Spring is a wonderful time of the year – the air is fresh, more and more sun every day, and the trees are waking up. For most people spring means a new beginning, time to enjoy longer days and warmer weather. For other people spring means lots of sneezing, runny nose, red and itchy eyes, and low energy. Hay fever comes for them every year, and anti- allergy medications come out of medicine cabinets.
Allergies in general, including hay fever are caused by immune system being out of balance, when immune system over-reacts to non-harmful substances like pollen. It does not seem like a big issue, since anti-allergy medications are readily available, but let’s look a little deeper into the situation.
Anti-allergy medications like Benadryl and other so called anticholinergic drugs have serious side effects. JAMA Internal Medicine Study links anticholinergic drugs like Benadryl to dementia and Alzheimer’s. 1 The more you use anticholinergic drugs, the higher the chances to get those diseases later in life. Claritin, anti-allergy medication side effects include nervousness, drowsiness, headaches and stomach aches, just to name a few. 3
A randomized controlled trial compared homeopathic remedies versus placebo for perennial allergic rhinitis. Participants who received homeopathic remedies had a 28 percent improvement in nasal air flow compared with 3 percent among those in the placebo group. 2 Here are several natural, safe, effective homeopathic remedies that help to alleviate immediate symptoms of allergies.
Allium Cepa – made from common onion this remedy’s main symptom is profuse tears that do not irritate the skin, and the nose that runs like a faucet. Eyes are itching, burning, just like when you cut that fresh onion for dinner. There is frequent sneezing and the person is thirsty. Nasal discharge is acrid and makes the upper lip sore. Symptoms are worse indoors, in warm room.
Euphrasia – made from a plant called Eyebright, this remedy has a profound effect on eyes. Eyes water constantly causing burning and itching. Eye discharge is acrid, burning and might be thick. Nose discharge is profuse but not acrid. Allium Cepa is the opposite – eye discharge is bland, and nose discharge is acrid. Frequent sneezing is worse at night, but cough is better at night. Sun and wind make allergies worse. Symptoms are better in a dark room.
Gelsemium – made from a beautiful flowering plant it is one of the great remedies for flu and is also helpful for allergies. Nose is tingling and nose discharge is burning. There is a lot of sneezing. The person is thirstless, has dull headache and slight fever. Eyelids are heavy, chills might run up and down the spine. Allergies are worse in humid weather and maybe aggravated by bad news.
Sabadilla – another plant remedy that is very helpful for hay fever. Copious nose discharge with spasmodic sneezing fits. Violent cough attacks which bring tears. Nose and roof of the mouth are itching. Eyes are watery, hot, red, burning lids but the discharge does not irritate the skin. The person is thirstless but the mouth is dry. Constant inclination to swallow. Allergies are better with warm food and drinks.
Homeopathic remedies can relieve immediate symptoms in acute stages of allergies but for permanent relief deeper investigation of the core reasons for your allergies is needed. If every fall or spring you suffer from seasonal allergies, or in winter and summer you react to dust and mold, it is time to seek help from a professional homeopath to address the underlying condition.
References:
- Cumulative Use of Strong Anticholinergics and Incident DementiaA Prospective Cohort Study
Shelly L. Gray, PharmD, MS1; Melissa L. Anderson, MS2; Sascha Dublin, MD, PhD2,3; et al Joseph T. Hanlon, PharmD, MS4; Rebecca Hubbard, PhD2,5,6; Rod Walker, MS2; Onchee Yu, MS2; Paul K. Crane, MD, MPH7; Eric B. Larson, MD, MPH2,7
JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(3):401-407. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.7663
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2091745
- Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis with overview of four trial series
Morag A Taylor, research associate,a David Reilly, honorary senior lecturer in medicine,a Robert H Llewellyn-Jones, lecturer,b Charles McSharry, principal immunologist,c and Tom C Aitchison, senior lecturer in statisticsd
BMJ. 2000 Aug 19; 321(7259): 471–476. PMCID: PMC27460 PMID: 10948025
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27460/
- Claritin side effects
https://www.rxlist.com/claritin-side-effects-drug-center.htm