Hay Fever

An allergic disease, also called allergic rhinitis, of mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, and upper air passages induced by external irritation.

Causes

Air-borne pollens. Spring type is due to pollens of trees such as oak, elm, hickory, and ash. The summer type is due to pollens of plants such as grasses, plantain, and sorrel. The fall type is due principally to the pollen of ragweeds. Nonseasonal hay fever may result from inhalation of irritating substances such as the danders of animals, feathers, or dust such as hay, straw, or house dust or from ingestion of drugs or foods to which the subject is allergic.

Those who suffer from hay fever symptoms throughout the year are said to have perennial rhinitis.

Symptoms

Inflammation, catarrh, watery discharges from the eyes, coryza, headache, asthmatic symptoms. Itchy watery eyes, sneezing, and nervous irritability. Treatment includes either remove the patient from contact with the allergen or remove the allergen from the patient's environment. Filtration of air by masks and nasal filters may be helpful. Drug therapy in which epinephrine, antihistamines, or other drugs are given orally or used as nose drops, or nasal sprays. Prophylactic treatment consisting of desensitization by injection of pollen extracts to which the subject is sensitive may be of benefit.

Nutrients

Coenzyme Q10, 30 mg. twice per day, improves oxygenation and immunity. Raw thymus glandular, 500 mg. twice per day, promotes immune function. Vitamin A, 25,000 IU per day, is a powerful immunostimulant. Vitamin B complex, taken as directed on the label, enhances immune function. Vitamin C plus bioflavonoids, 3,000-10,000 mg. per day, is a potent immunostimulant. Germanium, 100 mg. twice per day, improves immune system function. Proteolytic enzymes, taken with and between meals, is necessary for digestion of essential nutrients that boost immune system. Royal jelly capsules, taken as directed on the label, helps to reduce fever and to destroy bacteria. Zinc, 50-80 mg. per day (when feverish, zinc should be omitted). Alfalfa liquid, twice daily in juice, is needed for chlorophyll and vitamin K. Vitamin E, 400-800 IU per day, boosts the immune system.

Herbs

Bittersweet
Boneset
Cabbage, skunk
Calamus, root
Clover, red
Cohosh, black
Coltsfoot
Coriander
Crowfoot
Cubeb
Dock, yellow
Elm, slippery
Eyebright, red
Fireweed
Golden rod
Ivy, ground
Jasmine, yellow
Lemon, juice
Ma-huang
Milkweed
Mullein
Nettle
Onion
Papaya
Plantain
Plum, wild, bark
Poplar
Senega snakeroot
Skunk cabbage
Spikenard
Sticta

Recommendations

Eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, raw seeds, and nuts. Eat yogurt or any soured products 3 times a week. Stay on a high-fiber diet. Eliminate dairy products, white flour products, sugar, packaged or canned foods, tobacco, coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, pies, cakes, or any junk foods.

Suggestions

An old remedy for hay fever includes the theory that pollen collected by the honey bee will be digested and deposited into the honey it makes. Minute deposits of this pollen, taken in the form of this local honey, will slowly immunize against the allergy and irritation of these pollens. The honey must be local to the residence of the patient and collected with the honeycomb without refinement. Refining the honey destroys or removes the pollen deposits. Taken with cod liver oil (tablets are not the same, must have the oil), it will take several weeks to notice the changes, but the immunity will kick in and the next hay fever season will be lighter until the allergy is controllable or goes away completely. This applies to all allergies that are food, pollen, or skin allergies that produce eczema and rashes.