Symptoms

In spring, many people suffer from annual bouts of hay fever. Affected areas are the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory passages, mainly the sinuses, eyes, nose and throat. The resulting irritation and inflammation cause *itching, redness, swelling and lots of *mucus. The puffy, watery eyes, itchy, runny nose, sneezing, and plugged sinuses can feel like the burden of a head *cold, but tend to last much longer. The *throat is also irritated and sore, and the roof of the mouth tends to itch. A nervous irritability, hypersensitivity and dull *fatigue persist. Symptoms are at their worst immediately following contact with the allergic substance. Hay fever is sometimes combined with other types of *allergies, including *asthma and allergic *eczema. (see also Allergies)

Negative reports on prescription, or over-the-counter antihistamines and steroids, have prompted many to seek safer, more natural alternatives to these commonly used allergy symptom-suppressing drugs. Whether these drugs are swallowed, inhaled or rubbed onto the skin, they have long term deleterious effects on the immune system. Dependency is a common problem and they really do not offer a cure.

Causes

Pollinating trees and flowers irritate the mucous membranes in the early spring, and freshly cut grasses and weeds tend to be more of a summer problem. If symptoms continue into late fall, tree mold spores are often the cause, although *allergies to other substances should also be investigated, including dust, feathers and animal hair.

Hay fever is an allergy, an overreaction of the immune system to a particular substance in the environment. It is not exactly known what causes the immune system to react so strongly, but the number of allergic responses is definitely on the rise, indicating environmental and lifestyle causes. Increased toxins in our food, air and water have challenged the immune system. As with all allergies, *stress and a diet of refined, processed and packaged foods weaken the system.

Nutrition

The treatment of hidden food allergies, nutritional imbalances and deficiencies produces a significant reduction or disappearance of allergic symptoms of any etiology. Studies have shown an association between sugar consumption and allergic symptoms. Eliminating sugar from the diet, including the natural sugar found in fruit juices goes a long way towards helping normalize the immune system.

Begin treatment with a short, cleansing juice fast, with drinks made from chlorophyll-rich green and leafy vegetables to help purify the blood. Introduce plenty of raw foods to stimulate the immune system. Give preference to non-mucus-forming foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, natural, unsweetened yogurt and kefir, and seafood. Avoid fatty meats and processed dairy products which are mucus-forming.

The common white bean is beneficial to people suffering from hay fever because of the pantothenic acid it contains. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) participates in the production of acetylcholine which acts to detoxify mucous membrances. Other foods containing pantothenic acid are peas, carrots, cauliflower, soy beans, nutritional yeast, bran, nuts and eggs.

Nutritional Supplements

Sufficient vitamin A is essential for the health of the mucous membranes throughout the respiratory tract. Vitamin E is an effective antihistamine. Taken together for three months before the season begins, vitamins A and E have been used effectively to treat hay fever. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids is highly recommended to prevent and reduce symptoms.
Deficiencies in essential fatty acids (GLA and omega-3 EPA) can aggravate allergic conditions and are often seen as dry skin, *eczema or, in women, *PMS. Eat cold-water fish to obtain these essential fatty acids.

Vitamin C studies have shown that, in very high doses, it has properties similar to antihistamines but without the weight gain and drowsiness seen with common antihistaminic drugs. The only side-effect is loose bowel movements or *diarrhea if the dose taken is too high for the given individual.

Bicarbonate powder (calcium, magnesium and potassium bicarbonate mixture) can also be used to neutralize allergic reactions. Thymus gland extract and Lactobacillus acidophilus are two other immune-optimizing natural remedies to consider.

Daily Dosages

Source: Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Siegfried Gursche and Zoltan Rona