How Herbs & Diet Can Help
Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen. When tiny pollen particles come into contact with the cells that line your mouth, nose, eyes and throat, they irritate them and trigger an allergic reaction called either hay fever or allergic rhinitis.
Pollen Count Varies Throughout the Year
The allergic response to pollen can be present all year round. Symptoms of hay fever can vary in severity, depending on the time of the year and what type of pollen is causing the reaction. The time of year your symptoms start will depend on the types of pollen to which you are allergic.
Three Types of Pollen
There are 3 different types of pollen: Tree pollen, Grass pollen and Weed pollen. Depending on which type you are allergic to, you may only experience hay fever symptoms when you come into contact with that type of pollen.
Tree Pollen – Allergies for this type of pollen occur between February and June. Trees that can cause hay fever symptoms are birch, ash, cottonwood, oak, willow and hickory, this is because these types of trees have pollen which is very fine and powdery and therefore is easier for the wind to carry. For this reason, on days which are warm and windy, you may experience worse hay fever symptoms. Trees such as cherry or apple have pollen which is thicker and stickier, and therefore the wind cannot carry it as easily.
Birch pollen can cause asthma and rhino conjunctivitis. Oak pollen symptoms can be a cough, watery and itchy eyes, and an irritated throat.
Grass Pollen – Begins in April and peaks in June to mid-July. Types of grass that cause hay fever symptoms are Bermuda, Johnson, Sweet Vernal, and Orchard. The types of grass that cause an allergic reaction will be subject to your geographical location.
Weed Pollen – Starts appearing in late June till September. Types of weed pollen include ragweed pollen, nettle pollen, dock pollen and mugwort pollen.
What causes hay fever?
– Allergens such as pollen, dust, and pet hair.
– Airborne irritants such as smoke, smog, and chemical fumes.
– Weather conditions such as high winds and dry air.
Some people are more prone to allergies than others
The clue as to how to resolve your hay fever is in your response to over-the-counter antihistamines. If you respond well to them, this is a clue that you have too much histamine in your bloodstream and that you may benefit from a diet that is low in histamine, whilst also using herbs and supplements that promote the breakdown of histamine.
There can be many reasons why you may struggle to degrade histamine. A condition called histamine intolerance, is where the body produces too much histamine or cannot break down histamine properly. This can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including headache, sinus congestion, sneezing, skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps.
A build-up of histamine can be caused by excessive consumption of histamine-rich foods, foods that increase histamine production, or consuming foods that inhibit the breakdown of histamine, this can therefore lead to histamine intolerance. A low-histamine diet might be an effective way to reduce histamine levels in the body, by avoiding foods that are naturally high in histamine and that trigger the release of histamine into the body.
In addition to a build-up of histamine through the consumption of histamine-rich foods, histamine intolerance can also be a result of the impairment of DAO activity or inhibition of DAO. Diamine oxidase (DAO) is an enzyme that is responsible for breaking down histamine in the body. If your body doesn’t produce enough DAO, you may have diamine oxidase deficiency. Without enough of this enzyme, you can experience histamine intolerance.
Symptoms of Hay fever
Sneezing
Runny / Blocked Nose
Itchy / Dry / Watery / Red/ eyes
Sore Throat / Itchy Throat
Coughing
Nasal Congestion / Postnasal Drip
Sinus Headache
Fatigue
Pressure pains felt around the temples, in between the eyes or a general headache feeling are due to the sinus cavities in those areas swelling, this is a mechanism the body uses to prevent more allergens from entering the body once it has detected an irritant.
In addition, sneezing is the body’s way of removing any irritants from you nose or throat that may have already found their way in.
Some people may experience more severe symptoms such as sinus infections, rashes on the skin around the nose or mouth, or even anaphylactic shock (a life-threatening allergic reaction).
If symptoms are severe, some people may find ways of limiting their exposure to pollen.
For example:
Showering after being outdoors when pollen levels are high
Drying clothes and bedding inside
Cleaning regularly to remove any pollen or dust that has collected on surfaces within the home
Wearing sunglasses when outdoors
What is the conventional route for treating Hay fever:
There are two main routes for treating hay fever: pharmacological and immunological treatments.
PHARMACOLOGICAL ROUTE
Nasal Decongestants / Nasal Saline Irrigation
Corticosteroids
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are medications used to relieve symptoms of allergies, such as itching, sneezing, and watery eyes. They can be taken in tablet form or nasal sprays and eye drops. Different antihistamine tablets for hay fever include cetirizine (CET), fexofenadine (FXN), loratadine (LTU), azelastine (AZE) and olopatadine (OPA). Antihistamines should not cause drowsiness but can occasionally do so.
