Pollination is the process of moving pollen from one plant to another. It is through this process that plant reproduction happens. Unfortunately, along with staying on mission to fertilize plants and tree flowers, pollen particles often end up in our noses, eyes, ears and mouths.
Pollen allergy, most commonly known as hay fever, inflicts one out of ten individuals. Hay fever is seasonal allergic rhinitis and it is characterized by regular bouts of sneezing, a runny, clogged or itchy nose, itchy, watery red eyes, and an itchy throat.
The awful truth
Allergic rhinitis is serious and debilitating. Unchecked, allergic rhinitis can affect your quality of life. Not only does it cause nasal obstruction, excessive sneezing and watery eyes. It also causes sleep disturbances and consequently, daytime fatigue. Moreover, chronic attacks of allergic rhinitis make one susceptible to viral and bacterial infections which can lead to worsening of asthma and respiratory ailments.
Unfortunately, a lot of people who suffer from allergic rhinitis misdiagnose themselves and think they are suffering from the common cold.
A taste of its own medicine
Since pollen come from plants, fight back allergic rhinitis with other plants! Yes, there are herbal ways to soothe allergies so that spending time outdoors won’t be punctuated by red eyes, itchy noses and nasal congestion and make outdoor fun a challenge.
Herbs are generally considered to be quite safe, and they can be an important addition to your natural allergy treatment regimen. However, be aware that natural substances are contraindicated for some conditions and they can affect the way your body utilizes certain medications.
The following herbs are listed in the literature as natural antihistamines or decongestants
- Bromelain shows promise in decreasing the inflammation associated with allergies. It is often used in combination with quercetin.
- Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) has been found to block both histamine and leukotrienes. Relieves nasal allergy symptoms.
- Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) may help soothe irritated eyes.
- Magnesium helps calm lower respiratory allergies and wheezing.
- Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica/urens) have been shown to slightly improve allergy symptoms and have historically been used for that purpose.
- Vitamin C appears to counter histamine and decrease allergy symptoms.
- Zinc helps control inflammation in the respiratory tract and support proper immune function.
Sugar pie honey bunch
Aside from the above suggested remedies, you may also try honey. It may seem odd that straight exposure to pollen often triggers allergies but that exposure to pollen in the honey usually has the opposite effect. But this is typically what we see.
In honey, the allergens are delivered in small, manageable doses, and the effect over time is very much like that from undergoing a whole series of allergy immunology injections. The major difference, though, is that the honey is a lot easier to take, and it is certainly a lot less expensive. One will be always surprised that this powerful health benefit of local honey is not more widely understood, as it is simple, easy and often surprisingly effective.
Pharmaceutical companies have huge budgets and can fund studies, but with honey, this scientific research doesn’t seem to get funded; thus, most evidence we have is what we see, anecdotal evidence. That, however, can be and often is important; sometimes or actually often, such evidence proves very useful.