Avoiding pollen is next to impossible for most, and when it does strike the consequence to sufferers means a whole host of unpleasant symptoms. But there are a number of ways, some lesser-known, to help relieve hay fever

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Hay fever patients across the UK are facing worsened symptoms as the summer gets underway and pollen count soars.

As the Met Office warned in June, very high pollen levels will affect the more than 10 million people who experience seasonal allergies.

And experts have noted that June has already seen the highest pollen levels in England and Wales so far this year.

Max Wiseberg, airborne allergens expert and creator of HayMax organic allergen barrier balms, said sufferers "need to be well prepared and do everything they can to lessen their hay fever symptoms".

Pharmaceutical remedies are generally based on either antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays, whilst natural remedies are based on physical preventative measures, immune boosters or natural antihistamines," Max explained.

"The interesting thing about this is that many of these remedies can be complementary to each other.

So, if one helps, but doesnt do the whole job, you may be able to try other remedies at the same time and get a better result.

In other words, you can create your own, bespoke hay fever first aid kit that suits your specific needs.

Popular treatments for hay fever sufferers include:

Nasal washing, or nasal sinus irrigation, is basically just pouring a saltwater solution into one nostril and letting it drain out the other.

The ancient Indian practice can help rinse out mucus, bacteria, and allergens like dust and pollen.

That means you may need less allergy medicine or nasal decongestants.

According to Head and Neck surgeons, nasal washing can be done following these steps:

Any container with a spout should work, but you can buy a specialist neti pot to help.

You can also buy natural eye drops which contain a herb called Euphrasia (more commonly known as Eyebright), adds Wiseberg.

Butterbur is a herbal extract believed to have an antihistamine-like effect on hay fever symptoms, and is widely available in capsules.

Quercetin is thought to limit the release of histamine. As well as being found naturally in many foods, it can also be taken in a capsule.

Turmeric is another lesser-known solution according to Wiseberg and has been shown to have anti-allergy properties.

Most often used in dried form, it can also be bought fresh and is available in tablet and capsule form, he advised.

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Excerpt from:

Nasal washing for hay fever - how to reduce symptoms with alternative therapies - The Mirror