Nasal decongestants relieve congestion by reducing swelling in the sinus cavities, meanwhile, nasal saline irrigation helps to relieve symptoms by loosening mucus and cleaning the nasal passages.
Corticosteroids are prescribed to reduce inflammation in the nose during an allergic response. Corticosteroids are better at preventing and relieving symptoms than antihistamine tablets, including sneezing and congestion, watery eyes, and itchy eyes.
IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy is a treatment that can be used to treat hay fever. The treatment consists of gradually either injecting into your skin or taken in a tablet form, the very allergen that you are allergic to, and then monitoring your allergic reaction in a controlled environment. This treatment normally starts 3 months in advance ofpollen season, so that it can help the body gain a tolerance of the allergen and therefore reduce hay fever symptoms. Consult your GP to be referred for immunotherapy if needed.
Foods that help ease symptoms of hay fever
Ginger (anti-inflammatory)
Bee Pollen (antioxidant)
Salmon (omega-3 fatty acids)
Turmeric (anti-inflammatory)
Pineapple (bromelain)
Kale (carotenoids)
Red Onions (quercetin)
Local Honey (build immunity to local pollen)
Garlic (antioxidant-prebiotic rich)
Berries (antioxidants, vitamin C and quercetin)
Foods to avoid when suffering from Hay fever symptoms:
Coffee
Coffee is naturally high in histamines, and therefore, it is better to avoid it when your body is already secreting a high level of histamine in response to pollen. Switch to decaf coffee or avoid coffee completely to keep the intake of histamine low.
Nuts
Certain nuts, like cashews and walnuts, contain high levels of histamine and are therefore best avoided. Consider consuming other types of nuts that do not contain histamine, such as pecans and macadamia nuts.
Alcohol
Alcohol, like nuts, contains histamine and suppresses the immune system. Switch to non-alcoholic drinks or decrease consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Dairy Products
Dairy products encourage the production of mucus and may thicken the mucus that is already present when suffering from symptoms of hay fever. opt for dairy alternatives like almond, oat or soya milk.
Chocolate
Although this may sadden many hay fever sufferers, chocolate contains histamine and therefore may worsen hay fever symptoms. Cacao is a perfect alternative as it contains less dairy, sugar and histamine.
Herbs that help with Hay fever symptoms
Red Clover (isoflavones)
Rosemary (reduces our reaction to pollen and reduces congestion)
Chamomile (contains azulene, a natural antihistamine)
Nettle Leaf (anti-inflammatory, inhibits the process that causes our body to release histamine, source of chlorophyll and iron, which are natural antihistamine)
Eyebright (natural antihistamine, calms inflammation)
Peppermint (reduces inflammation)
Ginger (anti-inflammatory)
Liquorice (reduces respiratory tract inflammation)
Elderflower (ant catarrhal)
Many of these herbs can be brewed to form an herbal tea, and some can be ingested in foods that help relieve hay fever symptoms. Not only will the herbs help with hay fever, but the heat from the tea will act as a form of steaming, which will loosen mucous in the nasal cavities and reduce congestion and therefore help to reduce sinus pressure and pain.
Nutrients / Supplements helpful for Hay fever
Polyphenol – A group of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables
N-Acetyl Cysteine – Vital for antioxidant production and detoxification, loosens mucus in airway passages
Quercetin – Antioxidant, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties
Propolis – Contains antiviral and immune-protecting bioflavonoids
Bee Pollen – Contains antioxidants and vitamins which help to reduce histamine levels
Probiotics – Increasing and diversifying the microbiome in the gut strengthens the immune system and therefore may reduce our response to allergens
Probiotic species that may need to be avoided:
Bacteria found in fermented foods, such as yoghurt, should be avoided as they increase histamine production.
Note: not all strains in this species may have this effect, but to be on the safe side should be avoided.
The Probiotic strains to avoid are as follows:
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus Bulgaricus
Streptococcus thermophilus
Lactobacillus delbrueckii
Lactobacillus helveticus
Beneficial probiotic Strains
Bifidobacterium infantis
Lactobacillus gasseri
Bifidobacterium breve
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Lactobacillus salivarius
Lactobacillus rhamnosus (especially GG)
These strains are known to downgrade histamine. Some evidence has identified specific strains like L. rhamnosus GG which reduces hay fever symptoms by increasing the efficiency of anti-inflammatory agents in the gut, this then makes the gut more immune and less permeable to bacteria which causes a histamine reaction.
If you’re one of the many people who suffer from hay fever, there are so many natural things you can do to ease your symptoms. Contact us for more personalised support via a specialist Naturopathic Herbal consultation.
