The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and you are… sneezing.

That's right. It's hay fever season. Cue sniffly noses, itchy eyes, congestion, and, for many, a general lethargy.

Before you load up on sleep-inducing antihistamines, consider natural products to ease hay fever symptoms and address some of the underlying issues that bring about allergic rhinitis in the first place.

Allergy Relief (Pollinosan) from A. Vogel

Allergy Relief (Pollinosan) from Alfred Vogel is a homeopathic medicine for the treatment of sneezing, itchy nose, and burning eyes. Sound familiar? Those common symptoms of hay fever and other allergies are the prime target of this remedy.

As a homeopathic remedy, Pollinosan was designed based on the belief that exposure to a tiny amount of some plants and minerals can prime the body to begin healing and keep inflammation in check. As such, Pollinosan contains 7 tropical herbs including luffa, khella, American Spikenard, Galphimia and others.

Pollinosan can be used alongside other anti-histamines and is non-drowsy, with no reported adverse effects. It can offer support for those suffering with hay fever and for individuals with allergic rhinitis related to other airborne allergens.

In a clinical trial conducted by A.Vogel, 88.5% of people using Pollinosan Allergy Relief tablets or drops reported an improvement in their allergy symptoms. This trial involved 199 people aged 34 in the Netherlands who had suffered with seasonal allergies, dust allergies, or allergy to pets for nearly a decade. The participants took 2 tablets or 20 drops three times a day before meals, starting in April until the end of July. During the trial, 56.8% of patients reported a distinct improvement in symptoms, and another 31.7% reported partial improvement. There were no reported side effects.

In another clinical trial, participants over 18 who had suffered with allergic rhinitis or hay fever for at least two years used Allergy Relief spray 3-5 times a day for two weeks, with 1-2 puffs in each nostril. Self-reported allergy symptoms decreased by 30-50% with the use of the spray, with a notable decrease in sneezing attacks and nasal congestion. Only 12% of participants didn't notice an improvement, with 55% of participants rating the spray as good or excellent.

Probiotics and prebiotics

Symptoms of allergic rhinitis come about because the immune system overreacts to pollen. While you can't just tell your immune system to chill out, you can take steps to support a more stable and appropriate immune system response to environmental and dietary stimulus.

This is where probiotics and prebiotics come in. These work together to help modify the gut microbiota, altering the immune response to potential allergens.

In a 2024 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, taking probiotics plus prebiotics for 90 days significantly reduced symptoms in seasonal allergic rhinitis. This included helping reduce symptoms such as runny nose and itchy eyes.

When choosing a probiotic specifically for histamine management, look for one providing Lactobacillus plantarum, a bacterium well known for effectively breaking down histamine.

Quercetin

Some people swear by eating more apples and onions when hay fever season rolls around. This is because these two foods are a good source of the bioflavonoid quercetin.

This antioxidant is also available as a supplement in higher doses than found in apples and onions. Studies show that taking quercetin supplements can be helpful for reducing allergy symptoms including eye itching, sneezing, and nasal discharge.

In a recent systematic review, the authors concluded that quercetin shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in allergic rhinitis, though much of the evidence still comes from non-human animal studies.

Local honey for hay fever

Local honey is one of the best natural remedies for hay fever. Made by your friendly neighbourhood bees, right around the corner from where you live, local honey can work prophylactically for hay fever and has tons of other medicinal benefits.

Because the bees make their honey using pollen from local flowers, eating this honey can help to desensitize your immune system and reduce symptoms of allergies to local pollens. Honey also contains quercetin, the bioflavonoid found in apples and onions that helps reduce production of histamine.

Naturopaths typically recommend eating honey all year round or beginning to include it in your diet a few weeks before your allergy symptoms usually appear.

Local honey is also a great choice because it's not usually pasteurized or refined. The result is honey with all the good stuff left in: traces of pollen, propolis, and even royal jelly in some cases. Local honey is also more likely to be the handwork of happy, healthy bees visiting a diverse range of flowers grown without pesticides and herbicides.

Nasal saline irrigation

In addition to helping your body respond more appropriately to seasonal allergens, you can also take steps to reduce the allergen load itself.

Nasal saline irrigation is one such method. When done properly, this kind of rinse can help wash pollen and mucus out of the nose and reduce congestion and irritation.

A great choice for high pollen days, a nasal rinse with sterile saline solution is usually low risk and good for pairing with other approaches.

Final thoughts

Hay fever can be stubborn. It also has a habit of striking at inopportune times (like during school exams, weddings, and other special events). This is, in part, because when we're stressed already, our immune systems tend to be more reactive.

Taking steps to support overall health can have a huge effect on hay fever symptoms. Some smart moves to reduce histamine overload include:

• Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Avoiding alcohol as this increases histamine levels
• Finding healthy ways to manage stress (such as exercise, talk therapy, yoga, and journaling)
• Using an air filter to remove any mold and fungal spores, and other allergens from your living space
• Having a quick shower and changing your clothes when you come home after being outside and exposed to pollen (and don't forget to clean your glasses too!)

Finally, think of hay fever as a product of an overfull histamine bucket. If you find ways to help your body produce less histamine and clear the histamine it does produce, you'll help lessen your symptoms or even prevent them popping up in the first place!

References

[1] Laboratorium Biohorma B.V.: Clinical investigation of the efficacy of the hayfever remedy Allergy Relief (1989), unpublished.

[2] Berni Canani, R. et al. (2024). Probiotics and prebiotics in allergic rhinitis. Frontiers in Nutrition.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.887978/full

[3] Mou, Z. et al. (2011). Lactobacillus plantarum and histamine degradation. Food Chemistry.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308814611008090

[4] Thornhill, S. M., & Kelly, A. M. (2000). Natural treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. Alternative Medicine Review, 5(5), 448–454.

[5] Jafarinia, M. et al. (2022). Quercetin supplementation and allergy symptoms. PubMed.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35776034/

[6] Juríková, T., Mlček, J., Sochor, J., Hegedűsová, A. (2015). Polyphenols and their mechanism of action in allergic immune response. Otolaryngology & Rhinology. https://www.otolaryngrhinojournal.com/journals/hor/hor-aid1032.php