Hay fever is an allergic response to pollen that affects the mucous
membranes of the nose, eyes and air passages. Symptoms include watery
discharge from the nose and eyes sneezing and irritability.
This can be caused by the pollen of various grasses and plants,
timothy grass and rye grass cause most problems in the summer and tree
pollens peak in the spring; the pollen is air-borne and can be blown
over long distances in the breeze. It is a seasonal allergy.
Many of the symptoms of hay fever are similar to those of the
common cold, colds are often associated with mild fever and are
usually gone within a week, while hay fever sufferers often have a
feeling of being 'wiped out' for weeks on end. Most cases of hay fever
occur in the spring and summer when the antigen is grass pollen.
Pollen is recognised as a foreign body- an antigen. Like an infectious
molecule- such as a virus- it stimulates the immune system to generate
antibodies. Because of the action of these antibodies, the mucus
membranes in the nose and surrounding areas release histamine and
other substances, which are normally produced in response to
infection. The role of histamine is to dilate local blood vessels,
making them more permeable, and thereby helping components of the
immune system to get to work clearing up any irritation. As a result,
some people show the classic symptoms of itching, sneezing, a
streaming or blocked nose and itchy, red, watery eyes.
Around thirty per cent of people also experience wheezing or
breathlessness, this is known as 'pollen asthma.'
Conventional treatments consist of desensitisation injections,
these have shown to be of limited value; anti histamine tablets and
nasal sprays give some temporary relief and cause side effects of
drowsiness and effect co-ordination. In severe cases steroid
preparations are prescribed, these can depress more important immune
function, and tend to deepen the imbalance in the natural defence
system.
Homeopathic remedies can be used along side or instead of
conventional medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist's recommended
treatment maybe greatly enhanced by the addition of a homeopathic
remedy, do let him know if this is the case. Practitioners think of
homeopathic medicine as complementary as well as a valuable
alternative to orthodox medicine. Some drugs, steroids for example-
may slow down the homeopathic response, so far none appear to stop it.
Remedies are easy to administer usually in the form of powders,
granules, tablets or pills. They have a neutral or sweetish taste,
which makes them easy to take especially by children. In acute
conditions the response to a homeopathic remedy can be astonishingly
quick. In chronic (longer lasting) conditions cure may take longer
since there may be some bodily changes and weakness, these would need
to be dealt with by a qualified homeopath. Practitioners may well
recommend starting to treat before the hay fever season starts in
order to strengthen the patient's constitution and reduce their
sensitivity to pollens.
This process has been likened to peeling an onion-removing one
layer after another until the centre root cause is reached. A further
advantage of homeopathic treatments is that no side effects occur, on
some occasions it is possible that a patient's symptoms may worsen for
a short while as the body rebalances itself. In addition to being safe
and easy to give, free of side effects and often-quick acting in acute
illness, homeopathic remedies are inexpensive; an average course of
treatment costs very little in comparison with some modern drug
regimes.
SOME USEFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR HAY FEVER SUFFERERS
Try to avoid allergens;
