Hayfever

Are you someone who looks forward to spring? New born lambs, easter bunnies, spring flowers and at last the trees bursting forth with new life OR is all this spoiled for you by the very thought of this yearly allergy! The stinging, streaming eyes, sore itchy throat and constant sneezing is enough to drive anyone back into hibernation!

I never suffered with hayfever until I was pregnant with my second daughter. I thought I had a really bad cold, but it went on and on, until eventually my throat swelled so much that I could hardly swallow. I went to my GP and was diagnosed with hayfever and was given all the usual medication, which thankfully helped. However me being me, I wanted to know if there was anything natural I could use.

It was some years later, that I got speaking with a beekeeper, who told me something very interesting about honey and hayfever.

Honey contains many of the pollen spores that trigger seasonal allergies. It is thought that introducing small amounts of these spores into the body by eating honey might help the body to build up an immunity to their presence. It may not cure, but it certainly will help.

Through a friend, I found someone just up the road from us who keeps bees, so I started using the honey on a daily basis and also added it to my skincare. This was 4 yrs ago and I now, never suffer with this annual attack.

Essential oils can also be very effective, if you don't like honey or are vegan. Lavender and lemon do the job perfectly as they are good 'all rounders'

Lavender essential oil work on two levels, to help with reducing the inflammation of the nasal and bronchial tubes and it works well with lemon as an anti-histamine.

Good ways to use the essential oils are:

• Diluting them in water and either spraying around you or in a burner/difuser.

• Try gargling 1 drop of each and a spoonful of honey in a pint of water to help with a sore throat

• Add a couple of drops of each to a tissue and sniff

• Regular massage using specific essential oils may help

• Add a couple of drops of lavender to a carrier oil such as coconut or sunflower and rubbing on your upper chest and back.

• These are natural alternatives, however if symptoms persist please see your GP