What to do if you have hay fever? Declare war on your pollen allergy!

Veröffentlicht am: October 09, 2024
Dr. med. Wolfgang  Bachmann
Dr. med. Wolfgang Bachmann

General practitioner

The days are getting longer, temperatures are rising and nature is awakening. That can only mean one thing: Spring is just around the corner! But what's one man's joy is another man's sorrow, because: The start of spring also heralds the allergy season every year, because as it gets warmer, the pollen starts to fly.

Climate change has a major influence on the pollen count and therefore on the spread of hay fever. In recent years, pollen allergy sufferers have often had to deal with the first symptoms of hay fever even before the official start of spring, as double-digit temperatures at the beginning of the year led to increased pollen counts, especially from alder and hazel. The current pollen count calendar provides a good overview of when the pollen count from birch, grasses and the like is at its highest.

➤ The pollen season now lasts up to twelve days longer than it did 30 years ago!

Contents

Hay fever: the most common form of allergy

More and more people are affected by allergies and hay fever in particular. Over the last few decades, the number of people affected by allergies has increased up to twenty-fold in some cases. In concrete terms, this means that almost a third of all adults now suffer from an allergy. The absolute "front runner" in these statistics is hay fever, as almost 15% of adults are allergic to pollen. And hay fever in children is also a major issue, with one in 10 children now suffering from hay fever. 

Pollen, grass and co. - causes and triggers of hay fever

Allergies - whether to pollen, house dust or gluten - always occur when our immune system mistakenly classifies a harmless substance that is foreign to the body as dangerous. The result: an immune response in the form of an allergic reaction. This means for hay fever sufferers: If the body comes into contact with a birch pollen, for example, it releases large amounts of histamine, which in turn triggers the hay fever symptoms. 

While some hay fever allergy sufferers only experience hay fever symptoms from a single type of pollen, many are allergic to several types of pollen and are therefore affected by their hay fever for several months of the year. Grass pollen triggers an allergy particularly frequently, closely followed by beech pollen (birch, alder and hazel). How long hay fever lasts depends on which and how many pollens sufferers are allergic to. 

 Other factors such as stress can also influence the severity and duration of hay fever.

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

A pollen allergy restricts the quality of life of many people year after year, as those affected often suffer greatly from the symptoms of their hay fever. The nasal mucosa and conjunctiva are particularly affected by allergic inflammation. The most common symptoms are therefore

  • Stuffy or runny nose (runny nose)
  • Sneezing stimulus
  • Itching in the mouth, nose or throat
  • Watery, reddened and itchy eyes

Furthermore, those affected also repeatedly report fatigue, a general feeling of illness or breathing problems. Important to know: Hay fever and asthma are closely linked.

➤ 40% of people who suffer from a pollen allergy will develop allergic asthma within a few years if they are not treated!

Hay fever treatment and relief: What helps against hay fever?

Our eyes are burning, our nose is running and we feel faint. In short: unfortunately, pollen allergies have us firmly in their grip. So what can we do about hay fever? Do we have to take pills? Or are there perhaps effective natural substances and home remedies for hay fever?

There are many products on the market, but most of them only serve to treat the symptoms. This means that although they work in the short term and provide relief, they do not tackle the causes of hay fever. In addition, many medications for pollen allergies also have long-term side effects. With nasal sprays, for example, there is a risk of addiction and irritation of the mucous membranes if taken over a longer period of time. Such medication should therefore only be taken for a short time. Many hay fever tablets and hay fever remedies also make sufferers very tired during the day and cause restless sleep at night. 

A range of home remedies for pollen allergies and various natural food supplements have therefore proven to be a good and holistic alternative to medication. These natural remedies are particularly useful for children with hay fever, as children are often even more affected by the side effects of hay fever medication than adults. Testimonials from pollen allergy sufferers and various studies report that the following substances prove to be particularly successful in the fight against hay fever:

  • Black cumin oil contains linolenic acids, which reduce the body's own allergic response. Other ingredients that are effective against hay fever are various essential oils that relieve inflammatory reactions such as burning eyes and the substance thymoquinone, which has a regulating effect on the symptoms of hay fever. 
  • Krill oil contains valuable omega-3 fatty acids, which primarily alleviate the symptoms of hay fever. In addition, taking krill oil even reduces the risk of developing an allergy in the first place.
  • According to studies, just one teaspoon of spirulina a day helps to prevent histamines, which cause hay fever symptoms, from being released in the first place. This can significantly alleviate symptoms such as sneezing, itching or nasal congestion.

➤ O ne in two people don't take pollen allergies seriously and only treat them acutely!

The 3 most important facts about hay fever

Treating hay fever holistically

In addition to these natural remedies to combat hay fever, it also makes sense to strengthen the immune system in principle, as a well-functioning and balanced immune system is the key to combating hay fever and other allergies. As 80% of our immune system is located in the gut, it is only logical to start here. Intestinal cleansing, in which intestinal health is rebuilt or supported from the ground up, is particularly effective in the fight against hay fever and allergies.

