Instead of blind panic setting in as your hay fever starts, why not put together the ultimate hay fever first aid kit beforehand? Compiled by long-term hay fever sufferer and airborne allergy expert, Max Wiseberg, it contains everything you’ll every need to help stop the sniffles from the usual tablets and sprays to effective allergen barrier balms and natural defences…
“There are a bewildering number of different products available for hay fever sufferers,” says airborne allergies expert, Max Wiseberg, “and I’ve probably tried most of them – with varying degrees of success! Many people find something that works for them, then find that it stops working after a while. Or something helps with some symptoms, but not all. One way round this is to create your own hay fever first aid kit – I always have this ready so I’m not caught out when the sneezing starts. I suggest including one organic allergen barrier balm, an antihistamine, a nasal spray, eye drops, and one or more natural product.
It’s very important to include a product that can help prevent your symptoms in the first place. Drug-free allergen barrier balms, such as HayMax (www.haymax.biz), can be applied to the nostrils and bones of the eyes in the morning and throughout the day, to trap over a third of pollen particles before they enter the body where they can cause symptoms. Less pollen, less reaction!
If you want to use drugs, antihistamine tablets and capsules can relieve most hay fever symptoms – sneezing, itchy, runny eyes, skin irritation, itchy nose and throat – but are less effective for nasal congestion. So adding a nasal spray to your kit is useful. Steroid nasal sprays reduce inflammation in the nose and work best for clearing nasal symptoms including itching, sneezing, watering and congestion. Antihistamine nasal sprays can quickly ease sneezing, itching and watering but are generally only proof against mild symptoms. Eye drops may be useful for reducing itchy, watering, swollen eyes.
An acupressure band, such as the Qu-Chi Hay Fever Band (https://www.hayfever.blog/), is a non-invasive, natural way to treat hay fever symptoms. It utilises the principles underlying acupressure to target key pressure points on the body associated with allergy symptoms. The band is worn around the pressure point on the elbow.
Tablets, sprays and drops can be taken individually or in combination to help combat the symptoms of your allergy, depending on which symptoms you suffer from and how severe they are. There are many different brands, so don’t give up if the first one you try doesn’t work for you; you may well find another version that works better. It’s advisable to ask your GP or pharmacist before combining treatments.
You may want to try HayMax or other natural products alongside your other hay fever medicine or medicines as they can reduce the amount of medication you need. Some of our customers have told us that HayMax means they have been able to reduce or even stop using their hay fever medicines.”
HayMax allergen barrier balms retail at £6.99 per pot and are available from Holland & Barrett; selected Morrisons, Waitrose and Boots; independent chemists, pharmacists and health stores; on 01525 406600 and from www.haymax.biz.
The Qu-Chi Hayfever Band® retails at £12.95 and is available in children’s and adult sizes and a range of colours available at pharmacies in UK and Ireland and online at www.hayfever.blog, www.healthcare4all.co.uk and Amazon and on 0113 350 5432.
