…and many of you are probably thinking that there is no way to avoid the dreaded symptoms. 

If you’ve ever suffered with hay fever, you know how miserable it can be. 

One minute you’re enjoying a bit of sunshine and the next you’re sneezing your head off!

Fortunately, there are several natural remedies you can use in order to stay away from chemicals and pharmaceutical products. 

If you suffer from hayfever/allergies

You’re probably already familiar with the common advice – 

Avoid alcohol, drink more water and consider taking an antihistamine.

But what else can you do to relieve your symptoms? 

We’ve dug a little deeper and come up with some natural ways to find relief.

Pinpoint the triggers

What you’re allergic to might change throughout the year, so it’s important to keep track of when your symptoms appear and what you were doing just before they began. That might help you pinpoint which allergens trigger your symptoms. It’s not just one type of pollen that causes an allergic reaction. Certain plants release their pollen at different times of the year.. Pinpointing your triggers will help you identify when to take measures to avoid them.

It might not just be pollen – other things like smoke, dust or even certain foods could be making it worse. You may have to do some detective work to find your triggers so you can avoid them. Some people only have hayfever in the summer, but others have symptoms year-round. The most common triggers include:

1. Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds
2. Dust mites
3. Mould spores
4. Pet dander (dead skin cells)

Take Vitamins C, D & E

Vitamin C for hay fever: Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory agent that has been shown to reduce symptoms of allergies if taken regularly. It’s available in pill form or as an additive in food products such as yoghurt and cheese. If you prefer getting your vitamin C through food, make sure it is fortified with vitamin C. Vitamin C supplements are a great way to ease the symptoms without any negative side effects. The best type is ascorbic acid, which comes from vitamin C and acts on the same receptors as corticosteroids — used in prescription medicines for allergies. Take 500 mg of ascorbic acid two or three times a day. If you’re taking more than this, you might get stomach upset. If you don’t like taking pills, you can also find pure vitamin C in tablets, powders and liquids. 

Vitamin D for hay fever: The sunshine vitamin is so called because our bodies make it when our skin is exposed to sunlight. It is also found naturally in some foods like oily fish and egg yolks. But the main source of it is from exposure to sunlight on the skin. One study showed that children who took vitamin D supplements regularly had fewer respiratory infections. That’s because vitamin D is essential in the formation of both the immune system and lung tissue.

Vitamin E for hay fever: One of the best things you can do for hay fever is take vitamin E. This vitamin can be used in several different forms to treat the allergic reactions that cause hay fever symptoms in many people. You can take it orally or apply it topically in both oil and cream form (why not try both?) Vitamin E is safe to take and has been proven in studies to help with some seasonal allergy symptoms. It works by reducing inflammation and moisturising the skin, which helps with itchiness and prevents flakiness.

How To Use Essential Oils For Hay Fever Relief

Essential oils may help you find relief from your symptoms as they’ve been shown to be effective in treating allergies and hay fever.

• Peppermint oil: Mix 5 drops of peppermint oil with 2 tablespoons of olive or almond oil. Use the mixture to massage the base of your neck. The peppermint oil has antihistamine properties that will help relieve nasal congestion and soothe your throat that may become irritated from constant sneezing.

• Eucalyptus oil: Add 3 drops of eucalyptus oil to 1 cup of boiling water. Place a towel over your head and breathe in the steam for 10 minutes. Eucalyptus oil has decongestant properties that will help clear your sinuses quickly.

• Lavender oil: Add 5 drops of lavender oil to 2 cups of boiling water. Place a towel over your head and breathe in the steam for 10 minutes. Lavender oil can be used as an antihistamine to relieve hay fever symptoms like sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. It also has antibacterial properties.

5 Herbs To Treat Hay Fever Symptoms

In my experience, nothing works better than herbs. They can be taken in many forms, including tincture (liquid extract), tea, or capsules. I prefer tinctures because they are fast-acting and easy to take with you wherever you go.

1. Nettle (Urtica Dioica) – This is one of the most effective herbs against hay fever, sinusitis, and asthma. It is a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium, iron and more. The herb acts as an antihistamine, and reduces inflammation.

2. Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) – This herb has been used for centuries to relieve redness and swelling in the eyes and sinuses.

3. Elderflower (Sambucus): Can reduce swelling in the lungs, helping ease allergic reactions. Used for centuries to treat fevers. 

4. Butterbur (Petasites hybridus): The roots of this plant have long been used for medicinal purposes. Butterbur contains petasin and isopetasin, two chemicals that are known to reduce hayfever symptoms. 

5. Quercetin (Flavonoid): This plant-based chemical can help to relieve hayfever by reducing inflammation associated with allergic reactions.

Commonly Asked Questions About Hay Fever

Is hay fever worse in spring?

There are several different types of pollen, released from flowering plants at various times of year. Tree pollen is most common in the spring. Grass pollen is most common in late spring and early summer. Weed pollens such as ragweed are usually more common in late summer and early autumn.

Why is my hayfever worse in June?

There’s a reason why your hayfever gets worse in June (and July/August/September). That’s because your immune system responds differently when it encounters a variety of pollen types. In spring, it’s most likely that you’re reacting to tree pollen (most people are allergic to birch), but in summer you’re probably reacting to grass pollen which is much more difficult for your immune system to manage.

How do you permanently get rid of hay fever?

While the commonly held line, is that there is no way to get rid of hayfever, there are many steps that you can take to mitigate the symptoms. This could appear that you’re allergy has gone, but if you begin to fall back on your healthy lifestyle choices then the hay fever will come back. Taking time to detox and reduce the amount of toxins you consume via your diet or environment can reduce the toll on your body. Meaning that it may be able to cope with the added burden of grass or tree pollen as it’s not battling alcohol, junk food or cigarette habits. 

The Bottom Line

For many, allergy season is in full swing, with the early spring blooms sending even the most mild-mannered of hay fever sufferers into a sneezing fit. While there are a number of over-the-counter medications available to combat the symptoms, some people prefer to take a more natural approach. Why not give a few of the above approaches a try? Add in some nettle tea to your daily routine, or browse our natural treatments for hay fever. 

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