Allergy season starts in the spring and goes until the first frost in the fall. More than one in six Canadians suffer from seasonal allergies. Depending on where you live and what you’re sensitive to, you can have symptoms from March to November. Sneezing, congestion, runny nose, red, watery eyes, itchy eyes, nose, ears and throat are common symptoms.

Homeopathy is very effective for allergies. Your symptoms will be alleviated and over time homeopathic treatment will help your body heal itself and eliminate the sensitivity that leads to the allergy symptoms. For best results, see your Homeopath well in advance of your allergy season.

In the midst of full blown hay fever season, you can use homeopathic medicines to treat the acute phase of your allergy for effective relief without side effects.

Here are some homeopathic remedies that might bring you some quick relief of your acute symptoms with no danger of side effects. Look for the description that best matches you and your symptoms.

Allium cepa: profuse, burning nasal discharge which is worse in a warm room and better outside, with non-burning, watery red eyes that you want to rub all the time; your nose feels raw with a tingling sensation and violent sneezing; you may have a congestive headache over the eyes

Ambrosia: when your hayfever comes from exposure to ragweed; itchy, watery eyes, irritated throat, nose and head feel stuffed up

Arsenicum album: burning tears and clear, watery nasal discharge, running like a faucet, often worse on the right side, worse between midnight and 2 am; tossing and turning in bed, restless, sometimes anxious during breathing difficulties; chilly and feel better a warm room; very thirsty but drink small sips at a time; sensitive to light, have violent sneezing, and may develop asthmatic breathing.

Euphrasia: burning watery eyes and a non-irritating nasal discharge; your eyes water so much you look like you’re brimming with tears, and your eyes feel worse outdoors. The whites of the eye and the cheeks are red from the burning tears; runny nose is worse at night, while lying down, and in windy weather.

Natrum muriaticum: watery eyes and nose; nasal discharge profuse and resembles raw egg white, with the nose blocking up at times; worse in hot weather and my be accompanied by cold sores around the mouth

Nux vomica:  irritable and chilly workaholic type, runny nose during the day and congestion at night, worse indoors and better in the open air; sensitive to the cold and to being uncovered; may have frequent sneezing

Pulsatilla: runny nose during the day and congestion at night, mild-tempered, clingy and weepy, tending to cling, wanting attention and sympathy; congestion is worse in a warm room, hot weather, or while lying down, and is relieved in cool rooms, open air, or with cool applications; may experience itching at the roof of the mouth at night; often not thirsty

Sabadilla: burning red eyelids, with tears flowing worse during sneezing, yawning and coughing; face and lips feel hot; sneezing spasms with watery runny nose, worse from the smell of flowers; nose feels dry and itchy;  feels worse in cold air; throat feels painful especially on empty swallowing, is better from hot drinks and the pain can go from left to right

Sulphur:  dry, itchy nose, frequent sneezing; burning itchy eyes, sensitive to light, and feel gritty. Eyelids are red and itchy, mostly in the daytime, and feel as though they are glued together in the morning; generally uncomfortable in the hot weather

Wyethia: irritable itching behind the nose and/or at the roof of the mouth;  tickling sensation and dry hacking cough; throat feels hot with a tendency to constant clearing even though dry; often the throat feels swollen with difficulty in swallowing

Wash your hands often with soap and water

It’s such a simple habit. Washing hands isn’t just for the bathroom (ever notice how many people don’t wash their hands in the public washrooms?). Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. Wash your hands often to decrease the likelihood of becoming infected or spreading germs. Wash as soon as you get home, before preparing food, before eating, after sneezing, blowing your nose, and so on.

Eat good, healthy food

You know this one – it applies all year round! Eat lots of colorful vegetables and fruits high in Vitamins C and A. Choose broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, peppers, sweet potatoes and squashes. Try to get three to four servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables a day. Don’t forget your protein at each meal. Choose lean meats, legumes, nuts and seeds. Eating smaller meals more often helps regulate blood sugar and prevents hunger – which is when you’re most likely to overeat. Cook with lots of garlic and onion. These are natural antimicrobials.

Pass the lemon

Lemon is great for restoring alkalinity in the body and maintaining an internal environment that supports healthy bacteria. Viruses and bad bacteria love more acidic environments. Try hot water with freshly squeezed lemon juice, add it to your tea, use it in salad dressing instead of vinegar. Lemon is a good liver cleanse, which is your body’s garbage can.

Forget the sugar

If you do only one thing, cut out refined white sugar. Sugar decreases the function of your immune system almost immediately. 100 grams of sugar, the amount in one 12-ounce can of regular carbonated drinks, can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by 40 percent for up to 5 hours! A strong immune system is key to fighting off viruses and other illness. It’s especially important to avoid sugar completely if you feel you’re coming down with something.  Keeping sugar out of your diet overall will do wonders for your health and make your body stronger. And don’t substitute artificial sweetener. That’s even worse.

Drink plenty of water

How many times have we heard that you should dring 6 to 8 8-oz glasses of water a day ? But cold weather means drier air. It’s harder to stay hydrated, and a dehydrated body is very susceptible to infection. Water is essential to help your body fight illness. Your immune system can’t function properly without adequate quantities of water. It flushes toxins from the body and helps maintain good health. Avoid soft drinks, alcohol, coffee and caffeine. These will actually deplete your body of water. If you drink coffee, make sure you add an additional two glasses to your water intake per cup of coffee. Drink herbal teas, or hot water with lemon. Keep a bottle of filtered water with you. Don’t reach for fruit juice and sweetened beverages, either. Remember the “avoid sugar” tip? Fruit juice is full of sugar – better to eat a whole fruit than drink juice.  If you have to drink juice, dilute it with lots of water.

Get moving

Exercise can make a noticeable difference to your health and happiness by releasing endorphins. Physical activity stimulates the immune system. You don’t have to run a marathon or sweat over heavy weights. But don’t sit on your duff all the time. Move your body, use those joints. Walk, run, clean your house, shovel snow.

Get plenty of rest and relaxation

Stress and insomnia weaken the immune system. Sleep restores and heals the body. You need seven to eight hours a night. Go to bed earlier on those dark winter nights. Do some deep breathing to relax.

Use your lungs

Fill your lungs with deep, cleansing breaths. Concentrate on slowly breathing in and out several times throughout the day. Deep breathing improves health, helps you relax, reduces stress and maximizes your energy.

If you get the flu…

Homeopathic medicine is very effective for managing and recovering from flu symptoms. Homeopathy can be used by the whole family – adults, elderly,pregnant women, children and infants. Homeopathic medicines will not interact with conventional medicines or other natural health products. Homeopathy complements medical care and supports your body’s immune system. 

The information presented here is for educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. You are encouraged to be critical of any information relating to your health, whatever the source. Be informed and make wise choices to keep yourself healthy.