6 ways to calm your hayfever symptoms, using things you already own (2024)

From eyes that you want to scratch with the same intensity as a mosquito bite to a nose runnier than the Thames, hayfever can cause endless havoc. So, what can you do to minimise your symptoms? A mix of medical interventions (think: antihistamine tablets) combined with natural remedies for hayfever (making sure you wash your clothes thoroughly, to nix any clinging pollen) is likely your best bet.

Heads up that a lot of hayfever symptoms overlap with some covid symptoms. If you are concerned, take a test

What actually is hayfever?

'Hayfever is a type of allergic rhinitis (an inflammation of the inside of the nose caused by an allergen) which is triggered by pollen, such as that from trees and grass,' explains GP Dr Adwoa Danso (@theclinicdiaries.) Essentially, symptoms occur if your body has an allergic reaction to a type of pollen.

While people who deal with hayfever tend to suffer between late March and early September, when the pollen count is at its highest, you have probably noticed that yours might be worse on the earlier or later sides of the season.

This is because people are often allergic to different pollens. If tree pollen gets you, then February-June could bother you. If it's grass – and this is the most common – then May-August could cause you issues.

'If you have hayfever, then your body is creating an immune response to pollen, as it has identified it as something it doesn't recognise and that it wants to get rid of. Your immune system makes histamines [you can think of these like bouncers, who decide to kick someone who is too tipsy out of a club] which then cause symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes.'

Short story: Because your system has (mistakenly) identified pollen as harmful, effectively, it is trying to expel it from your body.

What are the symptoms of hayfever?

Dr Danso says that the following symptoms are typical:

• sneezing
• watery eyes
• itchy throat
• runny nose
• blocked nose

What is the best natural remedy for hay fever?

While medications are available to help with symptoms (and more on these, later) there are a few natural remedies you can also try, alongside them.

1. Learn your triggers – and avoid them

Get into preventative mode and work out if your symptoms are worse in grass or tree pollen season. You can also identify if, say, walking through the park really sets you off, or heading on a hike into the woods. Then, you can avoid these activities when you know that the pollen count is high for your specific trigger.

'You can also keep your windows closed and get your ventilation via a fan, avoid sitting in the grass and try to not go outside as much at the times of the day when the pollen count is highest, in the early afternoon,' advises Dr Danso.

2. Change your clothes regularly

'Pollen sticks to your clothes, so, after you have been out in the summer, wash them and et changed as soon as you get back in,' says Dr Danso.

3. Wash your hair

Same goes for your locks, sadly. 'Pollen also sticks to your hair, so wash it when you get back home after being out.'

4. Put Vaseline inside your nose

Block pollen from entering your nose by smearing a little Vaseline inside each nostril. 'This creates a natural barrier,' explains Dr Danso.

5. Wear sunglasses

Again, this can create a barrier between pollen and your eyes. 'Much like your clothes and your hair, though, pollen can stick to shades – so wipe them down when you get home,' says Dr Danso.

6. Buy decent quality good tissues

Of course, this isn't a remedy as such, but it is a smart move to avoid making things worse. 'Sneezing into and using low-quality tissues can irritate your nose further, so invest decent ones,' says Dr Danso.

Is local honey a natural remedy for hayfever?

There's been a theory knocking about for a while that, if you eat a teaspoon of honey local to your area every day, you can reduce your hayfever symptoms. Why? The idea is that by exposing yourself to tiny amounts of the pollen in your area, you'll enhance your immunity to it.

Sadly, a 2002 study from the University of Connecticut, which compared local, unfiltered honey with nationally-produced, filtered honey found zero effects between the two in reducing symptoms of the allergy.

Do any foods help hay fever?

Changing your diet is unlikely to nix your hayfever symptoms. However, fresh ginger (try chopping up a chunk, covering with hot water and having as a tea) is a decongestant and might help to calm down inflammatory problems, like swelling in your nasal passage.

Eating plenty of vitamin C, meanwhile, can reduce the amount of histamines your body produces, thus potentially curbing your symptoms: load up on kiwis, tomatoes, broccoli and potatoes.

What medication can I take for hayfever?

Antihistamines

'Antihistermaines are the classic medication for hayfever,' says Dr Danso. 'These cause your body to not have such a heightened immune reaction to pollen – histamines are the chemical that are released that cause sneezing and watery eyes, so these block that response.' You can get these over the counter, but, if your hayfever is super severe, there are stronger versions that your GP can prescribe.

Nasal spray

'Nasal sprays line your nasal cavity to act as a barrier aainst pollen and so reduce inflammation in your nose,' says Dr Danso. Again, you can pick these up without a prescription.

Eye drops

'If you have sore, itchy eyes due to hayfever, eye drops can help,' Dr Danso adds.