Hayfever

About 40% of New Zealanders suffer from Hayfever and that number is increasing along with the incidence of other allergies such as eczema and asthma. In fact a large number of Hayfever sufferers also experience eczema and asthma.

Please find all products for Hayfever under the ASTHMA and HAYFEVER section on the left menu bar.**

Did you know that there are different kinds of hayfever that people experience?

There are 2 types of Hayfever.
Seasonal Hayfever:
This type only comes on when people are allergic to the particular flowers, pollens or dust mites around at that time of year. Seasonal hayfever can affect different people at different times. Some people experience it as early as spring with the release of new life from plant growth and the pollens from the flowers & trees. But for a lot of people it seems to begin in early summer and continue until summer is finished. Although some unlucky people are allergic to several different pollens that come out at different times of the year.

Perennial allergic rhinitis:
This second type of hayfever affects people all year round and is caused by the same triggers and presents with the same symptoms as seasonal hayfever.

What causes Hay fever?
Tree, grass and flower pollens
Animal hair
Dust
Feathers
Fungus
Molds
Lifestyle factors such as first or second hand smoke.
Diet - many hayfever sufferers have food allergies that they don't even know about the most common of which are eggs, fish, nuts, shellfish, wheat & dairy products.

Risk Factors

• Family history
• Having other allergies, such as food allergies, asthma or eczema
• Exposure to first & second hand cigarette smoke

Diagnosis
In children, observing behavior is helpful in diagnosis.Symptoms of allergic rhinitis may cause a child to wiggle the nose and push the nose upward with the palm of the hand to clear obstruction

Signs and Symptoms
Hay fever is known medically as Allergic rhinitis. Rhinitis meaning inflammation of the nose but its symptoms can affect several areas of the body & can cause many symptoms, including the following:

• Stuffy blocked nose or

•A runny nose; discharge is generally thin and clear unless it's left too long and develops into an infection in which case the nose mucus can become yellow or green.

• Sneezing some people experience sneezing attacks or repeated sneezing which can be both exhausting and embarrassing.

•Post-nasal drip - this is when there is a constant production of mucus in the nose that runs down the back of the throat. Mostly this is just annoying and causes the person to swallow more than usual although in some cases the throat can become irritated and sore.
•Red, itchy, and watery eyes - I have had clients whose eyes literally streamed with water all day long making them very uncomfortable.
•Swollen eyelids - this is all part of the inflammation process and can be uncomfortable. In women this can make wearing make up difficult also.
•Itchy mouth, throat, ears, and face. People will feel the need to put their fingers in their ears & move them around, hold their throat or move their throat muscles in an attempt to scratch the itch on the inside.

• Sore throat (called pharyngitis)
• Dry cough is common.

Overall of these symptoms can leave the person feeling tired and agitated. They can have

• Feelings of fullness and buzzing or ringing in the ears (called tinnitus)
• Headaches
• Partial loss of the senses of hearing, smell, and taste
• Fatigue
• Dark circles under the eyes

All of these are classic allergy signs.

So what body processes cause these reactions?
Our immune system is very clever and is designed to take care of us or protect us from invading organisms. In much the same way that we naturally respond to a cold or virus there are a series of reactions that take place. But with allergies the body is attacking something that we are breathing in - usually.
Hayfever is an allergic reaction which means our body is being exposed to something - usually pollen or dust that our body doesn't like. It often takes repeated exposure for the body to register it as an antigen. Once the body decides that pollen or dust is an antigen the next time the body is exposed to it, it will respond with all of it's forces and an inflammatory reaction will follow. This is when the body releases a series of chemicals (the most well known is Histamine) which can cause all the reactions we talked about.

This also includes contraction of the smooth muscles so we can also get broncho constriction or a spasming of the bronchial above the lungs in the upper respiratory system leading to asthma type symptoms & increased vascular permeability which means the blood vessels dilate letting more blood into the area & more inflammatory chemicals and so we go round and round with the symptoms getting worse and worse.

Your nose running is actually the result your body releasing a range of chemicals to try and protect the body from the allergen or invader by literally flushing it out. That's why one minute you can be sitting there enjoying your day and the next minute in the middle of a full blown attack.

What can we do about it?
Treatment:
As a Naturopath I believe that if the gut and Liver are healthy and happy then a person will not react to their external environment. I saw this first hand with a client of mine a few years ago.
When I first met him he was suffering from the worst Hayfever I have ever seen, his eyes streamed endlessly, he sneezed all day long, his throat was itchy and he was so irritated by everyone. He was miserable. He had a bad diet with lots of wheat and dairy and drank too much beer.

Slowly but surely we changed his diet and cut back on alcohol. Then he did a detox and cut out alcohol altogether for a year while he had a young child and his hayfever completely disappeared even though he had a big previt tree in his backyard!

