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 Article of the Month - April 2006
Hayfever Relief with Homoeopathy
There are two to three million sufferers of hayfever in the UK alone. Hayfever symptoms can range from the mild to severe and can make life miserable. With springtime here, the pollens will become abundant and the never-ending sneezing bouts, streaming nose, itchy throat and watering eyes will start again. How do we tackle this?
First of all, what exactly is hayfever? Hayfever is about hypersensitivity and can be bowel related. Gluten and wheat allergies seem to be related, but the link is still unclear; the bowel connection is glimpsed again. The body's immune system produces an overreaction to allergens (the pollen, seeds, spores, etc.), acting as if they were toxic which results in inflammation and irritation. Research has also shown that family members commonly suffer from asthma and eczema.
Seasonal allergens are:
- March - April: tree pollen
- May - June: flowers, bushes, etc.
- June - August: grasses
- Autumn - moulds, spores, fungus, wild flowers
Doctors will frequently prescribe antihistamines to help deal with hayfever symptoms. Histamines are a natural product of the body's immune response, and are used to cause blood vessels to dilate and ooze fluid into affected areas which results in typical symptoms like rashes, sneezing, excess nasal fluids, etc. Hence, antihistamines (substances which fool the body into thinking that there is already histamine) can help with symptoms. However, antihistamines have a very long list of side effects, as do corticosteroids, another frequently prescribed suppressant. Long term use can cause the body more harm than good, so it is a good idea to start look at natural ways to manage hayfever.
Homoeopathic help
In homoeopathy, there is a type of prescribing called isopathy. 'Iso' means equal. Homoeopaths can make a homoeopathic remedy from the allergen that causes the hayfever. This is much safer than vaccinations and can be given repeatedly over time to help desensitise the hayfever sufferer. Mixed pollens, mixed grass in 6X or 9X potency can be quite effective. Ring Helios to purchase this remedy.
Psorinum at either 1M or 10M in the winter can be used to prevent hayfever in the following spring and summer. Tuberculinum is also a well known remedy that can work in this way if indicated. See your homoeopath to find out what is exactly right for you. As these remedies are quite deep acting, I would advise a professional consultation to determine the most suitable remedy for you.
The most frequently prescribed hayfever remedies are:
Allium cepa: |
copious, watery and acrid discharge from nose and eyes, severe sneezing, headache, cough with hoarseness, eyelids burn, feels as if there is a lump inside root of nose. Symptoms are worse indoors and indoors, and better in open air. |
Arsenicum: |
thin, watery and acrid discharge from nose, violent tickle in nose, dull and throbbing headache, ulcerated eyelids, restlessness, sensitive to smells esp. food, thirsty for cold drinks and sipping drinks. Feels worse at midnight, wet weather and better for being wrapped up, warm and sitting upright or lying down with head elevated. |
Dulcamara: |
nose can be completely blocked, thick yellow mucous, chilly, frequent urination, brought on by the cold and wet (esp. autumnal hayfever), aching in nose. Feels worse in the cold, at night and at rest and better during activity and in warmth. |
Euphrasia: |
bland nasal discharge, but smarting eye discharge with sticky mucous frequently, dry hard cough, sore inner nose, catarrhal headache. Feels worse in sunlight, wind, warmth, evening, lying down and better open air, coffee, dark. |
Gelsemium: |
violent sneezing, edges of nostrils sore and red, swallowing causes ear pain, hot face and cold hands and feet, tingling and/or feeling of fullness in nose, dull headache with frequent urination, heavy and drooping eyelids, chills up and down spine, a feeling as if hot water is running down nose. Feels worse in humidity, fog, muggy weather, tobacco and better after sweating, urinating, bending forward, open air, coffee. |
Natrum muriaticum: |
serious discharge from nose and then nose is blocked up after a few days, loss of smell and taste, thin discharge like egg white, sneezing in early morning, alternating between discharge and blocked up, hammering, heavy and bursting headache above eyes. Feels worse mornings, heat, warmth, noise and better open air, coolness and rest |
Sabadilla: |
itchy or tickling nose which can spread to body, watery discharge from nose and eyes, severe headache in forehead, eyes water in bright lights and open air, redness of eyelids, muffled cough, itching of roof of mouth, sensitive to odours. Feels worse in the cold, drinking and better for open air, warmth, eating, swallowing, being wrapped up. |
Hayfever can come from a complex place from the homoeopathic viewpoint. The above remedies can bring relief and improve your quality of life, but to seriously work on the over-reactive immune response and its underlying cause, a proper case needs to be taken by a homoeopath for longer term and more dramatic results.
