Hay Fever season hits with a vengeance!

Hay fever season has hit with a vengeance with allergy experts predicting a particularly severe allergy season. “According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this past autumn was wetter than normal and this winter has seen drier-than-average conditions. That makes the coming pollen season a mixed bag across Australia. An El Nino forecast for 2015-2016 could shorten the pollen season in some parts of Australia but elsewhere allergy sufferers may be in for a tough few months ahead.” (nationalasthma.org.au)

Canberra and Sydney are expected to bear the brunt, with Melbourne sufferers having an easier time according to Associate Professor Ed Newbigin from the University or Melbourne and coordinator of the Melbourne pollen count.

Experts are warning sufferers to limit their time outside to prevent or minimise their allergy symptoms.

You could follow that advice, or you could seek help from a Constitutional Homeopath!

Homeopathy has proven better than placebo in many clinical trials. Homeopathy can be used acutely to treat the symptoms of hay fever, or constitutionally. Constitutional Homeopathy treats the entire individual from the bottom up, it strengthens the body as a whole to treat the underlying cause of allergies and any other issues that may be present, both physically and mentally. This is in contrast to conventional treatment which simply seeks to suppress the symptoms rather than treating the cause.

Homeopathy involves matching the person’s symptoms to the symptoms produced by the remedy when given to a healthy person. We could line up 5 people with hay fever, and depending on their symptoms, we may prescribe a different acute remedy for each. This same application applies to constitutional Homeopathy, however in that instance we look at the entire person for symptoms including the mental state, likes and dislikes, temperature preferences, family history and reactions to stress etc., rather than just the acute symptoms.

Some common Homeopathic remedies used to treat Hay fever are listed at the end of this paper.

A Snippet of the research.

According to Robert Medhurst in the paper “Homeopathy for Hayfever” (ATMS Journal, 2004), at that date, “19 clinical trials have been carried out in this area, 17 of which have resulted in positive outcomes".

Goosens, M. et al, conducted an open, non-comparative study to measure Quality of Life outcomes in patients suffering seasonal allergic rhinitis (Hay fever) after Homeopathic treatment. 46 patients aged between 14 and 68 years, were treated by one of seven Homeopathic physicians. The study concluded that “After homeopathic treatment, patients reported an alleviation of their symptoms of allergic rhinitis as reported in the RQLQ. A formal Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) is indicated”.

Taylor, M.A, in a trial conducted in 2000 to determine the effectiveness of Homeopathy versus placebo in perennial allergic rhinitis, found that “The objective results reinforce earlier evidence that homoeopathic dilutions differ from placebo.”

In the trial, they randomly assigned patients to receive an oral 30c homoeopathic preparation of principal inhalant allergen or to placebo. Their objective was “'to test the hypothesis that homoeopathy is a placebo by examining its effect in patients with allergic rhinitis and so contest the evidence from three previous trials in this series.”

Kim, L.S, et al., conducted a trial “to investigate the effects of a homeopathic drug prepared from common allergens (tree, grass, weed species) specific to the Southwest region of the US.” (Kim, L. et al)

The trial was a 4-week, double-blind clinical trial comparing homeopathic preparations with placebo and was conducted during the regional allergy season from February to May. “Participants included 40 men and women, 26-63 years of age, diagnosed with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms. Study outcomes included allergy-specific symptoms using the rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaire (RQLQ), functional quality of life using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36), and the work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) questionnaire.” (Kim, L. et al)

Their “preliminary findings indicate potential benefits of the homeopathic intervention in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis in the Southwestern US.” (Kim, L. et al)

These trials and many more not only confirm the validity of using Homeopathic treatment for both seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis, but also confirm that more quality trials are warranted.

Common remedies for the treatment of Hay Fever.

This list is not exhaustive, there are many remedies to choose from depending upon your individual symptoms. All Homeopathic remedies are based on matching the individual’s symptoms to the remedies symptoms.

Remedies can be purchased from us. Send us an email and we'll happily assist you.

Allium cepa

One of the most commonly used remedies for this condition, the person who responds to this remedy will often be found to be suffering from catarrhal headaches, profuse burning or smarting lachrymation (Watery eyes), photophobia, frequent sneezing, hoarseness, shortness of breath and a hacking cough. While the cough is aggravated by inhaling cold air, most symptoms are worse in warm air and worse in the evening, and improved by open air and motion.

Arsenicum album

A blocked and itching nose with a thin watery discharge, constant sneezing, an acrid, burning discharge from the nose and intense photophobia characterise this remedy. The patient often complains of exhaustion and exhibits great restlessness and symptoms are made worse in cold, damp or wet weather, by cold food or drink, are worse periodically and worse for exertion. Symptoms are improved by warmth, hot food and drink and moving about.