Regardless of the type of hayfever you experience there is a lot we can do to alleviate symptoms and the approach to stopping someone from getting hayfever is the same. I guess the good news is there are tried and proven methods that can help with most people.

Firstly some common sense approaches:
•The first and most important step is to see a Naturopath and get an allergy or intolerance test done. Researches have found that people who react to pollens may also have a hypersensitivity to certain foods. For example several studies have found that people allergic to grass pollens also react to tomatoes, peanuts, wheat, apple, carrot, celery, peach, melon, eggs & pork.

By finding out what foods you are allergic to you can stop putting those foods into your body. If you don't know what you are allergic to you can repeatedly expose your body to allergens which can cause it to over react.

•Do a comprehensive gut reprogramming. We can change the way the body responds to allergens by controlling the cells that interact with the small intestine.
•A gentle detox is a great place to start while doing this gut work. Take the load off the liver and clean out any unwanted fecal matter that might be affecting the body.

If the liver and small intestines are happy you will find you simply do not react as much to external triggers.

What you can do around the house:

• Try to avoid the pollens or allergens. If you have a privet tree- cut it down or move house.
• When your allergy season arrives and you are happy to - stay indoors as much as possible.

•Keep your windows and doors closed. I know this sounds extreme but for some people their hay fever is debilitating & they need to get a break from it.
•Instead of driving with your windows down use short bursts of your air conditioner to keep the car cool and the air fresh. Or install a pollen filter in your car.

• If you exercise, do it in the morning before the grasses have had their midday pollination.
• If you must do work outside in your garden use a mask and goggles.
• Shower as soon as you come inside, wash your hair as pollen can stay in your hair for a long time and change your clothes.
• Dry your laundry inside the house as they can collect pollens while on the line.
• If you are not allergic to pets and have them, then keep them either inside or out as they too can collect pollens.
• Get a really good quality air filter for your home.
• Prepare your house by vacuuming regularly.
• Wrap mattresses up and regularly clean house hold linens.

In terms of symptom relief:
People have 2 choices. Either the orthodox medical model or natural therapies.

Orthodox treatment
Is focused on trying to cut off those signals or reactions from the body which are their in response to the allergen. Some of the most common approached are Anti-Histamines, decongestants and steroid medications which have side effects including drowsiness and irritability. More seriously hayfever medication can interfere with other medications that people are on for high blood pressure, thyroid disease, heart disease and depression.

There are 5 main approaches to medical treatment:
Anti histamines
Decongestants
Steroids
Preventative medication
Immunotherapy

ANTI HISTAMINES.
The most common ones are Anti histamines- these drugs help control symptoms such as sneezing, itching & runny noses. They don't assist with blocked noses and only work for some people. They invariably leave people drowsy or with foggy heads.

DECONGESTANTS
help to relieve the swollen membranes of the nose primarily with the aim of making it easier for people to breathe.
Unfortunately many decongestants actually promote histamine release which can result in a rebound effect that may actually result in more congestion. Pharmacists will only recommend them for short term use because of this. Side effects include irritability and drowsiness. Decongestants may interact with other medications for high blood pressure, thyroid disease, heart disease & depression.

STEROIDS
If the reaction is serious a person can be given full body or systemic steroids which have a life saving response and are really amazing but shouldn't be used just to control Hayfever. Common nasal sprays can also contain steroids and I have heard of people having quite serious problems after long term use.
Other medications can be taken before the person goes into contact with allergens that they know they will have an allergic reaction to. This medication contains Cromolyn sodium. As a naturopath I don't believe this is the best way to look after our bodies.

IMMUNOTHERAPY
is an method of desensitisaton that tries to control allergic rhinitis in individuals where the allergen has been identified. Success rates are up to 80-90% for certain people with certain allergens. Treatment involves a series of injections containing an extract of the allergen over a period of months. Over this time the treatment causes a change in the way the body responds to the allergen, specifically antigen-specific immunoglobulin G is formed and this lowers antigen-specific IgE.

It can take approximately 6-12 months before any improvements are noted by people and can only be continued for 3-5 years.
It doesn't work for everyone and is only indicated in cases where the symptoms are really affecting the person's life or where the patient has not responded to other medical treatments.

Criteria for this is:
The allergen is known and is in the patients immediate environment and not easily avoided. E.g. dust mites or mould spores.

RISKS:
The person can experience severe systemic allergic reactions which are even more severe or dangerous.
The person is asked to consider of both the risks and benefits .


NATURAL REMEDIES
Firstly there is a lot of work we can do with lifestyle
the diet. Start by making sure you eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables every day, and also include fresh nuts and seeds in your diet on a regular basis. That means you'll be getting good levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamins C and E.
If you have any food allergies, eliminate those items from your diet. Even if you don't have any identified food allergy, reducing the intake of foods that may stimulate inflammation (such as meats, dairy products, sugar, and highly processed foods) may improve your symptoms.

