For the past couple of years I've noticed that I've got a bit sneezy around this time of the year but today, out of the blue, I've suddenly become overwhelmed with hay fever symptoms. I've just been out for dinner and both on the way there and walking back I've been sneezing and sniffing and snuffling, and my eyes are watery and itchy. I expect it's the plane trees that line the main road but my point is that i moved here 3 and a half years ago and I've never experienced such extreme allergic reaction before now...have I suddenly become super sensitized or what?
You have my sympathies Sunanda! I have found big doses of vitamin C makes all the difference - 1 gram taken 3 times a day - with or without zinc. I used to get it really badly but that stopped when I started eating many more fruit and veg, especially raw and taking supplements.
You can buy vit C as a powder from the healthfood shop, or in large tablets that make up into a fizzy drink from the chemist or supermarket - but these tend to contain aspartame - read the label! I wouldn't buy ordinary vit C tablets as they can sit undissolved in the stomach and may cause problems to the stomach wall.
Google 'vit C for hayfever' for more info. Hope you feel better soon.
Love and Light
Hi Sunanda
I agree completely with what Caroline says regarding vitamin c. I think it's best to use vitamin c powder (ascorbic acid) which costs about £5 for a bottle from Holland and Barrett - and lasts an eternity. If you don't have them already also buy some cheap plastic measuring spoons so that you have 1/4 and 1/2 teaspoons. Try 1/2 teaspoon in a cold drink (heat deactivates vitamin c) morning and evening. If that causes your bowels to become loose then reduce it to 1/4 teaspoon morning and evening. 1/4 teaspoon = 1200mg, 1/2 teaspoon = 2500mg. Only do this whilst you have acute symptoms. Have one full day off from vitamin c supplementation every 5 days, as vitamin c loses its efficacy if you take it every day. i.e. 4 days on, 1 day off.
Good luck!
Ava x
p.s. if you have some, gargle with a little bit of bicarbonate of soda in water, after taking vitamin c powder. Vitamin c is very acidic (ascorbic acid) and will damage your tooth enamel. For this reason don't take it immediately before, or immediately after, brushing your teeth. It can be helpful to take it before food as the extra acid can assist digestion.
Thank you both for your help. I shall try the Vit C although I already take Vit C, magnesium and zinc tablets three times a day for something else. Should I take more? Each 'caplet' contains Calcium 333 mg, magnesium 133.3 mg and zinc 8.3 mg.
But why is it only happening now? (I'm not complaining - thank goodness I have got through a fairly long life without hay fever until now.)
xxx
xxx
Just a thought Sunanda..you have spent a lot of time in gardens haven't you over the past few days,, just wonder if it's that , which has made you a little more sensitive..you know,, over exposure?
Thank you both for your help. I shall try the Vit C although I already take Vit C, magnesium and zinc tablets three times a day for something else. Should I take more? Each 'caplet' contains Calcium 333 mg, magnesium 133.3 mg and zinc 8.3 mg.
Hi Sunanda
Sorry, I have no idea if you should take more calcium, magnesium or zinc. Caroline and I suggested increasing your vitamin c - and I offered dosage suggestions in my post. If you are taking less vitamin c than my suggestion... then obviously I'd advise you to take more ;-). As for the Ca/Mg/Zn - I've not heard them helping hayfever (though zinc is generally useful for immunity). Google them and see what it says about them for hayfever.
Ava x
For the past couple of years I've noticed that I've got a bit sneezy around this time of the year but today, out of the blue, I've suddenly become overwhelmed with hay fever symptoms. I've just been out for dinner and both on the way there and walking back I've been sneezing and sniffing and snuffling, and my eyes are watery and itchy. I expect it's the plane trees that line the main road but my point is that i moved here 3 and a half years ago and I've never experienced such extreme allergic reaction before now...have I suddenly become super sensitized or what?
I've been ever so slightly sniffly after mowing the lawns and having had an open bag of hedge trimmings in the back of the car en route to the recycling centre.
However, having read recently about eating local honey - and it must be LOCAL - I did a search on 'local honey' with my town on the end, and now know where I can buy it, local health shops, WHEN I can find the time to go there, LOL
You could try doing similar, or perhaps put 'hay fever local honey' into Google for more general info.
I can't comment on the other suggestions made here, as I've never really been a sufferer. I had all the symptoms once, years ago, but the streaming eyes and sneezing turned out to be a reaction to a new facial moisturiser. Within two days of twigging this might be the cause, and stopping using it, all was well. 🙂
Holistic
Just today there's an article in my paper about how more people are suffering than ever before. As for the local honey, I have tried before to get some but it's not available round here.
xxx
One word......no less
Probiotic
wont even bother explaining why, just google "hayfever and low gut flora"