Do the summer months mean fun in the sun or sneezing, a scratchy throat, red, watery, itchy eyes and a blocked-up nose……?

Hay fever can make the most care free summers days miserable. It’s caused by an allergic reaction to pollen or other airborne substances.

In hay fever sufferers the immune system has become over sensitised making it react to the pollen, causing histamine to be released into the body.

Its not just pollen that can cause the symptoms associated with hay fever, otherwise known as allergic rhinitis, mould spores, dust mites, pet hair/dander can too. Pollen is released though out the summer months:

Tree pollen:        late march-mid may

Grass pollen:      mid May-July

Weed pollen:      late June-September

You may have heard that a spoon of local honey a day can help to desensitise your immune systems reaction to hay fever, but I’ve put together few natural tips that you can try at home to help you combat hay fever and have your most fabulous summer ever:

 

• Did you know that the bunged-up sensation associated with hay fever is caused by inflammation of the mucus membranes in the nose? The essential fatty acid Omega 3 is a great anti-inflammatory. Omega 3 rich foods include: salmon, chia seeds, mackerel, and walnuts
• Make sure you get your five a day, not only is vitamin C a natural antihistamine, fruit and veg is also full of allergy fighting flavonoids and antioxidants which are great for the immune system
• Garlic, garlic, garlic….!!! It’s a wonderful little bulb as it’s a natural antihistamine, decongestant and anti-inflammatory
• Every wondered why spicy food makes your nose run…A chilli or anything containing chilli peppers is great for unblocking a stuffy nose. Chilli peppers contain capsaicin which helps to break down mucus causing it to flow.
• Rinse and brush. Rinsing your hair regularly can help to get rid of any trapped pollen but don’t forget pets too as pollen can travel in on their fur.
• limiting foods that are rich in histamine or encourage the body to produce histamine such as alcohol, aged cheeses, pickled and fermented may help to control symptoms.
• Green tea is a powerful antioxidant, it’s thought to help reduce inflammation as well as boost the immune system
• A juicy, refreshing way to combat a bunged-up nose is fresh pineapple. Fresh pineapple contains bromelain which a natural-anti-inflammatory, Try blending it into a smoothie then freezing it into ice pops for an even tastier way to cool down.