Hay Fever
(pollen allergy)

Hay fever is an allergic condition triggered by inhaled substances, frequently pollens. There are proactive steps one can take naturally to help relieve symptoms associated with hay fever.

Inhaled allergens trigger sneezing and inflammation of the nose and mucous membranes (conjunctiva) of the eyes. The nose, roof of the mouth, eyes, and throat begin to itch gradually or abruptly after the pollen season begins. Tearing, sneezing, and clear, watery nasal discharge soon follow the itching. Headaches and irritability may also occur.

These are the most important supplements and recommendations.

Helpful: AllerAid Herbal 90 tabs (ALL16) - AllerAid Herbal - for Hay Fever

Helpful: Oralmat Drops .33 oz (ORALM) - Oralmat Drops for Hay Fever

Hay fever, like all allergic reactions, is caused by allergens, foreign "invaders" that enter your body by inhalation, by swallowing, or through your skin.

In hay fever, the allergens are airborne substances that enter your airways (mouth, nose, throat, and lungs) via your breathing and the linings of your eyes and sometimes ears via direct contact.

Most of the time it is difficult to identify a specific allergen.

Once these allergens come in contact with your airway, the white blood cells of your immune system produce antibodies to the offending substance. This overreaction to a harmless substance is often called a hypersensitivity reaction.

The antibody, called immunoglobulin E, or IgE, is stored on special cells called mast cells.

When the antibody comes in contact with the corresponding antigen, they promote release of chemicals and hormones called "mediators." Histamine is an example of a mediator.

It is the effects of these mediators on organs and other cells that cause the symptoms of the allergic reaction, in this case hay fever.

Pollen

The most common allergens in hay fever are pollens. Pollen is small particles released by flowering plants. It is moved around by wind to other plants of the same species, which it fertilizes so that the plant can bloom again. Pollens from certain types of trees, grasses, and weeds (such as ragweed) are most likely to cause reactions. Pollens from other types of plants are less allergenic.

The time of year when a particular species of plant releases pollen, or "pollenates," depends on the local climate and what it normal for that species. Some species pollenate in the spring and others in the late summer and early fall. Generally, the farther north a plant is, the later in the season it pollenates. Variations in temperature and rainfall from year to year affect how much pollen is in the air in any given season.

Mold

The other common allergens in hay fever are molds. Molds are a type of fungus without stems, roots, or leaves. Mold spores float through the air like pollen until they find a hospitable environment. Unlike pollen, however, molds do not have a season. They are present throughout the year in most of the United States. Molds grow both outdoors and indoors. Outdoors, they thrive in soil, vegetation, and rotting wood. Indoors, molds (usually called mildew) live in places where air does not circulate freely, such as attics and basements, moist places such as bathrooms, and places where foods are stored, prepared, or discarded.

Risk Factors

• Family members with hay fever
• Repeated exposure to the allergen
• Other allergic conditions such as eczema or asthma
• Nasal polyps (small noncancerous growths in the lining of the nose)
• Symptoms decrease with age in some allergy sufferers, but not always.
• Bodily changes of pregnancy may make hay fever worse.

Oral antihistamines are often prescribed for relief of symptoms. These include diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Phen®), brompheniramine (e.g., Dimetapp®), cetirizine (Zyrtec®), clemastine (Tavist®), and others. Oral non-sedating H1-blockers are also recommended, including loratidine (Claritin®), terfenidine (Seldane®), and astemizole (Hismanal®). Sympathomimetic agents (e.g., phenylpropanolamine, phenylephrine, pseudoephedrine) are sometimes combined with antihistamines to counteract their tendency to cause drowsiness. Cromolyn sodium nasal spray (e.g., Nasalcrom®) may be recommended when antihistamines are ineffective. When nasal symptoms are not relieved by antihistamines, inhaled corticosteroids may be recommended.