Let's talk about Hayfever

It comes around every year, and for many it can begin as early as March.

This is the time when tree pollen emerges, particularly catkin trees with symptoms continuing right through the seasons until September!

As a hay fever sufferer for many years I have come to realise that the need to prep begins way before this time. Our immune system is constantly under pressure all year round, which is why it is so important to try and boost our health to cope with these seasonal pressures such as winter bugs, flu, COVID, hay fever etc.

Having tried most routes where I had injections as a young girl to medicines. I lived in the hope that one day I would grow out of it. My symptoms have varied in intensity over the decades, however hay fever still affects me on some level.

There is never going to be anything that will give you a symptom free season. However with a little understanding of how to keep your health as optimum as it can be in advance, plus during, it might just help minimise your suffering a little so you can make the most of those lazy hazy days of summer outside.

( However as with many things do consult your GP if your symptoms are severe or you need to seek medical advice )

Below I’ve put together a ‘Hay Fever Toolkit’ with some of the tips and tricks that I have found useful over the years to make things a little more bearable.

Pollen is like a micro fine dust which settles around you daily. Some say it can get worse in a thunderstorm as it splits the tiny particles into thousands of pieces which makes the density of pollen in the atmosphere higher. Rain makes it rise.

Image yourself under a UV light and seeing the pollen highlighted on you and you’d be amazed how much there is!

Face, Eyes, Nose. Hair! ( yes hair)

Products that I recommend and use daily ( this is not an affiliate post, just my knowledge on what works for me)

Sterimar - Hayfever & Allergy. This is a great Nasal Spray Wash ( Most supermarkets and pharmacies sell it)

Spritz a few times up each nostril to clean out any pollen or dust that might have been trapped higher up, blow out gently with a tissue, repeat if necessary. I do this first thing in the morning and last thing at night, as when we sleep with windows open pollen does get blown into our room.( I’ll cover this in a bit) then last thing before bed to clean out any residue pollen that might be up there. If you shower try wetting a face flannel and rinsing it across your face as some of the water will go up your nose which adds another layer of cleansing too!

Beconase- This is a nasal Spray aimed at helping relieve symptoms. It almost smells like flower pollen when you use it.

Petroleum jelly- Perfect for helping trap any dust/pollen. How?

Smear a very tiny amount around the inside of your nostril. It will act as a barrier to trap some pollen, not all but it can help reduce it. Then a very fine smear across your eyebrows. Why? because that is exactly why you have eyebrows in the first place to help filter any dust that might fall directly into your eyes. This way the pollen can stick onto it and reduce what drops into your eyes. If you use a tiny amount it won’t make them look greasy or odd! Plus you’ll have the most beautifully conditions eyebrows in town over time.

Damp flannel ( if at home)

At home your windows are open. Travelling with the car window open, blowing all that dust and pollen right onto your hair, even your air vents. When you are outside exactly the same thing, an office window open will be blowing the pollen in too. A quick wipe gently over your hair in the office toilets will help take as much off as possible, take a look at it you’ll be shocked at what your hair traps!

Wipes-a note I have seen there are Hayfever wipes currently on the market. Whilst I love a good fix, the only thing about these are that they might be handy for children to use as they are portable but sadly these are not bio-degradable so not planet friendly. I think a few thin damp flannels in a pretty pouch works just as well, is much cheaper, earth friendly and reduces waste plus they aren’t loaded with a list of ingredients.

Eyes- Use a small travel container and fill with cotton pads, soak them in some Optrex Multi-wash fluid and wipe gently across your eyes when needed. Opticrom eye drops is another alternative and aimed specifically at hay fever and works incredibly well! I also wash my eyes in the morning and last thing at night with Optrex multi-wash the one with the little blue cup.

Hay fever tablets- Now this is where they come in a range of brands and ingredients. From Piriton- Clarityn. Most pharmacies are incredibly helpful in showing you a cross section to choose a type that is right for your needs. I tend to use Clarityn one a day, as this is a non-drowsy version, particularly as I work, the last thing I need is to feel sleepy! Plus at one-a-day it makes things easier for me instead of those that you need to take more regularly throughout the day. I just take it at breakfast and find my symptoms are not as bad during the day.

Protection at home- Think clothes, surfaces & windows.

Some like to keep their windows closed with a fan on. But I like to let fresh air into my home and although my tip isn’t going to eliminate all dust and pollen it can certainly help minimise the amount coming into the room.

So you’ll come in from outside, shoes, sandals, flip flops will all carry some amount of dust, dirt and pollen. Particularly if you have walked across fields, tracks and gardens. Try and remove them outside if you can and step into your home, then have a wipe down station where you can pop a damp flannel across your bare feet and legs and across your hair. For those who have severe hay fever, you may find removing your outdoor clothes and changing into something else will minimise the transference of pollen particles to your living areas and sofas.

I have sheer cotton window drapes. Ikea sell some from £3.50 a pair!! They are like a fine muslin, so cast a diffused light into the room when drawn, but they also act as a barrier to pollen and dust that might blow into the room. These can be washed regularly to ensure minimal build up.

Try and wipe surfaces in your home more frequently with a damp cloth to keep pollen at bay.

Health Wise

Local Honey & Vitamin C

Local honey is quite often recommended to those suffering from hay fever. This is because the bees will have harvested nectar from local flora in your area, with some believing it may help build up a resistance over time. However, I have never found this option to be as effective. There are a few reasons…one is that the bees will only harvest from flowers. When the main hay fever triggers come from grass and tree pollen which bees don’t visit. You would also need to ingest quite a lot to feel any true effects. However saying that, it is nice to buy local honey and support a small beekeeper and keep our bees alive, and who doesn’t enjoy a piece of hot buttered toast smeared with golden honey!

Vitamin C is the go to for boosting our immune system. Found in natural citrus fruits as well as broccoli, cauliflower and berries. You can also find it in supplement form. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine which may help lower histamine in the body to fight allergic reactions.

I use supplements from this company and can highly recommend them https://bodybio.co.uk/collections/all-supplements/products/vitamin-c-crystals-ascorbic-acid

It can be highly frustrating when you suffer, but I hope that by incorporating a few of these additional tips. It may help minimise the intensity of your suffering, so that you can enjoy the great outdoors, BBQ’s and all that the summer months have to offer. I know for a fact that I love being in nature and over the years have found a happy balance by trialling and using most of them.

Mel x

Further reading https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190510-five-myths-and-truths-about-hayfever