3 tips to managing hay fever

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to environmental allergens that commonly occur during spring when there are more pollens, dust, moulds and animal hair particles in the air bit some individuals can experience hay fever throughout the year. For those living in rural areas are at a higher risk during spring due to flowering crops and being more exposed to dust and animals.

Signs of hay fever

- Sneezing

- Running nose

- Itchy eyes

- Headaches

My tips to managing hay fever

1. Address your gut function

Your gut health is so important when managing your hay fever. Your immune system stems from your gut and if your digestive system isn’t healthy then your immune system can be weakened. To support your digestive system, you pay like to look into the 500 item hair test, if you are suspicious that your pet could be the cause of your allergies we can even test to see if you are compatible with them. The amazing company I use to do the hair tests can even formulate specific homeopathic drops to help you if you test incompatible for your pet’s hair. If we can find the foods and products that are impairing your gut function we can look at removing these foods from your diet, begin healing your gut which will help to improve your immune system.

2. Consume local honey

Does this sound a little crazy? Well some swear by it, some question it. The theory being having a spoonful of honey each day works as one tries to switch off the allergic reaction by repeatedly ingesting small doses of the allergen e.g. 'Pollen'. But it is important to note that if you have a grass pollen allergy honey is not effective as bees to not pollinated grasses. As I do believe in evidence based naturopathy there is little scientific research to support this claim but I think it is definitely with trying to see if it helps your hay fever symptoms.

3. Herbal supplementation

There are so many great products and supplements that can help avoid allergies naturally. Bromelain is the enzyme that is found in pineapple which has amazing anti-inflammatory effects on our body and can also assist in reducing some hay fever symptoms. To get the therapeutic dose you would have to eat a lot of pineapple so it is probably best to look at a high quality supplement. Herbs that can help are skullcap, ginger, licorice, ziziphus, ginseng or bupleurum but it is best to see advice from a train professional to assist in picking the right herb for you!