I started suffering from hay fever in my early teens, as well as having similar symptoms when around cats, dogs and horses. If I stroked a dog, I would get hives all up my arm. If I was around a cat for too long I got wheezy, itchy and sneezed a LOT.
I couldn’t sleep over at a friend’s house if they had any furry pets and all summer I would be sneezing, have puffy, itchy eyes and come up in hives. It had an impact on what I could join in with and where I could go, as well as limiting any sleepovers.
I remember when I was around 14, I desperately wanted to join in on a sleepover with my friends, so I took my antihistamines in the hope that I wouldn’t have to miss out again. Within a few hours, my eyes were so puffy and itchy and my chest felt so tight that I sat in her windowsill with my head sticking out of the open window, until I finally admitted defeat and went home. I felt pretty miserable!
Taking antihistamines was an almost daily occurrence for me during the summer months, but they made me drowsy and as the story above shows – they didn’t do much to alleviate my suffering!
Eventually, in my late 20’s I came across homeopathy and started to see a homeopath for my long-standing skin issues.
I didn’t realise immediately, but I eventually noticed that I was suffering less from hay fever symptoms and my allergies were getting less severe too.
Over the next couple of years, I went from taking daily antihistamines during the summer, and erupting in hives every time I stroked a cat or dog (or cleaned without gloves, as I had started to react to household products too!) to where I am now – I have 2 cats and I can’t remember the last time that I came out in hives or needed to take an antihistamine. I haven’t had them in the cupboard for years and no longer get hay fever symptoms or that tight feeling in my chest. I occasionally get slightly itchy eyes when I am run down or stressed, but that’s it!
Antihistamines for Hay Fever
According to www.theindependentpharmacy.co.uk approximately 16 million people, or about 1 in 4 adults in the UK, suffer from hay fever (allergic rhinitis), making it highly likely that millions rely on antihistamines during the pollen seasons. Sales of over-the-counter hay fever remedies have doubled since 2009, with usage rising alongside increasing pollen levels.
Up to 49% of people in the UK have reported experiencing hay fever symptoms, with 1 in 4 suffering from it to a degree that requires some sort of treatment.
The most common forms of treatment for hay fever are antihistamines like Benadryl or Clarityn, along with nasal sprays and eye drops.
Side Effects of Hay Fever Medications
While not usually severe, some of the common side effects of these hay fever medicines include:
- Drowsiness
- Reduced co-ordination
- Headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Moodiness
Homeopathy for Hay Fever
Summer can be a miserable time for hay fever sufferers. Symptoms can be truly draining and debilitating – I’ve spent many days inside on a lovely day with the windows and doors closed in an attempt to alleviate or prevent symptoms.
Homeopathy can offer a natural and effective solution without the side effects of conventional, over-the-counter medications.
Having acute remedies on hand during hay fever season is a great way to support the body when symptoms flare in the moment. These remedies are chosen based on the individual’s specific symptom picture – such as sneezing, itchy eyes, or a runny nose and are used to ease immediate discomfort while encouraging the body’s own regulatory responses. If you want to support immunity and build resilience for the following summer, you need to start your hay fever journey during the winter months.
Homeopathic remedies made from pollens and grasses can be used to reduce sensitivity and build resilience, while individualised constitutional remedies and personalised homeobotanical blends can strengthen immunity and address the allergic disposition.
Rather than suppressing symptoms, homeopathy focuses on supporting balance. Keeping a small selection of commonly used acute remedies at home can offer preparedness and support when seasonal triggers arise.
7 Common Homeopathic Remedies for Acute Hay Fever
Allium Cepa
Think of the feeling when you chop an onion! Watery eyes and profuse, clear nasal discharge that can irritate the upper lip. A tickly cough with sneezing. The person usually feels worse indoors in a warm room, is better in fresh air and is often thirsty.
Arsenicum Album
Indications for this remedy include burning, watery, runny nose with a tickling feeling. There may be swelling below the eyes and a wheezy cough. The person can feel chilly, restless and anxious.
Gelsemium
This remedy is usually indicated when there is a tired, droopy feeling with a flushed and heavy-feeling face and eyes. The nose may be runny with watery, irritating discharge or it may feel dry and swollen. The person sneezes frequently and there can be a feeling of trembling and chills, often felt down the spine with aching in the back of the head and neck.
Sabadilla
Long outbursts of sneezing with itching in the nose and irritating, runny discharge. There can be a feeling of a lump in the throat and watery eyes. There may be some anxiety during allergy flare-ups, and attempts to concentrate can trigger drowsiness or headaches.
Euphrasia
The eyes are greatly affected. They can be swollen, irritated, and produce burning tears or pus and they can become sensitive to bright light. The nose may also run, but the discharge is usually milder. Symptoms tend to worsen during the day and in warm conditions. Cough is worse during the day, easing at night.
Nux Vomica
Hay fever symptoms tend to be worse in the early morning, on waking. There will be spasmodic sneezing and the person that needs this remedy is usually burning the candle at both ends! They tend to over work and over indulge in something – coffee, alcohol, sweets, etc, which can make them feel worse.
Wyethia
This is a remedy for intolerable itching on the roof of the mouth or behind the nose/throat and sometimes the ears. Lots of dryness and irritation, but the nose may be runny.
Homeobotanicals for Hay Fever & Allergies
Homeobotanicals can be used to complement alongside homeopathy for hay fever and seasonal allergies, as they combine gentle botanical extracts with homeopathic principles to support the body on multiple levels. When used alongside individualised homeopathic remedies, homeobotanicals are often chosen to help soothe irritated tissues, support the respiratory system, and promote overall immune balance during allergy season.
This integrative approach is often used for addressing both the immediate symptoms and the longer-term resilience, while being supportive rather than suppressive, and can fit easily into a holistic self-care routine.
Are you looking for professional help?
If you or your child are experiencing some of the symptoms above and you are not sure where to start, feel free to get in touch.
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The advice given in this blog is for education purposes only, and should never be used as a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment.