Your ultimate hay fever ‘first aid kit’ – from surprising treatments to best ways to prepare NOW
HAY FEVER season is imminent and for the 10 million UK sufferers, it can mean weeks – even months – of endless sneezing, itchy eyes, a runny nose and congestion, to name just a few symptoms.
Hay fever season starts as early as March and can last until the middle of September.
Abbas Kanani, Superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, says: “Pollen from trees, grass, weeds, and plants are prevalent at different times of the year.
“Tree pollen season is usually from March to May, grass pollen season, May to July and weed pollen season, June to September.”
The most common hay fever allergy is to grass pollen, occurring over the summer.
Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax, explains what hay fever is, saying: “The body’s reaction to pollen is to produce histamines.
“However, too many causes the symptoms commonly associated with hay fever.”
But how can you prepare ahead of time for peak hay fever season, to help limit the impact it has on your day to day life? Here, experts share their tips.
1. Get in early with antihistamines
If you rely on antihistamines to get you through the hay fever season, then make sure you’re prepared.
Antihistamines (cetirizine or loratadine) work by blocking histamine in the body, which is released when the body detects something it thinks is harmful.
Histamine causes blood vessels to expand and the skin to swell, but in people with hay fever, also causes an allergic reaction. That’s the watering eyes, blocked nose, rashes and so on.
Max says that many antihistamines are available on prescription, such as Telfast, which you can see your GP for or get through an online doctor, such as LloydsPharmacy.
Telfast, and other prescription-only antihistamine tablets, work in the same way as over-the-counter antihistamines, but are stronger and intended to help with more severe symptoms.
“Get your prescription in advance of the season so you have your medication in time to start taking it at the right time,” he says.
“Some are best taken at least one month before the hay fever season starts. So the time may be now.”
Indeed, Asthma + Lung charity say it is “a good idea to begin taking antihistamines two to four weeks” before symptoms as “this will give you the best protection”.
It’s always advised to take antihistamines before you come into contact with pollen for the most impact.
2. Start your nasal spray early
A nasal spray can be effective in controlling congestion and stuffiness, according to Max.
Pharmacists can advise on nasal sprays (sodium cromoglicate, ipratropium bromide or decongestant), and eye drops, too.
Nasal sprays can also help with other symptoms of hay fever “because the medicine is targeted directly to the nose, which is where the vast majority of allergens enter the body”, Max says.
Max adds: “Some need several days to build up to their maximum protective effect and some manufacturers advise to start using them one month before your hay fever season begins.”
Pharmacists can help with most nasal sprays, but a GP can also prescribe a steroid nasal spray.
The NHS says it’s best to start using these around one to two weeks before you think your symptoms will start, as they can take a few days to work.
3. Immunotherapy
If you’ve already tried everything before, including steroids, your GP may be able to refer you for immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy works by suppressing your body’s reaction to allergies.
If successful, immunotherapy is the closest thing to a complete cure for allergy.
Max Wiseberg
Small amounts of pollen (depending on the type of hay fever) are given as an injection or tablet to slowly build up immunity to pollen.
The NHS says “this kind of treatment usually starts in the winter about three months before the hay fever season begins” – so it may be worth going to your GP now if you know your symptoms start in summer.
Immunotherapy is a specialist service that may not be available everywhere, however.
Max says: “If successful, this is the closest thing to a complete cure for allergy.
“For NHS treatment, you will need to be referred by your GP who will usually do so only if all other hay fever treatments have been tried first and your reaction remains extreme.
“It is possible to be treated privately; details of private allergy clinics can be found online.”
4. Prepare your ‘hay fever first aid kit’
Symptoms unbearable? Max recommends combining one or more products, saying: “Many products are complementary to each other and can be taken together.
“My ideal combination is one (and only one) antihistamine, an allergen barrier balm, one (and only one) steroid nasal spray and one or more other natural products.
“It is advisable to check with a pharmacist or GP if you are combining products, especially if you are pregnant or breast-feeding or if it is for a child.”
Get your kit ready in advance so you’re fully prepared for hay fever season.
5. Get outside
It might be the last thing you want to do when hay fever is rife.
But Liz Cooper, technical advisor at Bio-Kult, says that spending more time outdoors from late winter before the pollen season sets in allows the immune system to adapt to more environmental microbes.
