Suffer from Hay fever? Fed up with itching & sneezing?

Each year 15-20% of the UK population suffers from hayfever. Hayfever (Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis) is an inflammatory condition mainly caused by grass and other plant pollens in the air. Symptoms can vary from mild to debilitating, these include sneezing, a blocked or runny nose and itchy eyes. There may also be a feeling of tightness and wheezing in the chest. Standard treatments include anti-histamine tablets, decongestant nasal sprays and saline eye drops, however these do not always give good results and can cause side effects, more-over they do not stop the hayfever from recurring the next season.

Grass pollen is the most common antigen, (foreign body), and it is around during the spring and summer months. Pollen stimulates the immune system to generate antibodies. This reaction causes the mucus membranes to release histamine and other substances, which are normally produced in response to infection. Common symptoms are watery discharge from the nose and eyes sneezing and irritability. Hay fever sufferers often have a feeling of being 'wiped out' for weeks on end.

Conventional treatment offers temporary relief and cause side effects of drowsiness and effects co-ordination. In severe cases steroid preparations are prescribed, these can depress more important immune function, and tend to deepen the imbalance in the natural defence system.

Have you ever tried homeopathy?

Homeopathic hay fever remedies can bring effective relief in addressing the acute symptoms. However in more chronic cases will require the expertise of a professional homeopath as there will be an underlying weakness that will need to be treated.

Try some homeopathic hay fever remedies for yourself

Homeopathy works on the principle of “let likes be treated by likes” so the remedy chosen will be based upon the symptoms shown. There are around thirty homeopathic remedies to treat symptoms of hay fever, but here are the most common ones with their associated symptoms. Choose the one that’s most suited to your symptoms:
Arsenicum album: Burning, watery, runny nose with a tickling feeling, redness, worse on the right side. There maybe asthmatic breathing. Blocked nose at night. The person may feel chilly, restless, anxious, and is often exhausted.

Allium Cepa: Burning and itching eyes. Lots of sneezing and a runny nose. Tickling back of throat, a dry hacking cough. Symptoms are worse in the evening, damp weather and indoors and better for cold drinks

Euphrasia: Burning, hot tears and with swollen lids. Coughs up mucus in morning; slightly phlegmy cough during the daytime. Lots of sneezing, runny, blocked nose. Symptoms are worse in windy weather, indoors, and evening time.

Pulsatilla: Itchy, lots of acrid tears - burn and want rubbing constant. thick yellow / green, blocks in stuffy room, evenings. Symptoms are worse for grasses, seasonal change, hot days and direct sunshine in eyes.

Sabadilla: Eyes water when sneeze. Violent sneezing. Streaming nose and can itch. Roof of mouth itchy.

Take one 12c or 3oc tablet three times per day for several days, if that does not help, try another or consult a homeopath. Once you feel some improvement, continue by taking a remedy when you feel you need to.

The best way to treat hay fever is to take homoeopathic remedies before the season, as a way of boosting the immune system. Consult a professional homeopath to get ready for the spring and be prepared with your own individually tailored homeopathic remedies best suited to you.

Creating your own basic homeopathic kit - Hove Factually March 2008

Top 5 remedies to have at home

Homeopathy is great for treating all the family as it is natural, non-suppressive and non-toxic. So it is easy to see why this system of alterative medicine is an appealing alternative to conventional medicine. Homeopathy works with the body and stimulates healing energies. Homeopathy uses an individualised approach to treating illness, which means that if a room full of people suffering with headaches, potentially each case would require a different remedy.

There are well over 2,000 homeopathic remedies available to maintain and restore good health. I have listed some remedies that are must haves in the home homeopathic kit.

Aconite - Number 1 remedy for nipping colds in the bud. The remedycan be helpful if taken in the early stages of a cold, fevers and inflammations. Illness from exposure to the cold dry wind. Head feels full and heavy. Good for fevers, where a person has a red face with one red cheek and one pale cheek. The person is hot or burning, with cold sweat. Have an Unquenchable thirst for cold water.

Arnica - Arnica is a fantastic remedy to have in the home as it can help with lots of first aid situations. It will help to reduce bruising and swelling, soreness and bleeding after injuries, accidents, surgery and dental work. It is great for delayed shock, when a person insists they are fine and thinks that nothing is wrong. People needing Arnica can’t bear to be touched and might want to be left alone. The face will be hot and the body cool.

Arsenicum - A good remedy for food poisoning. The person will be exhausted and want to lie down. They don’t want to be left on their own; may have a fear of death if alone. Pains and discharges are burning and are relieved by heat. They will have an unquenchable thirst. Are chilly and worse for the cold. Better in the open air.

Belladonna - The no 1 remedy for fevers. The onset of symptoms are sudden and violent and with burning heat. Eyes are glassy and the pupils are dilated. There maybe delirium or even hallucinations; also a good remedy for sun stroke. There are mostly right sided symptoms. Pains are intense, pounding, sharp, shooting or throbbing and come and go suddenly, with heat and inflammation, e.g. ear ache, tonsillitis. A rapid pulse. Worse around 3pm and midnight. May want lemonade.

Gelsemium - Great flu remedy which is characterised by aching muscles, chills up and down spine, lethargy, sleepy ad dizzy; better from sweating and urinating. There is also heaviness in the head and eyes and the eyelids might droop.

Taking remedies
Dissolve a tablet under your tongue without water. Don’t eat or drink for 15 minutes either side of taking a remedy. In a first aid situation or a very painful situation take one dose every ten minutes until improvement. For acute illnesses, e.g. Fevers, take one dose each hour for 6 hours.

Homeopathic remedies do not cause any harmful side effects, so why not start off your home homeopathic kit with Arnica. Chronic conditions, e.g. asthma, skin diseases or re-current complaints and emotional or behavioral problems should be treated by a qualified homeopath.

Nicki Hutchinson is a homeopath and a Subscriber Member of the Society of Homeopaths. She is a student mentor at the Practical College of Homeopathy, London and has a homeopathic practice at the Back 2 Balance Clinic, Hove, East Sussex. Visit her website at www.energy-matters.net

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