Hayfever Strategy

Well, after saying I hadn’t had hayfever at all yet this year, this very high pollen count across the UK currently has finally got me! As usual, I can’t take antihistamines or meds so here’s what I do in case it helps any of you other sufferers out there..

First, I put something sticky up my nose! This helps to trap pollen so less of it goes in. Any lip balm will do, even vaseline, but I use a rose-scented coconut oil which is rather nice! Haymax (sunflower-based) is a good choice too; we used to sell it in the dispensary. For such a simple thing, it can make a huge difference, even if you do look like you have a shiny nose!

I eat local honey and drink fresh ginger tea a lot. The honey because it contains local pollens and acts a bit like a homeopathic to stimulate the immune system. The ginger tea because it is an excellent antihistamine. I would drink Moringa tea if I could, which is even better. You can also see homeopathic remedy advice here in my previous post.

Next, I sit glued to my HEPA air filter. I have a Honeywell filter which has got to be over 20 years old now. This is so fantastic and is my real saving grace. It is quite noisy and you can’t get replacement filters now, so I have, in fact, just ordered a new one. It has a quiet mode so I can have it on next to me overnight as I swear that’s when it builds up for me – I just can’t sleep without a window open, especially in this heat!

Good filters can be quite pricey but, for me, mine has been worth its weight in gold over the years. Literally, with no meds and severe hayfever since my teens, it has been the one thing that has consistently, reliably calmed my system down. I generally use it for about a week at the start of the hayfever season until my immune system seems to kick in, and then I use it ad hoc as the pollen count gets to very high – as now!

This is the one I’ve gone for anyway – also good for cooking smells and we all know how much fish I eat! Hopefully, it will last me another 20 years! It’s being delivered today so I’ll keep you posted how I get on.

I have also finally ordered one of those red light hayfever devices, which some of you have been telling me about for years. I’ve not really needed one but this very high count currently has me thinking if it might help when I’m out and about – I can’t take my HEPA filter with me! I reckon I might be able to pop into a loo somewhere throughout the day to stick the prongs up my nose for two minutes! Here’s the one I’ve ordered, which is the same as the original one you can get from Lloyds Pharmacy from what I can tell, but we don’t have a Lloyds near us. Again, I’ll keep you posted.

Finally, I inhale essential oils. My favourites here are peppermint, which is wonderfully clearing, and lemon eucalyptus (eucalyptus citriodora), which just smells divine, clears passages and makes me feel good.

If I could, I would be taking Quercetin and Vitamin C at least, and probably HistoX, a mix of butterbur, nettle, mangosteen and ginger. You can read more about it here and get it in the UK via Amrita here – please use my name when registering. Butterbur has a fantastic pedigree and is the base of this product, which is why I like it.

For even more help and ideas, check my hayfever blog posts out here. That’s just reminded me I should also be doing my allergy energy medicine routine. So many things to do…! Anyway, I hope something there helps you or a loved one who is suffering at the moment. Bring on the rain, I say – sorry 😉