Hay fever is an extreme respiratory allergy affecting the nose, throat, conjunctiva and sinuses. The symptoms are caused by an exaggerated response of the patient’s immune system mistaking harmless substances (such as pollen, pet fur or dust) for harmful ones, releasing chemicals like histamine.
It can also be called “Allergic rhinitis” and the symptoms are similar to the common cold.
So how do we distinguish hay fever from a common cold?
Hay fever is due to exposure to an allergen, and cold is due to exposure to a virus.
The symptoms of hay fever often last for more than two weeks, typically do not include fever and these usually are: clear discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion or stuffy nose, itching eyes and or palate and sometimes accompanied by a wheezing cough. Other eye symptoms can include redness, pain and lachrymation, as in conjunctivitis. In a common cold the discharge is thicker yellowish /green with low-grade fever. In addition, people suffering from hay fever are more likely to contract allergic bronchitis, asthma or eczema in comparison to non-sufferers.
Hay fever is mainly of two types – seasonal and perennial. The seasonal type is the one that occurs during a particular season when specific plants pollinate, while perennial mostly occurs throughout the year.
While the conventional treatment includes antihistamines and steroids, which are not curative and have harmful side-effects, especially on children and elderly people, homeopathic remedies which are made from natural substances, are safer and have no side effects. Homeopathy seeks to stimulate a self-healing response from the person’s own immune system. The main goal of the treatment is to strengthen rather than weaken the immune system, as well as balance the overactive immune system so that complete healing is more likely to occur.
With homeopathic approach two aspects need to be considered; the acute phase, which will require an acute remedy, and the deep acting or constitutional remedy, which will address the person as a whole and overtime will eradicate the hay fever.
Symbolic meaning – a person who is allergic cannot tolerate the outside world. The Spring sees a return of the Spring of Life, Infancy.
Example from the homeopathic perspective; characteristics to have in mind…Generalities, delicate personalities, what is the sensitivity? Sensitive to sad news, too many things, moral impressions. Oversensitiviness, sensitive to touch, sensitive to smell the flowers et cetera. What needs to be protected?
Materia Medica
Allium cepa – symptoms normally show every Spring or during August. Symptoms similar to those of cutting onions: smarting in the eyes and nose, with watering itchy soreness, wants to rub the lids which aggravates. Sneezing with watery discharge which makes the inside of the nose and upper lip to become red and sore. Very sensitive to the smell of flowers. < warm room.
Sabadilla – spasmodic sneezing with a running nose; dry itching, tickling in the nose, rubs or picks at it. Eyes can feel pressed in with frontal headaches. Soft palate tends to feel itchy and hot food feels too hot. Eyelids burn and water with sneezing and coughing worse in the fresh air. Extremely sensitive to smells. Breathing can become wheezy and a dry cough might be present.
Gelsemium – When hay fever occurs with every change of weather, especially spring, along with sneezing early in the morning. Sneezing with fullness at the root of the nose. Stuffed sensation or coryza with sensation as if hot water flowing from the nostrils.
Arundo – itching in the nose, tingling, crawling and sneezing (Sabad, Cina, Ph ac, Spig). Discharge is offensive (Calc, Psor, Asof.). Patient with difficulty respiration waking up at midnight (not only Ars). Formication and crawling in the forehead. Sneezing and salivation (Hep, Arund, Fl ac, mygal). Itching in the palate and burning. Coryza with loss of smell (Nat mur). Annoying itching in the nostrils and the roof of the mouth, itching of nostrils. Eruptions around the mouth (Rhus t, Sil, Hep, Calc, Lyc, Samb, Iod, Tub).
Sinaps nigra – Nasal blockage that alternates between left and right nostrils. Eyes with hot lachrymation. Sweat on the upper lip and forehead. Mucus membranes of nose dry and no discharge. Hay fever in summer. Cough better by lying down. Offensive breath, smelling like onion.
Natrum Mur – one of the best remedies for allergy caused by pollen. Watery discharge from the nose and eyes. Along with this, violent sneezing (that is worse early in the morning). Nose alternating between runny with a stuffy. Tickling in the throat along with a cough may also be present.
Note You may use any of these medicines for about 2 to 3 weeks. To continue using them beyond this period, seek consultation from a homeopath. It is also strictly advised not to take high potencies of any of these medicines without consulting a homeopath
About the Author
PRACTICING CLASSICAL HOMEOPATH AND DOCTOR OF MICROBIOLOGY
ALEXANDRA CARNEIRO DE MELO, PhD MSc, PhD (London), DIHom (Pract), FBIH, RSHom
Education Personal
Accreditations:
- BSc – Food Engineering, 1989 – Porto University, Portugal (High Class Honors)
- MSc – Food Microbiology, 1991 – University of Reading in the UK
- PhD – Applied Microbiology, 1997 – King’s College, London
- DIHom(Pract) – Diploma in Homeopathic Medicine, Practitioner Level British Institute of Homeopathy
- FBIH – Fellowship for life, British Institute of Homeopathy
- RSHom – Member of The Society of Homeopaths
As a homeopath, my ultimate goal is to help you live to your fullest capacity, where the entire spiritual, mental, emotional, social and physical being is restored to the natural state it was created in. Please do get in touch if you are ready to begin your healing journey.
Website: www.alexcmelo.com
Alexandra Melo