Lighter and longer days, warmer afternoons, watching new flowers yawning open to bathe in pale sunshine...it could only be the onset of the hay-fever season. The new growth is all very lovely, but the ensuing pollen release is not so welcome to those of us with springtime allergies.

Whilst anti-histamines and topical steroid based nasal sprays can provide relief, their potential side effects mean that people are increasingly turning to more natural means to prevent and cure their symptoms.

Prevention is always better than cure, so try the following:

- Close windows in the evening and keep them shut until 10.00am the next morning to miss the period when the pollen count is at its peak

- Avoid mowing the lawn or gardening

- Fit laminate/hard floors rather than carpets and avoid upholstered furnishings as the pollen is easily trapped in the fibres of such fabrics.

- If you do not have air-conditioning then small, portable air-purifying units are available cheaply in most household stores.

- Boost intake of omega-3 fatty acids eg cod liver oil capsules, flaxseed oil etc. Studies have shown that those with a higher intake of these fatty acids suffer less with allergies generally. Plus it's all good brain food!

- Get plenty of vitamin C as it has a natural antihistamine action. If you don't always have time to juice your way through the fruit bowl then keep supplements handy.

- Carotenoids (these are the pigments from plants) help to reduce inflammation : carrots, spinach and butternut squash are all loaded with these.

If the above preventive measures are not practical then try these cures:

- Adrenalin helps counteract allergic reactions. Ten minutes on an exercise bike or a cup of strong coffee should provide some relief. (the exercise will have the added bonus of helping you feel fitter too)

- After you've exercised or drunk some coffee, place a damp, cool cloth over your eyes and nose and sit or lie calmly. The cloth will act as a pleasant, physical filter and thus stop further allergens entering your system.

- Put some wheatgerm in a hankie or muslin bag and put it in the bath with you, squeezing it every so often. The infusion will soothe any itching.

- Visit your local health food store and get a homeopathic remedy. I rarely need to take a homeopathic remedy nowadays as the measures above tend to be sufficient but in the past I've found Allium Cepa (Red Onion) to be a particularly effective remedy. Speak to the staff there if you need help choosing the right treatment as they will be well-versed in the options available to best treat your problem.

If symptoms persist, or get worse, then visit your doctor to arrange a blood test to find out exactly what you are allergic to - occasionally it can turn out to be an allergy to a seasonal food and not hay-fever at all, in which case exclusion of the offending food from your diet should clear up the problem.

Good luck!

Learn more about this author, Isobel Clayton.
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