Homeopathy In The Spring: Seasonal Allergy Relief

Doesn’t Spring feel like it will never get here?  The Average high in the Twin Cities of Minnesota for April 1 is 50 degrees. It is currently 34 degrees at 3 p.m. on March 30th. When Spring finally does arrive along with the buds, grass and other pollen, it will probably burst forth all at once and cause all sorts of problems for those who have allergies. Spring allergies from tree and grass pollen can create a variety of symptoms, some worse than others.  Homeopathy can help seasonal allergies!

Homeopathy can help relieve symptoms of Allergies, and it can help assure they don’t come back.  In fact, allergies are one of the prime reasons people seek homeopathic care.  It also happens to be the case that allergies are the most researched and most proven ailment that homeopathy has been found to treat effectively. Read more about that by downloading a document here. Personally, I have gotten over seasonal allergies and cat allergies using homeopathy over the years.

Allergies Are A Chronic Condition

In homeopathy, we can manage the symptoms of allergies during the worst season for you by simply matching a remedy to the symptoms you are currently experiencing.  However, once the worst is over, it is best to seek constitutional care for your allergies.  This is true for a couple of reasons.  On the practical side, even if we are able to find a matching remedy, you likely would need a different remedy the next year.  This is so because of how homeopathy works–that is, the wrong remedy only works for a while.  The right remedy works much longer.

The second reason for seeking care for your chronic condition is that it is the only way to get to the underlying reason for having the allergies in the first place.  Constitutional homeopathy can help seasonal allergies by providing a more permanent solution.

What about antihistimines and other western medicine allergy solutions?

You probably have already given up on these if you are reading this blog post.  While they may work temporarily, using them on a continual basis will suppress your allergy symptoms and they may instead appear as something worse. My son even tried them.  They worked for about 5 hours instead of the expected 24.  OOPS!

Historically, homeopathy has a strong relationship with allergies.  A homeopathic physician from Scotland, Dr. Blackley first identified pollen as the cause of hayfever back in 1871.  Dr. Grant Selfridge, a homeopathic physician from San Francisco was one of the founders of The American Academy of Allergy.  And of course, the concept of allergy shots was borrowed from homeopathy, where small doses of the offending agent are introduced in hopes of creating an immunity of sorts to the allergen. It doesn’t always work, and some people end up worse.

Remedies for Acute Care for Seasonal Allergies

In the meantime, here are some homeopathic remedies that may help you with your seasonal allergies.  Many of these are available in stores, but not all of them are.  I do try to emphasize those that are easiest to access, but if your body is signaling symptoms that belong to a remedy that is not typically available at your local healthy food or supplement store, you still need to know what that remedy is.

Allium Cepa: 

(Allium Cepa is a homeopathic remedy made from Red Onions.  You can think about the symptoms of onions, eyes watering, nose running, some sneezing, some burning.)

• Nose running with very watery discharge, “like a faucet”, is how it is often described. It can cause redness on the skin under the nose.
• Watery eyes, that is generally pretty bland, and not the primary symptom of the allergies.
• Violent sneezing, which propels mucus out of the nose.
• The nose is obstructed by swelling of the mucus membranes. You can literally see the swelling in some people.
• The symptoms could be left sided or begin on the left side.  That is, left nostril or left eye are first to display symptoms.
• Headache, which is better when the nose is running freely, worse if you suppress the nasal discharge with OTC medications.

Arsenicum Album:

• Nose feels totally obstructed, but thin, watery mucus is dripping from the nostrils, often only the right nostril.
• There are burning pains located in the throat, eyes and nose, which are better from warm drinks and applications.  (Another example of what we call a Strange, Rare and Peculiar (SRP) symptom in homeopathy:  Burning pains better from heat.)
• Sneezing in the morning on waking.
• Sneezing from tickling in one spot, as if someone were tickling you with a feather.
• Better: in a warm room or with warm drinks.
• Worse:  Cold rooms, or inhaling cold air.
• You may also have sores in your nose.

Euphrasia Officinalis:

(This remedy is commonly called Eyebright. With a name like that, you can imagine that the worse symptoms are going to be located in the eyes.)

