Natural relief for hay fever

Hay fever can be very uncomfortable. Constant itching, a runny nose, mucus, sneezing and shortness of breath. You can even develop a slight fever from it. This year it may be even more uncomfortable. I notice that with the slightest sniffle in the street, people already jump aside anxiously, afraid of being infected with C. There are even T-shirts on the market saying: “Don’t panic, I just have hay fever”. I even considered getting one myself.

Hay fever is an allergy. We are familiar with the symptoms, but what is it exactly? An allergy is an exaggerated reaction of the immune system to a relatively harmless substance that enters the body. By “entering” the body, I mean passing through the defensive barriers. In the case of hay fever, pollen passes through the mucous membranes of the lungs, nose and throat into our bloodstream. The body then sees pollen as threatening substances and sets up an immune response to neutralise the enemy. Mucus and nasal discharge, together with sneezing, are an attempt to expel the enemy. An incredibly clever response from the body!

There are various products on the market for hay fever. The most common are products that suppress the immune system or antihistamines. Both fall under symptom control and have advantages and disadvantages. A major drawback, in my opinion, is the side effects, which is why I prefer natural solutions over medication.

Vitamin C

A relatively unknown but very powerful remedy in the fight against hay fever is vitamin C. People who know me know that I am a big fan of vitamin C. One of the reasons I personally use it in high doses* during the hay fever season is its powerful antihistamine effect. Vitamin C breaks down histamine. In addition, it supports the immune system, which already gives two good reasons to use it for hay fever. A third reason is that it has no side effects. Click on for vitamin C.

Probiotics

The intestines also play a major role in allergies. A properly functioning immune system is directly related to good intestinal health. This is something few people think about, but consider this: how is it possible that substances foreign to the body can pass through the mucous membranes and the intestinal wall? These membranes are meant to stop the “enemy” at this boundary. If intruders still get through, it may indicate a problem with the quality of this barrier. That is why I always recommend taking a close look at your diet. A course of probiotics can be an important part of this. Click on for probiotics.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A, together with vitamin D, is an important nutrient that plays a role in the strength of the body’s barriers. This includes the mucous membranes, the skin, as well as cell walls and blood vessels. Vitamin A is found, among other things, in butter, eggs, fish, liver, carrots, pak choi and sweet potatoes. Click on for vitamin A.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D also plays an important role in allergies. Vitamin D acts as a kind of regulator of the immune system. It helps keep the immune system calm and prevents it from reacting too “excessively”, you might say. Of course, you do need to have sufficient vitamin D! (See also my column “Zon verstandig”.) Most people in the Netherlands currently have a vitamin D deficiency. Click on for vitamin D.

Scutellaria

Scutellaria, also known as skullcap, is used as a powerful antihistamine. In traditional Chinese medicine, this herb is considered one of the fundamental herbs. It is also used, for example, for insomnia, which can be an additional benefit. Click on for skullcap.

Symptom control vs. healing

Be aware that although the methods above are natural, they are still symptom-relieving measures and therefore do nothing to address the underlying cause of hay fever. What causes an immune system to go into overdrive? Often, in addition to genetic predisposition, this is related to an unhealthy diet (sometimes even without you realising it). Chronic stress also plays a major role. Did you know that 95 percent of allergies are said to have not a physical but a mental-emotional basis? For example, unresolved traumas. I am not necessarily talking about severe trauma, but rather small emotional wounds that everyone accumulates throughout life. This insight alone has reportedly helped many people with allergies through hypnosis.

Finally, two small but essential insights.

1. A panicky immune system is often also related to a simple lack of fluids and minerals. Therefore, drink at least 2 litres of water a day and check whether you are getting enough minerals.
2. Exercise also helps during a hay fever attack. When you start moving, your immune system calms down. This is evolutionarily determined: you must always be able to run away from a lion. That is why your muscles are prioritised over the immune system when it comes to energy distribution. It is a kind of distraction manoeuvre. I know that when you feel miserable, exercising is not the first thing on your mind, but try half an hour of intensive activity. A bit of jogging, strength training or yoga. You will notice that it brings relief.

Ineke Eebes

*Consult a specialist for the correct use of supplements in case of health problems or if you are taking medication

*Use vitamin C if you want to take high doses, i.e. ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid with bioflavonoids is even better. If you cannot tolerate the acidity, use sodium ascorbate instead. Use it correctly: for hay fever this means taking a sufficient amount. Start with 1 to 2 grams in the morning, then take 500 mg to 1 gram every hour. Vitamin C has no toxic upper limit and is not dangerous. However, it can cause diarrhoea. If your intestines start to rumble, this means your body is saturated; it no longer absorbs it and you can reduce the dose. ATTENTION: people with (congenital) kidney problems may have difficulty processing large amounts of vitamin C. If in doubt, always consult a doctor first!