Hay fever treatments

Hay fever symptoms arise because of an excessive production of histamine by the immune system, in response to an allergen (allergy causing agent) such as pollen.

This is the basis for the use of antihistamine tablets, liquids or sprays as the main conventional method for treating hay fever. Antihistamines stop the release of histamines by the immune system. They are readily available in pharmacies and supermarkets, and can relieve symptoms such as itching or watery eyes and nose.

However, many antihistamines have the disadvantage of causing drowsiness - and if you are so affected, you should not drive or operate machinery. In addition, antihistamines are not able to help you if you suffer from a blocked nose.

Whilst antihistamines taken orally can be helpful for many symptoms, sometimes specific treatment for the eyes may be necessary. This is especially so if your hayfever symptoms are mainly itching or swelling of the eyes.

Eye drops for hayfever can come in two forms:

• Drops containing the chemical sodium cromoglycate. This works by desensitising a specific type of cell in the immune system, reducing its ability to react to pollen
• Eye drops containing hyaluronic acid.  These help to wash away pollen by working with the natural tear secretion in the eyes.

In general, eye drops can be used together with any medicine taken orally for hay fever.

A.Vogel Eye Drops

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Steroids work by dampening or lowering the body’s immune response. This is why, if you are prone to infections, you should not use this class of medicines.

Hay fever steroid treatments are available in a number of forms:

• Steroid nasal sprays. These can be useful if your hayfever gives you a blocked nose
• Steroid tablets. These are prescribed by doctors if hay fever symptoms are severe. In these situations, in addition to the usual hay fever symptoms, you may be complaining of tiredness, fatigue or itching throughout the body.

For those people who prefer to avoid the use of steroids,‘Non-steroidal’ nasal sprays are available and are especially useful for blocked noses caused by hay fever.

They work partly by ‘irrigating’ or ‘washing out’ the nasal passages and in this way, free up  blocked nasal passages. Hay fever nasal sprays also have the advantage of getting rid of any pollen lying on the surfaces of the lining of the nose.

A wide range of treatments is available under this umbrella, ranging from herbal medicines to acupuncture and beyond. Complementary treatments which can help relieve hayfever symptoms include:

• Acupuncture – this form of treatment originated from China and is now widely available for treating a variety of health conditions, including hay fever
•  Herbal or homeopathic remedies – Many homeopathic remedies are derived from herbs and these have been used traditionally to treat a number of health conditions including the relief of hay fever. 

Pollinosan Allergy Relief Tablets combines several different herbs which work together to relieve seasonal allergies symptoms. They can be found in the original formula devised by Alfred Vogel.

People suffering from hay fever may also be more sensitive to one form of pollen than another. This adds to variations in symptoms from month to month and also, from one area of the country to another.