• Eyes are inflamed, irritated, burning, itching.
• Eyes are very sensitive to light which can cause you to blink a lot.
• May awaken with eyes stuck shut because the discharges dry out at night.
• Bland nasal discharge, but painful, burning watery eyes. (This is the opposite of Allium Cepa, which has burning nasal discharge and bland tears. This is how you will likely distinguish between the two remedies.)
• Intense sneezing and watery discharge.
• Worse in the morning, and in the wind.
• Better lying down at night.
• Constant, tickly cough, which is better lying down at night, worse in the daytime. (This is an unusual symptom.)
• Post Nasal Drip collects in the back of the throat at night causing coughing and wretching in the morning.

Gelsemium:

Gelsemium is one of the top remedies for influenza, well known for its weakness, emotionally and physically.  So it is no surprise that this symptom also shows up in seasonal allergies.

• Overwhelming tiredness and weakness during allergies season.
• Really warm discharge through the nose.
• Worse being overheated and in warm, humid weather.
• Exhausted from sneezing, which often shows up in the morning.

Natrum Muriaticum:

This remedy is homeopathic Sodium Chloride, which is often used to help with colds, allergies, and a variety of other dis-ease situations.

• Thick nasal discharge like raw egg white.
• Episodes of sneezing multiple times.
• Nose is obstructed, worse in the wind.
• Chapped lips and cracks in the corners of the mouth.
• Eyes are watery and worse from going outside, especially if it is windy.

Nux Vomica:

• Irritability is a strong feature in Nux Vomica. You may feel like you have a hangover.
• Sneezing and nasal discharge on waking and rising in the morning.
• Nose runs during the daytime and is dry and obstructed at night. This is better in a warm room, when the nose begins to run again.
• Worse in the morning, upon waking, worse outside, and worse after eating (typical Nux Vomica symptom).
• Better from warm drinks and warm rooms.
• Children who need this will rub their nose with the palm of their hand. You should see a horizontal crease a little below the bridge of the nose.

Pulsatilla:

Pulsatilla is well known as a children’s remedy, but can also be used for adults with allergy symptoms, where the symptoms match.

• Children, especially, will be clingy and whiney with allergy symptoms.
• Hay Fever in the Spring, or Summer or Fall.
• Watery discharge from the nose, which runs freely.
• Itching and watery eyes, better from cold applications.
• Worse: overheated by the sun, hot food, and pretty much anything to do with heat.
• Also worse in the open air, which is normally not true of Pulsatilla.
• Better in air conditioning.

Sabadilla:

If frequent sneezing is your worst symptom, start with Sabadilla.

• Runny nose and sneezing that is worse from cold and better from heat (drinks, food, air)
• Itching and tingling inside the nose, with little relief.
• Eyes are watery, nose is obstructed.
• Watery eyes that are burning and red.  Every sneeze causes your eyes to water.
• Worse from being outside, and flower pollen is especially bad.
• Better from warm drinks and a warm room.
• May have allergic asthma and a dry cough.
• Throat may be inflamed on the left side.

Sulphur:

Allergies/Hay Fever which affects the eyes.

• Eyes feel full of sand.  (This is also true with pink eye and Suphur)
• Rims of the eyelids are red and crusty.
• Nasal discharge that is sometimes thick and yellow and sometimes clear and smelly.
• Sulphur is almost always worse from heat, warm rooms, food, air.
• Spasms of sneezing, usually in the evening.
• Nasal obstruction, with some discharge, often on the right side.

Wyethia:

• Extremely itchy palate in the mouth.  Uses tongue to rub back and forth.
• Itching extends to the ears, often causing rubbing or boring into the ears.
• Dry mouth and throat.  Frequent clearing of the throat.

What if None of These Match Your Symptoms?

If none of the remedies above match your symptoms and you are still suffering, schedule a complicated acute consult and we can work together to find you some relief with homeopathy. With the right remedy, homeopathy can help your seasonal allergies.

Need Some More Help This Spring?

Keep an eye out for more help with symptoms with homeopathy by reading other blog posts, including using homeopathy for TIck Bites.  Help deal with bulls eye rashes and embedded ticks.

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