Any good remedies for hay fever?

[OldMcDonald]

An old Northumbrian suggestion was nettle tea for both hay fever and asthma (local honey too for hay fever). Just pick some stinging nettles from somewhere free from exhaust fumes and dogs - the tips are apparently the best rather than the older leaves. Put a small handful of them into a pyrex or earthenware pot or bowl, pour on just off the boil water. Never use full rolling boil water for any infusion. Let it steep until it is cool enough for you to drink. I have no idea whether it works.

 

[JMER817]

Take a teaspoon of bee pollen daily that is made in your area. Worked great for me!

 

[Bluest]

New tractor with cab and A/C you say?... Can't see any downsides to that. I'll check with the Wife and let you know... LOL.

We do have Benadryl here, think I tried a few years ago with the same limited results as the others.

I think nettles and honey are worth a try. I'm wouldn't be(e) surprised if there is a natural solution. After all, I'm told there were far fewer allergy sufferers even a few years ago.

 

[Pilot]

Use a Nettipot or NeilMed sinus rinse. Helps a lot, except for the eyes. Sounds gross, sounds nuts, but I tried it when my allergist recommended it. Made a world of difference in just a few minutes. NeilMed you can get at Costco here in the US. For about $20 you get a supply to last the whole allergy season. You would still often need Allegra, Claritin or Zyrtec but for a mild day you may get away just with the rinse.

If I have been outside stirring up the pollen & dust, the rinse takes care of the problem, brings it back down to where I was before I started stirring things up and often better.

 

[vtsnowedin]

They say that the sensitivity to allergens comes from being brought up in a too clean environment where you never built up a tolerance to air bore irritants. Brought up on farmland in the sixties and running barefoot all summer in the fields and gardens I do not have that problem. Best of luck with you dealing with it.

 

[MarkF48]

If you happen to be on any blood pressure meds or others, check with your doc for any possible interactions to antihistamines. A few years ago my allergies were acting up and I popped an antihistamine (think it was a Benadryl). A an hour later I took the wife out for a drive and I nearly blacked out behind the wheel. The doc said that particular type of antihistamine had an additive effect to the blood pressure med I was taking and my blood pressure had likely dropped to the point where my head wasn't getting sufficient blood. I've been using Loratadine that he suggested with no problems.

 

[Bird]

It's been a few years but I've used the Neilmed sinus rinse on the recommendation of my doctor; got it from Walmart. My wife used to use Zyrtec, but now gets the generic cetirizine from Sam's Club, and this past year was the first time I used it, and it did work for me.

 

[OldMcDonald]

vtsnowedin, I think there is a lot in what you say. I am somewhat older (old enough that laddies never wore long trousers until they were 14 - and lassies and ladies showed their legs instead of hiding them behind trousers!) and I am sure that we simply became immune to everything. I also think too many people are taking drugs too easily - I think you call it Big Pharma in the US. Stay away from doctors is my motto. When did one ever tell you that you are fit and well?

 

[vtsnowedin]

and lassies and ladies showed their legs instead of hiding them behind trousers!)

Ahh yes young farm girls in cut off Daisy Duke shorts helping with the haying and wearing miniskirts out to the dance that night. Fond memories both of opportunities lost and those taken.

 

[OldMcDonald]

My memory is not what it was, but I seem to remember just the opportunities lost.