From the Narayani range:
Sinus Spec 35: A huge mix of remedies and sarcodes (remedies made from healthy tissue, e.g. nasal mucous membrane, etc.) designed to pull out infection, mucous, etc, so expect a temporary worsening of conditions. The remedy will clear out the sinus area, disinfect it, and try to balance the immune response.
Allergy Balance Mix 62: homoeopathic (or isopathic) versions of grass, pollens, house dust, feathers, histamine, etc.
Bowel link
Since we have seen that there may be a link to the bowels, it would be a good idea to get the digestive system in good working order. Doing a detoxification, undertaking a bowel cleanse and getting your intestines in good working order can help your body cope better with allergens. The Bestcare range offers a good range of bowel cleansing and detoxification products. Look at my January article for more on detoxification and look out for more information on intestinal health later in the year.
From a Chinese medicine point of view, the lungs, nose, skin and large intestines are related. So, the link with bowel health, hayfever and sometimes eczema can be made here. Hypersensitivity and the lungs are associated in with the tubercular miasm in homoeopathy. A miasm is deep susceptibility and vulnerability in a person's health. Hence, associated tubercular remedies, including tuberculinum, tend to work very well. Your homoeopath will be able to prescribe the right remedy for you.
Immune response
As hayfever is an overreaction, it would be best to balance the immune system. Supporting the immune system rather than suppressing or over-stimulating it would be more useful.
Here are some ways to help balance the immune system:
- As usual, ply your body with good, whole foods and plenty of good quality water and ensure you are taking a good quality antioxidant supplement, multivitamin and essential fatty acids
- Avoid dairy products, refined foods and sugar
- Take probiotics to strengthen the bowels and improve immune response
Other measures
Air filters, sealing your environment and avoiding the outdoors during peak pollen count time are good ways to help reduce exposure, but understandably, can limit your enjoyment of any fine weather. From a natural point of view, there are many steps you can take to help ease hayfever symptoms:
- Take a bromelain supplement as this has a soothing, anti-inflammatory effect. This is found in pineapples, so enjoy.
- Quertin is a bioflavonoid (a substance that protects plants from harm and has beneficial effects when ingested) and antioxidant which helps to stabilise allergic reactions. You can find it them in onions (and the homoeopathic remedy from onion, allium sepa is a well-known good hay fever remedy), chives, leeks, shallots, garlic, apples, grapefruit and red wine.
- Coenzyme Q10 is an expensive, but wonderful supplement. It has antihistamine properties, which can bring about some relief. Find it in tuna, mackerel, beef, soy, wheat germ, and rice.
- L-methionine and calcium taken together is a good antihistamine.
- Slices of cool cucumber or used tea bags can calm down irritated eyes. Place them on closed eyes for 10 minutes. You can even alternate between tea bags and cucumber slices.
- Drink plenty of chamomile tea as this can reduce the allergic reaction.
- For herbal tinctures, try eucalyptus to ease congestion; ginger to reduce inflammation; horseradish to help clear sinus congestion; and nettle to help to stop a runny nose.
- Try Bioforce Luffa complex as a natural aid.
- Honey made from the local bees that feed on the nearby pollen can help you to build up a better tolerance to the pollens to which you are exposed. Also, bee covering or propolis is reputedly very good for sore, itchy throats. I have found it quite effective in treating athlete's foot. Propolis is the substance that the bees use to keep their hive clean and has antiseptic properties.
Hopefully, the above will help you to enjoy a better spring and summer.
References
The Homoeopathic Emergency Guide by
Thomas Kruzel
Materia Medica of Narayani Combination Remedies compiled by
Robert Davidson
The Optimum Nutrition Bible by
Patrick Holford
Health Defence by
Dr Paul Clayton
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vitamins and Minerals by
A. Pressman & S. Buff
Prescription for Herbal Healing by
Phyllis Balch
Prescription for Nutritional Healing by
Phyllis Balch and James Balch
Human Anatomy and Physiology by
Marieb
Viruses, Allergies and the Immune System by
Jan de Vries
Please be advised that the above are only my personal views. I have advised based on a healthy person on no medication. Any measures you take are at your own risk. Consult a nutritionist, herbalist and homoeopath before taking high doses of supplements, herbal tinctures and some homoeopathic remedies. This information does not replace medical advice and you should consult your doctor if you have any concerns about your condition or how the above can affect your medication.
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