Anyone suffering with hayfever?

I've had it since I was 13, and by jingo it's come back with a vengeance this week! I've been given tablets, Dimotap LA, to combat the itchy eyes, running nose and throat that feels like you've swallowed an entire dandelion clock... but it had the unfortunate effect of sending me to sleep, which wasn't helpful when I was trying to negotiate More Lane in Esher on my bike after school!

Or possibly more importantly, my O levels in the summer of '76. My eyelids became heavy at the point they told us we could turn our papers over... and I awoke to find the invigilator telling me that my snoring was distracting others in the exam!

But seriously, do ANY of you have any weird and wonderful remedies that have worked for you? I think the strangest I've heard is to rub petroleum jelly around your nostrils, which is supposed to catch the pollen before it gets into your nasal passages! I feel it could have the same disastrous consequences that wearing lipgloss used to have when I rode my bike to school. 

A wide variety of insect life would adhere themselves to my lips which of course was not pointed out to me, until I had spent at least an hour in the company of my classmates... how cruel are kids eh? So any non medical remedies you wish to let me know about, I'd be mighty grateful. 

No remedy for clumsiness though, and if you were watching our fab Best of British Day and saw the Lesley Vik Waddell hour at 10pm, you will have seen me tip an entire tray of colour graded citine stones all over the desk! Calamity! Luckily they had such an incredible sparkle that not one of them were lost. Such gorgeous pieces of jewellery, and such a talented designer in Lesley. How marvellous to be able to follow your dream and see it come true while you're still so young.

We had a family party at the weekend and I though you might like to see possibly the youngest member of the family - baby Ali! Can you believe that's her name. I was in seventh heaven when her mum Sam let me cuddle and then feed her. I wonder what Ali will grow up to be... at three weeks old, perhaps a little early to tell.

Do join me for a fab weekend of gems and L'Occitane and I look forward to hearing from you with those remedies for hayfever!.

Ali xx

Comments

[Eileen P.]

Hi Ali, I use a steam inhalation, usually Eucalyptus oil or olbas oil, this helps my nose, throat and chest, I usually just wash my eyes with optrex but I'm going to try Eyebright from the Liz Earle range. Hope some of this helps as I also have suffered from an early age (12/13), some years mine seems worse than others. Eileen.

[billkiss navsarka]

i was told by my cousin to have a spoon full of honey made in the area you live in as it has something to do with bee's from your own area making pollen, iv still to try it will be doing so soon, il try owt as my heyfever sounds as bad as yours,but aparently it worked for my cousins husband who was told by a friend that had tried it as well and it worked on him too, i hope this all makes sence to you. x

[Nicola McLellan]

Hello Alison, i have been suffering from hayfever for about 3 years (i am now 19) and i have an air purifier, i have mine on all the time and it removes the pollen, dust, etc, however it does not work when you have a window open.
Also i bathe my eyes when they are red and itchy with plain cold water, or go into the shower and just let the water run over your eyes.
The first year i had hayfever, i was on a school camping trip, where we stayed in the middle of a field (not the best place to be when it is your first time with hayfever) and one of the lads called me 'stoned' because my eyes were so red and puffy, and as i didn't have a mirror i had no idea what i looked like!
I also take 1 'Piriteze' tablet a day, which really helps my symptoms within about 2 hours of taking it, but you can only take 1 tablet per day, also i use 'Optrex' itchy eye drops, they are great! They stop my eyes from itching instantly and the best thing is you can use them as often as you like (however after you use them, they make you look like you have been crying!)
I have heard that Nettle Tea is said to be very affective, although i am not really brave enough to try it! I hope you find some of this information helpful. Good Luck!!

[Natalie]

Hi Alison,
Try eating or making drinks with locally produced honey.
The pollen in the honey is said to help to build an immunity to the allergens that cause the hay fever, and so reduce symptoms. Honey from a source near your home will contain a high proportion of the pollen that stimulates & causes the allergy, and so may be beneficial.
You will only become de-sensitised to local pollen though, so no use when you go away on holiday elsewhere.
Hope that helps, Natalie

[alan Harrison]

The worst thing, when you have hayfever is the lack of sleep, and the very best remedy, to me, is the natural way if you can, is valerian from a very well known chemist on the high street, but to me the natural way is always the Best, the photo is lovely, and yes babies are a blessing, but it does depend what they are taught from the word go, gooing and aahhing just doesn't work in my book, babies need to be read to as early as possible, because learning starts from day one.Well Done Though on becoming a gran.

[Susan May]

Alison, Im a Naturapath and would suggest you try Butterbur Remedy a lot of people find it most helpful, also no sedative effects!

[evie]

Try Dr Stuart's Nettle Tea - It's a natural anti-histamine. Plus it has a wealth of other health benefits.

Good Luck!

[Christine Keir]

Hello Alison
You don`t say what you`re allergic too. If it`s grass pollen, as in my case, a Kenalog steroid injection at the beginning of the "season" does me right through.

[Liz Tracy]

Hi Ali , a friend of mine suffers from hayfever , but she says that the symptoms are greatly minimized if , at the start of the season she takes a spoonful of honey that is from her local area. Best wishes Liz

[Sharon Gasparutti]

Hi Alison, I have two sons which who both have hayfever and the youngest James, I've bought clarityn from the local chemist, and I have a slight touch of hayfever myself however it depends on the day, if the pollen count is moderate to high then I have a tablet for the hayfever and if it is low then I would'nt take one so it really depends on the day itself.

Now the little one you are holding in the picture is a member of the family, so that make you a Gran or a Nanna,
as you don't look old enough to be one, all the same congratulations.

