes the most hay fever. But an individual may react to one or more pollens in more than one of these groups, so the person's "season" may be from early spring to the first frost.

For that matter, people who are sensitive to dust, to dog or cat dander (tiny scales or particles that fall off hair, feathers, or skin) or to other some other airborne material that they cannot protect themselves from may suffer all year round.

Mold and fungus spores ("seeds"), also airborne during the summer and fall months, cause reactions in many people. Frequently found around hay, straw, and dead leaves, their growth is encouraged by humid weather and by places with poor air circulation--damp basements for instance.

Sensivity and How it Works

"Sensitivity" is the term used to describe the process by which you develop an allergy. Sensitivity is established when the tissues that form antibodies (lymphoid tissues) are stimulated to make specialized antibodies to otherwise harmless pollens, spores, etc. These antibodies fix to other specialized cells throughout the body that contain powerful defensive substances such as histamine. When the individual next is exposed to the pollen (as in the nose, for instance), the antibodies trigger the cells to secrete their defensive substances. This in turn causes the dilation of blood vessels, increased secretions of fluids, swelling of tissues, itching, sneezing, and other reactions that add up to hay fever.

The inflammation and other symptoms -- while real enough -- actually are not of the same destructive nature as those carried by more serious diseases. Removing the cause of the reaction results in immediate relief.

Avoiding the substance that causes a reaction is the best way to control hay fever. Moving to a different part of the country is sometimes suggested, but taking this drastic and expensive step may prove useless if the person has or develops sensitivity to a substance common in the new location.

Using air conditioning and air purifying devices may help cut down on suffering during the hay fever season, so that normal sleep and work are possible. Dust masks should be used during outdoor work if the work cannot be avoided.

Antihistamines - drugs that counteract the histamine released by the allergen-antibody reaction (see "Sensitivity And How It Works," above ) - usually serve to give relief from some symptoms. Decongestants may help, as well. However, they don't affect the underlying sensitivity. Each individual has to depend on his or her doctor to find out what drug or combination of drugs works best.

Over-the-counter nose sprays are usually of limited value and their prolonged use may actually cause symptoms or make them worse. Inhaled steroids are often effective and may be prescribed by a doctor. Specific desensitizing injections are a commonly used treatment.

1) Steep 1 teaspoon fenugreek seed in 1 cup water, covered, for 10 minutes. Drink 1 cup a day to help hay fever symptoms.

2) To relieve hay fever, mince the peels and white inner rinds of grapefruits and lemons (preferably organic) and simmer them with a small amount of water in a covered pot for about 10 minutes. Sweeten the mixture with honey, if you like, and eat one teaspoon three times a day.

3) regular intake of locally produced honey can help desensitize you to the pollens in their environment.

Allium cepa: Indications for this remedy include watery eyes and a clear nasal discharge that irritates the upper lip, along with sneezing and a tickling cough. The person usually is thirsty, and feels worse indoors and when rooms are warm, and better in fresh air.

Arsenicum album: A burning, watery, runny nose with a stuffy, tickling feeling during allergy attacks suggests a need for this remedy. Swelling below the eyes and a wheezy cough are common. The person may feel chilly, restless, anxious, and is often very tired.

Euphrasia: This remedy can be helpful if the eyes are swollen and irritated with acrid tears or pus. The nose also runs, but with a blander discharge. Symptoms are often worse in the daytime and worse from warmth, and the eyes may hurt from too much light. The person can also have a cough in the daytime, which improves at night.

Ferrum phosphoricum: This is a very useful remedy in the early stages of any inflammation. Taken when allergy symptoms start, it often slows or stops an episode. Symptoms include runny eyes with a burning or gritty feeling, facial flushing, watery nose, and short, hard, tickling cough.

Gelsemium: A tired, droopy feeling during allergies with a flushed and heavy-feeling face suggest a need for this remedy. A sensation of dryness or of swollen membranes may be felt inside the nose—or the nose may run with irritating watery discharge, with the person sneezing frequently. Aching in the back of the head and neck, a trembling feeling, and chills along the spine are often seen when a person needs Gelsemium.

Natrum muriaticum: Allergy attacks with sneezing, watery eyes, clear nasal discharge that resembles egg white, and a loss of taste and smell will all suggest a need for this remedy. The person may have dark circles under the eyes, be thirsty, feel withdrawn and sad, and act irritable if comforted.

Nux vomica: If the nose is alternately stuffed up (especially outdoors or at night) and running (indoors and in the daytime), this remedy may bring relief. Other symptoms include a teasing cough, a scraped or tickly feeling in the throat, and headache. A person who needs this remedy often feels impatient, irritable, and chilly.

Sabadilla: Long paroxysms of sneezing, itching in the nose with irritating runny discharge, a feeling of a lump in the throat, and watery eyes will all suggest a need for this remedy. The person may feel nervous during allergy attacks, and trying to concentrate can bring on drowsiness or headache.

Wyethia: Intolerable itching felt on the roof of the mouth and behind the nose—sometimes extending into the throat and ears—strongly suggests the use of this remedy. Everything in the person’s head feels dry and irritated, but the nose may still be runny.

Hay fever symptoms, information and hay fever treatment with homeopathic remedies

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