Easy Ways to Fight Allergies

From 1801 Home Remedies

Itching, sneezing, sore or irritated eyes, and a runny nose – these are all common symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. Take anti-allergy medication or try one of the natural antihistamines suggested below. You’ll also want to tackle pollen, dust mites in the home, pet dander and other microscopic menaces that send your immune system into overdrive.

What’s wrong?
Allergic symptoms are signs that the immune system is overreacting to normally harmless substances such as pollen (which causes hay fever), dust, pet dander (tiny flakes of dried saliva, skin and hair from pets) or mould. Usually, the immune system ignores these ‘triggers’ and focuses on protecting you from real threats, such as viruses or bacteria.

But when someone has an allergy, the immune system cannot distinguish some harmless substances from dangerous ones. Triggers can be ingested (such as wheat and peanuts), absorbed through the skin (such as plants or base metals), inhaled (such as mould or pollen) or received by injection (such as a penicillin jab). Sensitivity to allergens tends to be inherited.

Nature’s antihistamines
• Nettle contains a substance that works as a natural antihistamine. Capsules of the freeze-dried leaf are available from most health food shops and some supermarkets. Take the capsules according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Ginkgo biloba has become renowned for its memory-boosting properties, but it can also be an effective allergy fighter. Ginkgo contains substances called ginkgolides, which can halt the activity of certain allergy-triggering chemicals (platelet activating factor, or PAF). Choose a supplement that is standardised for content of ginkgo flavones (the active ingredient) and take according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Quercetin, the pigment that gives grapes their purple hue and puts the green in green tea, also inhibits the release of histamine. Take according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (Caution Do not take this if you are already taking nettle capsules, as nettle contains quercetin.)

• Eyebright is an astringent herb that helps to strengthen mucous membranes and relieve irritability and inflammation, and plantain is rich in a soothing substance called mucilage, which helps soothe sore, dry eyes and relieve sneezing. They can be taken together as a tea or a qualified herbalist can make up a tincture of them for you.

• Vitamin C, readily available from supermarkets and pharmacies, is known to have a natural antihistamine effect in the body and there is some evidence to suggest that it can help control unpleasant hay fever symptoms. Take up to 500 mg a day in tablet or capsule form while symptoms persist, or more if professionally prescribed.