[Diane Hyman]

My uncle swears that eating natural honey comb on toast every morning is the answer. I too suffer from hayfever I am on Levocetirizine which seems to work well for me, apparently the key is to start taking your tablets about a month before you usually get symptoms(not very helpful now I know but there is always next year). Also I know someone who has had the anti - histamine injection and thought that it was the best thing ever.
Maybe you shold spend the summer months abroad as I never seem to suffer in quite the same way when I am on holiday.(Any excuse).
Anyway i hope your pills have now kicked in and you aren't suffering as much as it is the worst thing ever to feel that you can't enjoy the sunshine properly.

Hope to see you on screen soon

[Julie]

Hi Alison, thought I would tell you about the natural tablets I have taken for years, which I swear by. They are called "NEW ERA H" in a blue & white box, which you can purchase from specialist health stores. You simply put 4 on your tongue about three times day, and either chew them or let them dissolve - they are tasteless and also have absolutely no side effect. I suffered for years, and now, at 43, don't have any problems by using these tablets. I'm very pro natural health remedies and really hope these help you.

On another note, just to say I love to watch you on QVC, you are such a great presenter, always look fab, and treat everyone so kindly. Keep up the great work and will keep watching.

Take care

Julie from Cannock

[Dickie]

i find a gin and tonic helps!!!

love dickie XXXX

[Janice]

Hi Alison,

I have suffered from hayfever on and off all my life, last year being the worst ever. I also suffer from perenial allergic rhinitis, when I seem to be allergic to everything - that's when my eyes and lips swell.

Non medical stuff that works is to buy an ioniser and put it near your bed or where you are sitting. Also, do you know those fly screens to put over your windows to keep the little buggers out; well I put one of those over my head to keep the pollen out when I'm asleep. As well as all this, you could try a pair of sunglasses that has blocked in sides; these also keep the pollen out. You can even buy sunglasses where the air that is in them is constantly exchanged for fresh air.

Medically, I find Ciritizine 10 mg a day tablets, Rapiril eye drops and Nasonex 18g nose drops to be beneficial. In fact, this year I am a lot better.

Hope all goes well. Bye the way Alison, please don't quote my name on telly.

J

[Claire]

Hi Alison

I also suffer from allergies to all pollen. I find an ioniser really helps. Also ask your Doctor to refer you to an Allergy clinic there is a really good one at Guys Hospital. I went there as i had been taken to hospital several times with a very bad allergic reaction to pollen and the Professor there gave me all sorts of things ..... The other thing to look at is a gadget from the chemist that desensitises your nasal reactions. Its a red light on the end of what looks like a peg. Good luck!

[Julie Gentry]

My husband used to suffer badly with hay fever. It is now virtually non existent thanks to garlic oil capsules. You need to take them all year round to build up and maintain the immunity. You will not see an immediate effect but it is worthwhile persevering for the long term.

[maureen moore]

Hi Alison, I am a fellow hayfever sufferer, its awful.
Try putting a smearing of vaseline or similar on the inside of your nose, it traps the pollen and therefore doesnt makje you sneeze, also, if you live in the countryside or can get hold of stinging nettles, pick ( wearing tough gloves!!) hang them upside down to dry and then crush into small tea leaves and use to make nettle tea, this is a very old remedy. If you dont fancy gathering the nettles the tea is sometimes available from herbal shops or anywhere that sells teas.

Good luck.
Maureen from Wigan

[Christine Caseley]

The only thing that helped my me was during the winter eating honey produced by local bees. Not anything from the supermarket, just locally produced honey. Try a local reputable health food store or local market. Spoonful a day. It is said to build up your tolerance of the local flora and make the pollen less intense the following spring. Certainly helped me and less messy than petroleum jelly around your nose!

[Charlotte]

I know how you feel Ali, I have it too and I really struggle with it. I have tried everything under the sun - Actifed works wonders but makes some people (me!)very sleepy. You can also get a device from the chemists which you put up your nose (it's not painful) for 3 minutes twice a day...it emits infrared light which I think is meant to hinder histamine production and lower imflammation. Charlotte x

[Tina Packwood]

Dear Allison,

I had hayfever since my 20's (now 51). More than 5 years ago I started using a device where a light was shone up your nose. It's not an over night thing but give it time and it works. In my case after using it for 3ish years I hardly have any further symptoms. I use to have to wear a gas mask to cut the grass! I didn't see the device being sold for years, but a few days ago I saw an advert for ising it. It's called the hayfever and allergy reliever. Give it a go. The real bonus is that its drug free.
Kind regards,
Tina.

[Julliard]

I too suffer from hayfever but now it has mainley gone due to the herbal remedy Luffa tincture. I was recommended this by the health shop and, it has been one of the best remedies to have. No side effects or reactions, not like a prescribed medication from the doctors. It cleared my itchy eyes and sneezing.

[susie l]

I feel for you - I am sitting here exhusted after sneezing for hours. It really spoilt a lovely afternoon bbq at my sisters. I have just been told that if you can get local honey - it must be local pollen - and have a spoonful a day it works like a vacination and makes you imune to the allegy. At this point I'll try anything! wish you better -

[OLGA SOURSKAIA]

hi ALISON.MY ADVICE - TRY ACCUPUNCTURAE.IT IS BEST TREATMENT.ALL THE BEST OLGA

[Jacqueline Thomson]

Hi - put balm balm (organic and much better than vaseline)in the rim of your nostrils. You can get it from any chemists. Another tip is Liz Earle eyebright which soothes the eyes. Also spritz your face with skin tonic. The aim is to keep pollen spores from your eyes and nose. It doesn't cure it but helps a lot.

[raver]

My daughter suffers badly, has found taking a vitamin c tablet all year round has helped greatly. If her eyes itch and water she then takes 2 tablets a day. It might help you and vitamin c will only do you good.
chris