Essential Fatty acids
Use Olive oil or rice bran oil instead of soy or safflower.
People with hayfever may require more Essential fatty acids in general to help with that inflammation so increasing EFA rich foods such as such as cold-water fish the oily ones like salmon & tuna are great, flaxseeds or flax seed oil, and walnuts is a good idea.

Supplements to think about would be
1.Omega 3 Essential fatty acids - omega 3 play a role in regulating the inflammatory processes in the body. The slow inflammation down.
Evening primrose Oil - another oil containing a chemical called GLA which is also anti inflammatory.
2. Probiotics - probiotics helpt to support the immune system, gut mucosa and control inflammation.
3.Bioflavonoids Bromelain & quercitin
These 2 bioflavonoids work together so a good supplement with have them in a combined product.
Bromelain is anti inflammatory & may help suppress cough, reduce nasal mucus associated with sinusitis, and relieve the swelling and inflammation caused by hay fever.
Quercetin inhibits the production and release of histamine & therefore the symptoms of hayfever.

3. Vitamins
vitamin C helps to prevent the secretion of histamine, and aids your body in processing it. High levels of histamine are associated with low levels of vitamin C, so it's important to keep up your intake of Vitamin C. It's good to get one that won't irritate the gut and there are some available that are combined with bioflavonoids. Ester C Vitamin C is buffered and contains some bioflavonoids.
In an experimental setting doses of 2ooomg of vit C was shown to improve recovery from hayfever.

Vitamin A
vitamin A is helpful for the maintenance of all your bodies mucous membranes which are often affected by Hayfever including the nose, throat and eyes.

Vitamin E
High levels of vitamin E appear to offer some protection from hay fever, and are also associated with a decreased tendency to become sensitised to allergens.
Research also indicates that taking additional vitamin E in high doses (up to 1200IU per day, in conjunction with other hay fever treatment), may reduce the severity of nasal hay fever symptoms.
Researchers believe that the antioxidant actions of vitamin E may help to explain this effect by helping to reduce the body's overall level of immune inflammation. Vitamin E also has effects on histamine levels in the body.

4.Minerals:
Zinc: Boosts immune function.

Magnesium -stops spasming of the air ways. A recently published article in the European journal of clinical nutrition showed that a 2 month supplementation of magnesium decreased asthma and allergy symptoms by over 70% of participants.

5.Herbs
There are some fabulous combinations of herbs available that people can research and get for themselves however if you are on medications then it really is best that you consult with a professional medical herbalist registered with the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (all NZ Health Shop Naturoapths and Herbalists are) because herbs, like other medications can interact with other medications. Practitioners can help you by using homeopathic herbs that don't have any interactions with drugs. Please call our office 0800 4 NZ Health.

The main Herbs used to treat hayfever are:
Horse radish- it frees nasal passages and clears the way for you to be able to breathe again.

Garlic - I love Garlic! Garlic supports the upper respiratory system & is anti bacterial and anti fungal. It is also contains sulphur which helps with liver function.

Eyebright- great for hayfever with the itchy or runny eyes.

Perilla - has a long history in China used to manage allergies.

Marshmallow - soothes irritated surfaces in the nose, throat and respiratory tract.

Goldenseal- another herb to care for the mucus membranes it is also anti bacterial so will kill any fungus or mould spores that may be causing trouble.

Echinacea a great overall immune system regulator. It has natural anti allergy actions.

Fenugreek- it works to dry up mucus in the respiratory passages.

If you are pregnant you need to be very careful and read all information and labels before taking a product to treat your hayfever. I really do recommend you see a professional Naturopath during this time.

6.Other approaches to treatment are
Homeopathy: Homeopathy works by matching the symptoms the person is experiencing with the right vibration or frequency. Go to see a homeopath or grab one of the pre-made and combination type remedies. They really do work. Homeopaths can also treat the mother and father before they make their baby. They can treat a baby so that they don't get allergies and they can de-sensitize teenagers and adults too. It's worth giving it a go.

Acupuncture:
In one study that included 45 people with hay fever, acupuncture was as effective as antihistamine therapy in improving symptoms and the beneficial effects appeared to last longer. Treatment can include needling and or moxibustion where they use a herb to increase heat into particular areas of the body.

Summary:
Well as you know in Auckland we have a lot of pollution and hayfever so I get a lot of inquiries about hayfever. What I find most effective is a multi pronged approach. I use lifestyle and dietary changes & vitamins and minerals to improve their overall health & vitality.

I find out what your allergies are, get you to avoid those foods, fix the gut, take the load of the liver. While this is happening we use specific herbs and nutrients in combination with homeopathic treatment to reduce symptoms.

The good news is that you definitely can use natural therapies to reduce and even completely remove hayfever from your life. It just depends on you!

Please find all products for Hayfever under the ASTHMA and HAYFEVER section on the left menu bar.**

This article is the property of New Zealand Health Shop Limited and was written by Kirsten Taylor, N.D, M.D.