Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an allergic response to
pollen that affects the mucous membranes of the
nose, eyes and air passages. Sore, puffy itchy watery eyes is no fun. Neither is continual sneezing and a runny or blocked nose. (My wife always sneezes in blocks of three - each one as loud as the other!)
Hay fever can be
inherited together with other allergic conditions such as eczema and asthma but food
sensitivites, such as wheat and diary, can cause problems as well. It may be worth consulting a good nutritionist.
Pollens are produced in the United Kingdom from
February to September. The concentration in the atmosphere increases as the weather warms up, peaking in
July. It's often in the
morning we feel it, when the pollen is carried into the atmosphere by the sun warming the air, and in the
evening when the pollen laden warm air descends. A Vogel's
Luffa Complex is a useful addition to your anti-hayfever armoury because of it's flexibility with a wide range of airbourne allergens, such as perfumes, animal fur and feathers.
The products we sell at
Elixir all work in different ways and unfortunately, because the causes of hay fever are different for each person, it's a question of sucking it and see which one works for you. Some work by trapping pollent before it reaches the inside of the nose, some line the mucous membrane inside the nose. Others like Quercetin and homeopatic remedies work in a different way.
Allergies are inflammatory conditions usually triggered by air- or food-borne pollens and chemicals called "allergens." Since these allergens are absorbed into the blood through the lungs, skin, or intestines,
Quercetin works by empowering allergy sufferers with an increased tolerance to histamines or allergens. Scientists speculate that it counteracts an enzyme that stimulates this inflammation.
On the other hand, I know a number of people who swear by
homeopathic remedies, such as Mixed Pollen or New Era's Combination H.
The
good news is that once you find a remedy which works for you, generally you're ok with that one for quite a while, season after season.