1. the right diet as a first step

Intestinal cleansing starts with the right diet. Eat pure, unprocessed foods. 75% of your food should be purely plant-based as it contains a lot of fiber. Make sure you get enough valuable omega 3 fatty acids in your diet (avocados, linseed, almonds, olive oil, etc.) and balance your omega 3 to omega 6 ratio. You should also consume sufficient protein. Psyllium husks are also extremely useful, as they have a cleansing effect on the intestines.

2. beneficial intestinal bacteria for health

Also make sure to include probiotic and prebiotic foods in your diet, as these support our gut's own health-promoting bacteria. Good bacteria help to cleanse the gut and ensure that the digestive process runs smoothly.

Alternatively, you can also take probiotics and prebiotics in the form of food supplements. This will strengthen your immune system in the long term. In order to benefit as a pollen allergy sufferer, you should ideally take probiotics regularly and before the start of the pollen season.

3. a detoxification against parasites

A detox can also be very helpful to cleanse your gut, as intestinal parasites can colonize our digestive tract without us noticing. These put a strain on our intestinal health and develop toxic metabolic products, as a result of which our health suffers. The symptoms are usually very unspecific, which is why we do not associate them with parasites. The organic sulphur MSM, for example, which is found throughout our body, has an antiparasitic effect.

Extra tip: raw honey from the region

Raw honey is an ideal home remedy for hay fever. Many studies confirm the effectiveness of regional honey against hay fever, as it contains precisely the pollen that triggers symptoms. This hardens your immune system.

8 tips against hay fever for every day

1. drink enough!

Drink eight to ten glasses of water a day. As soon as your body becomes dehydrated, you will find it difficult to expel any mucus that forms.

2. take care to minimize your exposure to pollen!

On days with a high pollen count or when it is particularly dusty and windy outside, you should limit your time outdoors. If this is not possible, you should wear a breathing mask.

3. take a shower before going to bed!

Pollen and dust on the skin and in the hair can increase the symptoms at night.

4. wash clothes and bedding regularly!

Freshly washed laundry helps to reduce the pollen load.

5. wipe the fur of your pets!

Pets that have spent time outdoors bring countless pollen into the house. Wipe them down with a damp washcloth to reduce the amount of pollen and dust.

6. replace carpets with hard floor coverings!

Carpets attract dust and pollen and hold them so tightly that you can hardly remove them with regular vacuuming. If you suffer from severe allergy symptoms, you should replace carpets with easy-to-clean floor coverings.

7. clean up!

Clutter contributes to increased dust and allergen levels in the home, which exacerbate seasonal allergy symptoms. Create order, especially in the bedroom, to reduce exposure.

8. keep windows and doors closed!

On days with a high pollen count or when it is very dusty, you should keep windows and doors closed to minimize your exposure to pollen.

The no-gos: what you should avoid if you have hay fever

If the symptoms of hay fever occur, there is no need to look far for the culprit in the body. Histamines are responsible for the development of allergy symptoms, which is why allergy sufferers should avoid foods that contain large amounts of histamine as much as possible during the pollen season. These include red wine, cheese, shellfish and crustaceans. As a rule of thumb, you can remember The longer a product has matured or fermented, the more histamine it contains. Histamine-containing foods can therefore exacerbate the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. 

You should also avoid inflammation-promoting foods such as refined sugar, refined oils and large quantities of dairy and meat products in order to minimize the strain on your gut and therefore your immune system.

Conclusion:

Hay fever sufferers usually want nothing more than a quick solution. However, most products on the market are purely for acute symptom treatment. However, you should take your allergy seriously, as even a "harmless" pollen allergy can worsen and even trigger asthma if left untreated. If you want to get to the root of the problem and look for a long-term solution, you also need to treat your hay fever holistically. Many natural substances such as black cumin oil, spirulina or krill oil help to combat hay fever from the ground up. A strong immune system is also essential for pollen allergy sufferers, and the best basis for this is a healthy intestinal flora. Build this up sustainably and over the long term with the right diet, support from probiotics and prebiotics, detoxification and avoiding inflammation-promoting foods and you will see that your hay fever will improve over time.

 

Sources (in English): 

Cingi, C., Conk-Dalay, M., Cakli, H. & BAl, C. (2008, October). The effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitis. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 265(10):1219-23

Hajhashemi, V., Ghannadi, A. & Jafarabadi, H. (2004, March). Black cumin seed essential oil, as a potent analgesic and antiinflammatory drug. Phytotherapy Research, 18(3):195-9

Fujimura, K. E. & Lynch, S. V. (2015, May). Microbiota in allergy and asthma and the emerging relationship with the gut microbiome. Cell Host & Microbe, 17(5):592-602, doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.04.007

Man, L. X. (2009, June). Complementary and alternative medicine for allergic rhinitis. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, 17(3):226-31, doi: 10.1097/MOO.0b013e3283295791