Natural Remedies for Allergies and Hay Fever

If you have a runny nose, sore throat and or itchy eyes, you may be suffering from seasonal allergies. This type of allergy occurs when your body overreacts to pollen from trees or weeds, and sometimes household dust or mold.  Hay fever is one variety of this type of allergy.

In addition, there is allergic asthma, conjunctivitis, hives, eczema, dermatitis and sinusitis as well as food allergies, latex allergies, insect-sting allergies and drug allergies.

There are almost as many different types of allergies as there are people who have them!  Obviously, allergies need to be handled on an individual basis.  There are a number of food remedies that just may help people who suffer from seasonal allergies or hay fever.

Allergy Relief

It is said that there are chemicals in bananas that repel allergies.  That is, unless you are allergic to bananas.  If not, try eating a banana daily.

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Vitamin-rich watercress is thought by some to be and anti-allergen. Eat it in salads, sandwiches and sauces.  Watercress is potent stuff, so eat small portions at a time.  If you do not have access to fresh watercress a good watercress supplement works well.

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Allergy Prevention

It is believed by some that licorice root (the herb, not the candy) helps build up an immunity to allergens.

Add 3 ounces of cut licorice root (available for purchase through this blog) to 1 quart of water.  Boil it for 10 minutes in an enamel or glass pot, then strain into a bottle.

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Dose: Take 1 tablespoon before each meal, every other day until you have taken the licorice-root water for six days.  This food remedy is said to help build resistance to allergies.

Caution:  Do not take licorice root if you have high blood pressure or kidney problems.  It can cause renal failure.

Hay Fever Prevention

The US Army tested honeycomb as a desensitizing and antiallergenic substance for hay fever.  Their results were  very encouraging, especially those from subjects who chewed the honeycomb.

Start this regime about two months before hay fever season.  By the time the season rolls around, the honeycomb may have helped you to build an immunity to the pollen in  your area.  You can also chew a bite-sized chunk of honeycomb at the start of a hay fever attack.

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It is best to find a beekeeper in your close area and get local honeycomb.  For prevention, chew a 1-inch square of it twice a day.  The honey is delicious, and the comb part turns into a ball of wax.  Chew the wax for about 10 to 15 minutes, then spit it out.

If you do not have access to a local beekeeper, look for honeycomb at your neighborhood health food store.  Hopefully, it is from your general area.

Caution:  People who are allergic to bee stings or honey should consult a doctor before chewing honeycomb.

Starting three months before hay fever season, drink 1 cup of fenugreek-seed tea each day. The tea is available at health food stores.  This remedy goes back to the ancient Egyptians and forward to Armenian mountaineers who drink 1 cup of fenugreek tea before each meal to clear and stimulate their senses of smell and taste.