Hay fever is a common allergy caused by pollen from trees, grasses, crops and weeds. Although the beautiful yellow fields of oil seed rape are a colourful highlight of the countryside, they are a trigger for symptoms of hay fever and asthma for some.

The well-known symptoms of sneezing, a running or blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes can ruin spring and summer for some sufferers and often add to the misery of exam season for teenagers.

Many over-the-counter treatments are available, including antihistamines, nose sprays and eye drops. These work well for many people but side effects can include drowsiness and – especially for older people and those taking other medication – dry mouth, headaches, blurred vision and bladder symptoms. Nose sprays and eye drops need to be used up to four times per day to be maximally effective, but very few people manage to apply them this often.

There are some simple steps everyone can take to reduce the symptoms:

• Wear sunglasses (ideally the wraparound type) when outdoors.
• Keep windows closed to keep pollen out of the house, especially late afternoon and early evening when pollen levels are highest.
• Change clothes after being outdoors, shower and wash your hair (to avoid sleeping on a pillow covered with pollen!).
• Use a pollen calendar such as the one on Allergy UK to try to identify the pollen you are sensitive to. This may help you to avoid it. April to June is the peak season for oil seed rape and grass which are hard to get away from, but specific tree pollens may be easier to stay clear of.

You may be surprised to know that there is good research evidence to support acupuncture as a treatment for hay fever. Studies have shown that it can be as effective or even better than antihistamines, and can either replace or reduce the need for conventional treatment. And the great news is that the side-effects are only good ones, including relaxation, better sleep quality and an improved sense of wellbeing.

I offer treatment for hay fever at my new medical acupuncture clinic in Milton, with a discounted course of five treatment sessions. This is enough to see many people through the season and is best started a few weeks prior to when your hay fever normally starts.

For more information, contact Dr Fiona Garrett Ryan – click here for further information.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock Images.