More people seem to be suffering from hay fever, pollen season feels longer and symptom severity appears to be increasing year on year. If you don’t want hay fever to spoil your summer race day outings but prefer to take drug-free alternatives, here are a few options that address hay fever from different contemporary angles. 

All prices are correct at time of publishing

Acupressure and Acupuncture – Both ancient Chinese treatments can help reduce hay fever symptoms. Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific parts of the body to stimulate your energy ‘qi’ and release any blockages to its flow. But if you are not a fan of needles then Acupressure is the better option. Acupressure is similar, it helps to increase the flow of natural energy through the stimulation of various pressure points and so, helps unblock energy pathways to the nose and throat, and promote wellbeing. Another advantage is, unlike acupuncture, acupressure is not just available as a treatment but acupressure bands can be bought such as. Hay-Band  Hay-band works by applying pressure to the acupressure point on either arm, called the LI-11 point. The LI-11 point can be found at the end of the crease at the elbow. Once located, slide a hay-band into position so that the button faces inwards over the pressure point, with the bands passing either side of the elbow. The band may be worn on either arm or if symptoms are acute, one can be worn on both arms. Drug-free, natural and discreet, hay-band can also be worn as a preventative. There is no drowsiness or other unwanted side-effects and the band is suitable for adults and children over the age of three, but not suitable for use during pregnancy. Hay-band costs £13.09 per (washable) band.

For Watery Eyes: Eye problems can be the most irritating symptom of hayfever. When pollen comes into contact with your eyes, they can become inflamed, itchy and watery. This can obscure your vision and cause an enormous amount of discomfort. A.Vogel Pollinosan Hayfever Eye Drops   Pollinosan Hayfever Eye Drops combine hyaluronic acid and chamomile for quick relief of red and itchy eyes due to hayfever. Suitable for vegans and preservative-free, they can be used with contact lenses and glasses, and by children from the age of seven (after consulting an optician or healthcare professional). £13.99 for 10ml, from local health shops nationwide and www.avogel.co.uk.

For Itchy Eyes – Dry, inflamed skin around the eyes is a common side effect of hay fever. The constant tears coupled with frequent eye rubbing causes the skin around the eye to become dry, itchy and inflamed. Anti-histamine eye drops also have a drying effect on the skin around the eye, which can add to the problem. Hydrosil Dry Eye Gel Hydrosil’s Dry Eye Gel is a light natural gel that contains a plant extract of Cardiospermum. The gel delivers the anti-inflammatory anti-itching benefits of the cardiospermum extract without irritating the delicate skin around the eye. Dry Eye Gel is vegan and FREE from SLS, MI, paraben and perfumes. £10.95 (15ml). 

Sneezes. For a Runny or Blocked Nose- rinsing your nasal passages with a saline solution such as Superdrug Saline Nasal Spray 100ml   can provide relief from a runny or blocked nose by clearing mucus and flushing out allergens,and irritants. 

Hay-Band, Pollinosan & Hydrosil images provided by pr agency SD Jennings

Superdrug image provided by pr agency Maven PR