Hayfever drug alternatives?

[Bramble_killer]

I've been ignoring it for a few days but there is no denying it now, I've got hayfever and feeling like it could be really bad this year, my throat is all scratchy and I keep coughing, my nose is just sniffly.

Just taken the first antihistamine.

What do you take (if not the bog standard drugs?)

I've tried high strength manuka honey (the stuff that's supposed to have pollen and thus build your immune system but that made me feel ill)

[binley100]

Has the grow your drugs guy got any recipes?

[selfraising]

I've been suffering for the past few weeks now and am afraid can only find the usual antihistamines so will watch this space with interest.

[Glutton4...]

My Sister tried a Chinese Herbalist, he gave her dozens of little pills to take, and she said it made a lot of difference. She then tried Acupuncture. She doesn't complain of Hayfever now, so, it either worked, or she grew out of it.

Good luck.

[Helgalush]

Hello, I seem to get it more in my throat than in my nose. I dont usually take anything for it but at the moment I am taking Loratidine for a hand allergy which seems to be having an effect on my cough/throat too.

The only advice I used to hear was to source really local honey...it has to be within something like a square mile of where you live so that it is made with the pollen that is local to you.

But I imagine that could be pretty tricky to get hold of!

I used to take a homeopathic remedy that you can get in Boots and healthfood shops, but it never made any difference for me.

Hope you find something that works for you. I feel like one of the lucky ones, I think if you get it bad it like my Dad does then it must be awful at times.

[BFG]

I did see something about nettles being helpful for hayfever, but not sure of the details. Might be worth a google.

[lizzylemon]

I've heard of the honey thing too and also that it's supposed to be local honey but I've also heard it needs to taken daily before the pollen season kicks in (over winter I guess) - the theory is that you become desensitized to the pollen so it might be a bit late this year to start

[Tomatoking]

I suffer from hayfever and I also must have some allergy to dust or whatever as I get symptons all year round. I have used Beconase spray in the past, which I found to be really good. Last year, Mr TK bought me back an Allergy Reliever from Lloyds Pharmacy which is a little electronic gadget with two little probes that you stick up your nose up to 3 times a day (run of a battery). It's for dust, pollen or pet allergys and works by using phototherapy of two different wave lengths. I have been using this for a year now and have found it has not totally cured it, but have significantly less problems. So I would definitely recommend this device. Can't remember how much it was, but was not expensive.

Mrs TK

[CaroltheCarrot]

i am going for tests for this very thing tomorrow

[taff]

Something called Combination H, you can get it in health food shops and sometimes large supermarkets.

[nerobot]

I've been researching this over the last month, and it seems there aren't much alternative drug therapies for hayfever (I suffer quite bad myself). The few that I have found to have possible chemical basis are butterbur, stinging nettles, and some Chinese mushroom (forgot the name, but it begins with R).

I'm currently trying freeze dried stinging nettles to see if they help, though I do have some "real" anti-histamines on standby just in case.

Steven

[Daz]

Hi
grow your own drugs on BBC2 had something with nettles tonight
might be worth a look on iplayer.

[sarraceniac]

Hi
grow your own drugs on BBC2 had something with nettles tonight
might be worth a look on iplayer.

See my post on the Gardeners World thread.

[binley100]

Has the grow your drugs guy got any recipes?

Hi
grow your own drugs on BBC2 had something with nettles tonight
might be worth a look on iplayer.

Ha I rest my case.....smelly nettle tea

[sarraceniac]

I think the Chinese mushrooms that Nerobot refers to are Reishi. No evidence they work either.