Hayfever Remedies

What Are Some Hayfever Remedies?

People seem to be always searching for hayfever remedies because when your hayfever flares up it can make you feel miserable. Your eyes and nose might swell and get red, you might sneeze unmercifully, your eyes and nose will likely itch, and your nose will run. Hayfever is usually worse in the summer and spring months than any other because the trees are pollinating but others get it more in the other months when there is a lot of mold spores around. When hayfever strikes, antihistamines are usually the key to taking away the symptoms, unfortunately though, this is not quite so simple for many people. There are some hayfever sufferers that can't get rid of their symptoms with medication because it simply does not work and others are constantly battling the condition because many things trigger their hayfever such as pollen, mold, dust, and pet dander. There is no set cure for hayfever so the only thing that a person who suffers from hayfever can do is eliminate the symptoms by using one of the many hayfever remedies.

Diagnosing the Problem

Often, before a remedy can be found a patient must see a doctor who can determine which allergens are causing the problem. This is usually done by a series of skin tests. These skin tests consist of a doctor exposing the skin of the patient to these allergens and see if the skin becomes inflamed by the antibodies. There are also tests to see how high the levels of antibodies are. When the levels of antibodies are lower, the patient can usually treat their hayfever with a non prescription antihistamine. There are four different types of hayfever remedies, chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, desloratadine, and cetirizine. The first two cause drowsiness as a side effect and this doesn't work for many people who find it just as unbearable to go through the day feeling lethargic as it is to suffer from hayfever. Doctors will often advise their patients to take a daily antihistamine to control histamine release.

Sprays & Rinses

Some people rely on nasal rinses or sprays that are made up of both decongestants and antihistamines as hayfever remedies. Sometimes doctors will even prescribe these sprays with steroids added.  While these work well for soothing the nasal passages and reducing inflammation, they can only be used for a few days at a time before offering the opposite affect, only making the condition worse.

Plastic Surgery

There are some hayfever sufferers that are so desperate to eliminate their problem that they resort to having a surgical procedure called rhinoplasty. This is a type of plastic surgery that can straighten the septum. This procedure will work for some people but not for most. On occasion, plastic surgeons will piggy back rhinoplasty with a turbinate reduction. This procedure cuts the curled bone shelf at the top of the nose. The reason for this is to eliminate allergy inflammation. There is a lot of controversy about this particular procedure by doctors who claim that in the long run this will actually make symptoms worse. The procedures are very costly and the outcome is not always favorable.

Homeopathic Remedies

There are many people that have resorted to home methods as hayfever remedies. Some of the most popular include bog rhubarb which is a natural antihistamine that does not cause drowsiness. Another herbal remedy is Luffa, which can be purchased at health food stores in a spray, tablets, or tincture. Basically, this is an herbal remedy that is filled with various herbs and it relieves the itching, sneezing, and coughs that are associated with hayfever. These are some of the remedies available to treat hayfever but you should always check with your doctor before trying any of them.