With spring comes the hay fever season 

After a long winter, most of us look forward to spring: the time of light clothes, long walks and blooming landscapes. What pleases one person's eye makes another's water. For people with hay fever, it is a difficult time.  

According to statistics, at least 15% of adults in this country suffer from hay fever. As we experience increasingly mild winter seasons, many plants begin to bloom earlier. The World Health Organization (WHO) reckons that in a few years' time almost one in two people could be affected by some form of hay fever.  

Symptoms of hay fever

One of the typical hay fever symptoms is a runny nose. Many of us have heard people say: "I don't have a cold, I just have a runny nose all the time". Runny nose, watery eyes, but also frequent sneezing attacks are the order of the day for hay fever sufferers. Many complain about itching or burning in the throat. All of this can significantly affect people in their daily lives. Some find it impossible to sleep during the hay fever season and are tired during the day.

Hay fever or pollen allergy: what is the difference?

The term hay fever suggests that the typical complaints occur mainly when coming into contact with the hay. However, this is incorrect. The term originated in the 19th century. The first patients in whom such symptoms were investigated had actually worked with hay and grass. Nowadays, however, it is known that not only these two things can cause hay fever. 

Medically speaking, hay fever is an allergic reaction of the body to plant pollen in which the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed. The technical term is "allergic rhinitis" or "pollinosis". Normally, our organism treats the proteins as non-hostile and the affected person is spared a runny nose, scratchy throat and watery eyes. However, if they are classified as aggressors, the immune system begins to fight them. This sneezes out the invaders through the nose and flushes them out of the eyes with tear fluid. 

When is hay fever season?

Hay fever is a type of allergy that occurs at certain times of the year. It is usually triggered by the blossoming of trees, grasses and cereals. Particularly birch trees, hazel trees, sycamore, ash, as well as mugwort and rye cause it to sufferers. Since the main flowering season of these plants and trees is in spring and summer, hay fever is particularly noticeable in these two seasons.  

The cold autumn and winter months have long been considered an allergy-free time for hay fever sufferers. Mild temperatures, too few rainy days and increasing pollution, however, ensure that the symptoms accompany sufferers throughout the year. 

With home remedies against hay fever 

There are many medications for hay fever. These usually relieve the symptoms quickly and effectively, but not infrequently bring side effects, such as fatigue. For this reason, sufferers look for home remedies that can curb their allergic reaction. 

Honey in particular plays an important role in this. As a strong antiseptic, it has a soothing effect in combination with hot milk, especially for a scratchy throat. Ginger is the remedy par excellence for several complaints of the upper respiratory tract. The root is said to help against fever and pain. Prepared as a tea, it can relieve discomfort, improve blood circulation in the mucous membranes and, thanks to the natural oils it contains, also provide additional support for the immune system. 

The third home remedy for hay fever is the onion. In homeopathy, it is used in the form of an extract. Interestingly, of all things, the onion that makes us cry when we cut it can help with watery hay fever eyes. This is due to the plant pigment quercetin. It blocks the production of the allergy-causing histamines in the body and in this way supports our immune system in the fight against allergies. The onion can be prepared as a soup or syrup (with honey). There are the most diverse recipes for this. 

Vitamins against hay fever 

A useful and effective supplement to the home remedies already mentioned is the intake of certain vitamins. Especially vitamins C, E and group B are effective. They relieve inflammation of the mucous membranes. 

Our product UltraPolesin contains vitamins B and C, as well as zinc. It has anti-allergic properties and stabilizes certain cells of our immune system. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends taking 15 mg of zinc daily. UltraPolesin contains 13 mg. The cell peptides extracted from natural tissue support the lungs in their function, regenerate the cells and provide a better quality of life. With UltraPolesin finally take a breath!