She says: “This may include taking regular breaks throughout the working day and taking a short stroll around the block, or could involve more organised outdoor activities such as joining a weekend walking group or taking part in the increasingly popular activity of forest bathing.”
6. Turn off triggers
There could be other elements in your environment that are causing your immune system to weaken.
These, Liz says, include food sensitivities, chlorinated swimming pools, unfiltered drinking water, air pollution or mould in the home.
Liz says: “Benefits could also be gained from swapping commercial cleaning products for homemade natural alternatives, such as lemon, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, and using organic skincare products.”
You can decrease allergen exposure at home by using a vacuum with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter.
The filter prevents small dust (or pollen) particles from escaping the vacuum’s hoover back into your home.
7. Adapt diet
Did you know the foods you eat can play a role in how severe your hay fever symptoms are?
Liz says: “Start to implement immune-supporting changes to the diet as early as possible, such as increasing natural antihistamines and anti-inflammatory foods.
“Examples include quercetin, found in onions, apples and green tea; omega 3-rich fats from oily fish, walnuts and flaxseeds; and foods high in antioxidants such as brightly coloured fruit and vegetables, and herbs and spices including cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, oregano and rosemary.”
It’s said that foods that may worsen hay fever – because they contain histamines – include coffee, alcohol and nuts.
Liz suggests upping the fermented foods in your diet, such as sauerkraut, natural yoghurt, kefir and kombucha, which feed good bacteria in the gut.
Emerging research suggests there could be a link between hay fever and the gut microbiome, with research showing people with the allergy have less diversity of bacteria.
8. Try mushrooms
We’re not talking about the chestnut ‘shrooms that you throw on your omelette.
Instead, these are functional or ‘medicinal’ mushrooms which have a number of potential health benefits and are a more natural approach to easing symptoms.
The compounds in mushrooms may help reduce the production of histamine, it’s claimed.
Sophie Barratt, a medical herbalist and advisor in mycotherapy (the study of mushroom extracts), claims: “You need to do the preparation a few months ahead of pollen season – ideally three months before in order to prevent the onset of symptoms that can really irritate you, like a runny nose, sneezing and itchy eyes.
“The mushrooms I most often work with are Reishi, Royal Sun Mushroom and Lion’s Mane because they are all classed as ‘medicinal mushrooms’ and contain a substance called beta-glucans in high amounts, which modulates the immune system.”
She explains that Reishi helps to reduce the release of histamine and calm down an overactive immune system.
Therefore, it has the potential to stop sneezing and sniffles by dampening the body’s response to allergens.
Hifas Da Terra Mico Five capsules contain five mushroom strains high in beta-glucans with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Best hay fever treatments to buy online
1. Allergy Eye Mist
If you hate the thought of drops, consider an eye mist which works in the same way – just spray it once or twice onto closed eyelids to to three times a day.
Try Optrex ActiMist Double Action Spray Itchy Watery Eyes, £13.75. Boots Allergy Eye Mist, 10ml, £9.99, is suitable for all types of contact lenses too.
2. Cetirizine Allergy & Hay Fever Tablets
Products containing Cetirizine work to combat allergies without making you feel tired.
Superdrug’s pack of 30 tablets comes in at £5.45.
3. Hay Fever Relief Nasal Spray
For over-the-counter relief you could try Pirinase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray for Adults x 60 Sprays from Superdrug, £8.39.
Or for something on prescription, try Beclometasone Nasal Spray from ChemistClick, £5.49.
4. Jelly
Dabbing a little bit of petroleum jelly around the edges of your nose works as a barrier to trap pollen before you breathe it in.
Try branded balms such as Haymax pure organic drug-free pollen barrier balm 5ml, £8.49. Or petroleum jelly such as Vaseline does just the same job for only a fraction of the price.
5. The Eye Doctor Allergy Hay Fever Compress
The Eye Doctor Allergy Hay Fever Compress has thermal dynamic fabric, which uses regulated evaporation to cool more rapidly.
It helps to reduce puffiness, swelling, itching, inflammation and even headaches, and comes with an adjustable comfy strap.
You can buy it at Superdrug for £8.99.
6. Throat spray
Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray contains the active ingredient benzocaine which belongs to the group of medicines called local anaesthetics.
You can buy Ultra Chloraseptic Anaesthetic Throat Spray for £6 from Amazon.