Arsenicum iod

The symptoms that draw attention to this remedy are a thin, watery, excoriating nasal discharge (discharges become acrid, profuse and thick if the disease becomes chronic), swelling and burning of the septum, sneezing, a burning throat and a burning sensation in the eyes accompanied by an acrid discharge. Most symptoms are made worse from dry, cold weather and exertion and are improved by exposure to open air

Arundo

The membranes involved in hay fever, particularly those of the palate, nostrils and conjunctiva, under this remedy feel burnt and itching. There is profuse salivation during the nasal discharge.

Euphrasia

The most commonly recommended remedy for hay fever, the Euphrasia patient is characterised by constantly watering eyes with an acrid discharge, burning, swollen eyelids and a constant watery nasal discharge. Symptoms are aggravated by warmth, sunlight, wind, and are often worse in the evening, worse indoors and better in the open air.

Galphimia

Galphimia glauca has been subjected to I I clinical trials, 10 of which have produced clinically significant relief from the symptoms of hay fever (A meta-analysis of homeopathic treatment of pollinosis with Galphimia glauca). No homoeopathic proving exists for this remedy and so aggravating and ameliorating factors are hard to find, but clinical experience has shown that it has a definite affinity for the common undifferentiated symptoms of hay fever.

Kali iod

The symptoms that point to this remedy include violent, incessant sneezing, usually worse on rising, a profuse, watery acrid nasal discharge, dyspnoea, tightness at the root of the nose, puffiness and a burning, watery discharge from the eyes. Symptoms are worse from heat, worse from a change in weather and worse at night, and improvement occurs in open or cold air and while in motion.

Natrum mur

The Nar mur patients begins their bout of hay fever with a profuse, watery nasal discharge which persists for a few days, and then the nose becomes blocked. Sneezing, particularly in the early morning, often occurs as does a pounding supraorbital headache. There is also a loss of smell and taste, photophobia. Symptoms are aggravated by the sun, during mid-morning, from mental exertion and better in open air and from cool bathing.

Nux vomica

Useful indicators for this medicine include a stuffy nose at night contrasted with a fluent daytime coryza, violent sneezing and an intense crawling sensation in the nose. Irritation of the eyes and photophobia are also common, as is a general sense of irritability. Nux vomica symptoms are usually made worse by cold, open air, alcohol , stimulants and being uncovered and improved by wrapping the head, rest, naps, hot drinks and wrapping the head.

Sabadilla

One of the best remedies for those suffering from this condition, the symptoms of Sabadilla comprise a copious watery nasal discharge, an itching nose, spasmodic sneezing, red and burning eyelids, throat pain which is aggravated by swallowing and a burning sensation in the tongue. These symptoms may be aggravated by the odours of flowers, cold air and mental exertion, and improved by warmth, warm food and drink, open air, eating and being wrapped up

Wyethia

The symptoms calling for Wyethia include a feeling of itching in the upper palate, posterior sinuses and eyes, swelling, irritation and burning of the throat and tough, ropy saliva. Symptoms are aggravated by eating, motion, exercise and are worse during the afternoon.

References:

http://www.nationalasthma.org.au/news-media/d/2015-08-26/spring-pollen-alert-for-hay-fever-sufferers

Medhurst, R. Homeopathy for Hay Fever. Journal of the Australian Traditional Medical Society, September, 2004. Volume 10 issue 3

Homeopathy. 2009 Jan;98(1):11-6. doi: 10.1016/j.homp.2008.11.008. Evaluation of the quality of life after individualized homeopathic treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis. A prospective, open, non-comparative study. Goossens M, Laekeman G, Aertgeerts B, Buntinx F; ARCH study group.

Randomised controlled trial of homoeopathy versus placebo in Perennial allergic Rhinitis with overview of four trial series. Taylor, Morag A;Reilly, David;Llewellyn-Jones, Robert H;McSharry, Charles;et al. British Medical Journal; Aug 19-Aug 26, 2000; 321, 7259; ProQuest Health & Medical Complete. pg. 471

Ann Pharmacother. 2005 Apr;39(4):617-24. Epub 2005 Mar 1. Treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis using homeopathic preparation of common allergens in the southwest region of the US: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Kim LS, Riedlinger JE, Baldwin CM, Hilli L, Khalsa SV, Messer SA, Waters RF.

A meta-analysis of homeopathic treatment of pollinosis with Galphimia glauca. (PMID:9381725). Lüdtke R, Wiesenauer M. Institut für Medizinische Informationsverarbeitung, Tübingen, Deutschland. rainer.luedtke@uni-tuebingen.de Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946) [1997, 147(14):323-327]