10 natural remedies to relieve and prevent hay fever symptoms - Sussex Express

Posted: 29 May 2020 04:37 AM PDT

Hay fever is extremely common at this time of year and the high pollen count makes this allergy a daily nuisance for many.

From scratchy throats to itchy eyes, hay fever causes a multitude of symptoms which can be tough to get rid of.

Here are 10 natural remedies to relieve and tackle common symptoms of hay fever.

1. Eat a spicy meal

Spicy chilli peppers can help to widen your airways, making it easier to breathe (Photo: Shutterstock)

Hay fever can causes a stuffy, blocked nose and if this is one of your symptoms then a hot curry could be the solution.

Spicy chilli peppers can help to widen your airways, making it easier to breathe, whilst spices such as turmeric are natural anti-inflammatories that can help relieve your symptoms.

2. Ditch the booze

Certain alcoholic beverages can make hay fever worse (Photo: Shutterstock)

Alcoholic drinks contain histamines, which is the same substance released in the body when you have an allergic reaction.

Certain beverages could trigger asthma symptoms or make hay fever worse.

Sulphites, which are found in drinks such as white wine, can also exacerbate hay fever symptoms.

3. Have more honey

Honey is believed to be a natural remedy for hay fever (Photo: Shutterstock)

Honey is believed to be a natural remedy for hay fever due to the bee pollen in honey being able to desensitise your body to other pollens.

Increasing honey in your daily diet can help reduce hay fever symptoms and using honey local to your area allows for the best results.

4. Ditch the dairy

Dairy products can worsen common hay fever symptoms such as nasal congestion (Photo: Shutterstock)

Dairy products can worsen common hay fever symptoms such as nasal congestion, as they increase the production of mucus in the respiratory tract, so it's worth trying alternatives such as almond and rice milk in order to reduce hay fever symptoms.

5. Pick the right fruit and veg to eat

Capers, red onions and watercress all contain high amounts of the natural antihistamine quercetin (Photo: Shutterstock)

Capers, red onions and watercress all contain high amounts of the natural antihistamine quercetin, which can help reduce hay fever symptoms by blocking the effects of histamines.

Pineapple contains bromelain, which helps the body to absorb quercetin and apples, tomatoes and oranges are rich in beta carotene, vitamin C and bioflavonoids, all of which are anti-inflammatory agents believed to boost the immune system.

6. Drink Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea acts as an antioxidant and antihistamine, containing flavonoids which act effectively as an anti-inflammatory agent (Photo: Shutterstock)

Chamomile tea acts as an antioxidant and antihistamine, containing flavonoids which act effectively as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Drinking a cup of chamomile tea during the day can aid with hay fever symptoms, but a dampened and refrigerated chamomile tea bag can also be used as an eye compress, providing a cooling effect to swollen, red eyes.

7. Or try some nettle tea

Nettles are thought to be able to reduce the amount of histamine in the body caused by allergies (Photo: Shutterstock)

Nettles are thought to be able to reduce the amount of histamine in the body caused by allergies, aiding with the relief of stuffy noses, sneezing and itchy eyes.

Nettles are also full of iron, Vitamin C and calcium, making them a great 'pick me up' when you're feeling run down.

Make your own nettle tea or buy a pure nettle leaf tea and strain these as tea leaves in order to tackle the symptoms of hay fever.

8. Eat oily fish

Tuna, salmon and mackerel are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which has been shown to reduce inflammation (Photo: Shutterstock)

Tuna, salmon and mackerel are all rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which has been shown to reduce inflammation, hence aiding with the relief of hay fever.

Previous studies have shown that a couple of portions of fish a week can in fact calm symptoms for hay fever sufferers.

9. Use Vaseline

Combat hay fever and reduce symptoms by spreading a thin layer of Vaseline inside the lower nostrils (Photo: Shutterstock)

Combat hay fever and reduce symptoms by spreading a thin layer of Vaseline inside the lower nostrils.

Vaseline traps pollen entering the nostrils, effectively blocking it from entering the nasal passages, hence stopping hay fever symptoms from occurring or worsening.

10. Take a trip to the seaside

Hay fever can become a lot worse in the countryside and also in a big cities due to increased air pollution (Photo: Shutterstock)

Hay fever can become a lot worse in the countryside and also in a big cities due to increased air pollution, so if you're struggling with your symptoms a trip to the coast can really help.

The refreshing sea breeze will blow pollen inland before it can get to you, allowing for you to breathe in the cool air without the risk of sneezing or itchy eyes.

Ketogenic Diet May Help Asthma Sufferers, Study in Mice Suggests - Newsweek

Posted: 08 Apr 2020 08:58 AM PDT

Following a ketogenic diet that is low in carbohydrates and higher in fat may help some asthmatics, a new study has indicated.

Researchers at the University of Bonn, Germany, found that mice switched to a keto diet showed significantly reduced inflammation of the respiratory tract.

Asthma patients can react to low concentrations of some allergens with severe inflammation of the bronchi. They also experience increased mucus production, which makes breathing more difficult.

A central role here is played by cells of the innate immune system, which are called Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs). They perform an important protective function in the lungs by regenerating damaged mucous membranes. For this purpose, they produce inflammatory messengers from the group of cytokines, which stimulate division of the mucosal cells and promote mucus production.

This mechanism allows the body to quickly repair damage caused by pathogens or harmful substances. The mucus then transports the pathogens out of the bronchial tubes and protects the respiratory tract against re-infection.

"With asthma, however, the inflammatory reaction is much stronger and longer than normal," said Professor Dr. Christoph Wilhelm, from the Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology and a member of the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation at the University of Bonn.

Asthma inhaler — An Albuterol sulfate inhaler, commonly used in the treatment of asthma Smith Collection/Gado/Getty

The consequences are extreme breathing difficulties.

The ILCs multiply rapidly during this process and produce large amounts of proinflammatory cytokines. By slowing the division down, it may be possible to bring the excessive reaction under control.

"We have investigated which metabolic processes are active in the ILCs when they switch to reproduction mode," said researcher Dr. Fotios Karagiannis. "Then we tried to block these metabolic pathways and thereby reduce the speed at which the cells divide."

Some metabolic pathways were more active in dividing ILCs, the researchers found. They primarily ensure that the cells are supplied with energy and with the building blocks they require for reproduction, such as the fatty acids that are needed to make the cell membrane.

"Activated ILCs, therefore, absorb fatty acids from their environment and store them in their interior in small droplets for a short time, before they utilize them for energy or building membranes," Karagiannis said.

The researchers put asthmatic mice on a diet that contained mainly fats, but hardly any carbohydrates or proteins.

They found the cell metabolism changed and the cells got the energy they needed from burning fat. However, this meant they lacked fatty acids, which they need for the formation of new membranes during cell division.

As a consequence, the researchers said that the division activity of the ILCs decreased in the rodents fed a special diet.

Wilhelm explained: "Normally, contact with allergens increases the number of ILCs in the bronchi fourfold. In our experimental animals, however, it remained almost unchanged. Both mucus production and other asthma symptoms decreased accordingly.

"The prevalence of asthma has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Perhaps this is also related to an increasingly common high-sugar and high-fat diet."

The scientists now want to investigate whether a ketogenic diet can prevent asthma attacks, but added there may be long-term risks. Therefore, diets should only be carried out in consultation with a doctor.

"We are therefore trying to determine which components of the dietary change are responsible for the effect," explained Wilhelm. "Maybe this will open the door to the development of new drugs."

The research was published in the journal Immunity.

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