Hay fever symptoms range from the mildly uncomfortable to very annoying. Stuffy or runny nose, itchy and red eyes, sneezing, tiredness, a dry cough and a sore throat are common symptoms of hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis. Symptoms happen when the immune system reacts to pollen. Fortunately, there are many natural remedies that can bring relief.
Honey for Hay Fever
Many people swear by eating locally produced honey during the hay fever season. If you want to try, take a spoonful of honey every day during the season you normally experience symptoms.
Nettle Tea/Infusion
Nettle tea is a traditional hay fever remedy. Nettles grow everywhere in the spring, so pick the young green leaves from the tops of the nettle plants and make an infusion. Drink three cups a day, and if you drink it for more than a week or two, take a few days off every couple of weeks. Nettle is also detoxifying, diuretic and full of vitamins and minerals including iron: a great addition to foods and drinks during the spring months.
Chamomile Tea/Infusion
Chamomile tea is a herbal remedy for many types of allergies. Drinking chamomile tea during the hay fever season can help to relieve symptoms, so make infusions or use chamomile tea bags and drink three cups a day while symptoms last. If your eyes get itchy and irritated during the hay fever season, place a cold chamomile tea bag over each eye for 10-20 minutes as a quick home treatment.
Homeopathic Hay Fever Remedies
Homeopathy has several remedies that can be useful for seasonal allergic rhinitis. The right remedy depends on the symptoms and the patient, but these are some of the most common remedies:
- Allium cepa
- Euphrasia
- Arsenicum album
- Nux vomica
Different symptoms require different remedies, so check the symptoms carefully before choosing the right remedy.
The herb Butterbur is also said to be helpful against hay fever, and some might find that ginger tea relieves symptoms such as stuffy nose and a sore throat. If home remedies don’t work, acupuncture might be helpful.
