Hay Fever

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Finding a good herbalist

Some of the suggestions in this article may be equally beneficial to hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, and sinus congestion, but to read the article on this site specifically on sinusitis read here

Most of what's written in this article is entirely suitable for a person to work through themselves but, especially if things are quite bad, or you just know that you need further help, then there may be a great deal of benefit to you to go to whatever lengths necessary to find a good herbalist to guide you on to a safe and strong treatment program. There's a short write-up to suggest how you might go about finding such a person here

The following suggestions; the allergy tea and the various methods of 'cleaning' out the pollens etc. are good starting points that may well be all a person needs to do. However, nothing works for everyone, and if you do not find that these strategies make a significant or lasting difference then the next step may be to have a closer look at the general health of your immune system. Especially if the hay fever is getting worse from one year to the next, this may be the sign from your body that some deeper attention is needed into your diet or some other vital area of health. The important subject of immunity is discussed in practical depth here

Allergy Tea

The first thing to start with, whether it be hay fever or sinus congestion, is at least daily or twice daily, drink a cup of 'allergy tea'. Ingredients in this tea help us to be less reactive to airborne irritants and, at the same time, to clear the sinus passageways.

15gms Nettles                               
15gms Elder flower      
10gms Sage leaf            
10gms Eyebright           
2.5gms Peppermint  

The amounts shown above will make a small jar with enough tea that will be enough for dozens of doses. You can make a larger amount by simply increasing all the herbs by the same proportions e.g. two or three times the amount for each one.

Nettles forms a key ingredient of the Allergy tea. It is rather paradoxical that this most allergic of herbs to touch when fresh can do so much to help when it has been dried.


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Dosage Notes

Dosage is vital to get right in herbal medicine. To make the Allergy tea strong enough to make a real difference you need to place 3 full teaspoons into one large cup (or coffee plunger, or tea-pot) of freshly boiled water. You then cover the vessel and let it sit for 10 minutes before straining it off.

It is ok to add honey. It doesn't matter whether you sip the tea whilst it is hot or you let it cool before you drink it - it will work fine either way. Nor does it matter whether you have it before or after food.

Many people have said that just one cup a day stops them getting sick or needing anti-histamines however, it is safe and ok to use two or even three cups a day if the symptoms are quite bad.


Urtica dioica (Nettle leaf)

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Cleaning

The allergy tea helps a person be less reactive and sensitive to environmental allergens. You may also need to reduce exposure to those substances and, short of moving somewhere else, there are three methods that can help clean the affected areas

Steam Cleaning

Medicated steam inhalations can be very effective. Start by using the simple method as described, it takes less than a minute to do and has been seen to be widely beneficial, more here


Olbas oil: widely available around the world

Nasal Douching

Nasal douching is where you use a 'neti pot' to gently pour warm water, to which a tiny amount of salt and/or baking soda has been added, up into one nostril, whereupon it goes into your sinus cavities, gives them a clean, and then washes through and out the other side to come out your other nostril!

The whole concept of it no doubt sounds quite awful right up until a person does it whereupon they realise that it doesn't hurt, it's actually very easy to do, and it can be remarkably effective.


an example of one of the many 'neti-pots' readily available online

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Eye bathing

When symptoms include sore eyes, the practice of bathing the eye bathing with a combination of herbs called 'Eyebright formula' has often been seen to give much relief.

This treatment is entirely safe and the process helps to wash away accumulating pollens, dust or other debris, more here


Euphrasia officinalis (Eyebright)

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Constitutional Health Note

Finally, you might benefit from learning about your constitution to know what kind of foods, herbs, exercises etc. will work especially well for your health in general.

Constitutional health is an old and fascinating way of understanding our differences. There's a brief introduction here and a more detailed section on working out which constitution you are here

Please understand that I cannot personally advise you without seeing you in my clinic.
This living 'book' is my labour of love so, wherever you are, I wish you peace & good health!

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© 2011 R.J.Whelan Ltd