Hay Fever

Have you ever known a child to scream bloody murder after just barely bumping his knee? If you have hay fever, your immune system overreacts in much the same way.

Your immune system is responsible for identifying and destroying any disease­causing microorganisms that invade your body. But sometimes it mistakes perfectly harmless substances for germs. In response, it releases certain compounds-in particular, immunoglobulin E (IgE) and histamine-to obliterate the" enemy." IgE and histamine are what cause hay fever symptoms.

Hay fever is an inhalant allergy. In other words, you breathe in the offending substances, which then stimulate your body's immune response. Traditionally, hay fever has been defined as an allergic reaction to pollen. But now the term is used more broadly to describe reactions to other airborne triggers such as mold, dust, animal dander, and dust mites. These substances are referred to as allergens because they provoke allergy symptoms.

Of the 26 million Americans who have inhalant allergies, most experience their first symptoms before age 20, notes allergist/immunologist Peter Boggs, M.D., author of Sneezing Your Head Off? But you can get allergies at any age.

If you suspect that you have hay fever, you should consult an allergist or immunologist to find out exactly what substances trigger your symptoms. Various tests are available, but the scratch test is most widely used. The doctor uses a needle to scratch your skin in several places-it sounds painful, but it isn't-then rubs a different allergen into each scratch. If the scratch becomes inflamed, then you're allergic to that substance.

The best way to avoid hay fever symptoms is to minimize your exposure to trigger substances. But when that's not possible, you can count on blended medicine to defuse your reaction and alleviate your discomfort.

Best Choices

Supplements

Take a natural antihistamine. Research has shown that vitamin C can reduce blood levels of histamine, one of the compounds that cause hay fever symptoms. In one study, a group of volunteers took 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C every day for 3 days. Blood tests before and after supplement therapy showed impressive reductions in levels of histamine. You can try vitamin C for yourself, in the same dosage used in the study, to see whether it makes a difference in your symptoms.

Benefit from a little-known B vitamin. "I often get good results by treating hay fever with supplements of pantothenic acid;' says Alan Gaby, M.D. He suggests taking 100 to 1,000 milligrams every day.

Herbal Medicine

Take advantage of nettle. The medicinal herb stinging nettle has a long history as a treatment for respiratory problems. "It's my first choice;' says Andrew T. Weil, M.D., director of the program in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. "I use stinging nettle myself during the spring ragweed season in southern Arizona."

Many health food stores sell capsules of freeze-dried nettle. Take 600 milligrams a day. Some people report that their hay fever gets worse when they start using stinging nettle. If this happens to you, stop taking the herb and try another remedy.

Sit in your tea. To calm an overactive immune system, soak in an herbal bath, recommends Lisa Meserole, R.D., N.D., chair­person of the department of botanical medicine at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. For optimum benefit, prepare the herbal mixture the day before you plan to use it.

First, choose two or three of the following herbs: calendula flowers, lavender flowers, eyebright flowers, or German chamomile. (You'll find all of these in health food stores.) Blend together roughly equal amounts of the herbs so that you end up with 1/4 cup. Add the herb mixture to 4 cups of cool water and allow to steep overnight. The next day, bring the tea to a boil, then remove the pot from the stove and cover it with a lid. Allow the tea to steep for 15 minutes before straining. Pour the liquid into your bathwater, then soak.

Homeopathy

Get relief from grass. Researchers at the University of Glasgow in Scotland gave 140 people with pollen allergies either a homeopathic preparation of mixed grass pollens or a placebo. Compared with the people taking the placebo, those taking the homeopathic preparation showed significant improvement in their symptoms. In fact, they were able to reduce their use of antihistamines by 50 percent.

Other homeopathic medicines do an equally impressive job of alleviating hay fever symptoms, says homeopath Dana Ullman. Among the medicines he often prescribes are Allium cepa, Arsenicum album, Arum triphyllum, Euphrasia, Histaminum, Kali bichromicum, Natrum muriaticum, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Sabadilla, and Wyethia helenioides. To find out which of these will work best for you, consult a homeopath.

Chinese Medicine

Calm the Wind. Chinese medicine views hay fever as an invasion of Wind. "Itching is a typical symptom of Wind, and itchy eyes are a hallmark of hay fever;' observes Efrem Korngold, O.M.D., L.Ac. He treats hay fever with herbal formulas that contain magnolia flowers, mulberry bark, honeysuckle flowers, licorice root, asarum, and black cohosh root.

Select the right spot. To relieve hay fever symptoms, Dr. Korngold suggests stimulating the point Large Intestine 4. It's located in the fleshy webbing between the thumb and index finger of either hand. Stimulate the point for 3 minutes, using steady, penetrating finger pressure. Then switch hands. (Women who are pregnant should not use this remedy, as it may trigger uterine contractions.)

Home Remedies

In a pinch, drink coffee. The caffeine in coffee is a potent decongestant. In one study, people with hay fever received either 400 milligrams of caffeine-the equivalent of about 18 ounces of coffee-or a placebo. The placebo takers reported a 19 percent improvement in their symptoms. Among the caffeine takers, that figure rose to 51 percent.

Invest in a new stove. At St. Thomas' Hospital in London, Deborah Jarvis, M.D., polled 1,000 British adults about their health and lifestyles. Dr. Jarvis found that compared with people who cooked on electric stoves, those who used gas stoves were 20 percent more likely to have hay fever. Apparently, the substances released when natural gas burns cause respiratory irritation in some people. And that irritation can lead to hay fever.

Be picky about lodgings. When you're planning your vacation, look for hotels that have no-smoking rooms, no-pet policies, and daily linen changes. Ask whether there are any rooms without carpeting. Also ask about the air-conditioning system: Has it recently been inspected for mold? Does it have a filter capable of removing airborne allergens such as pollens, mold spores, and animal dander? If not, consider taking a portable HEPA filter with you. This may seem like a lot of hassle, but if you're staying in one place for your vacation, it can make the difference between a magnificent time and a miserable one.

Other Good Choices

Nutrition

Revise your diet. According to Dr. Weil, meats and dairy products tend to promote allergic reactions, while fruits and vegetables tend to deter them. "Dietary changes aren't likely to offer immediate relief, but they may help over time;" he says.

Supplements

Control symptoms with quercetin. A member of the bioflavonoid family, quercetin (pronounced "KWER-seh-tin") helps block the immune response that produces hay fever symptoms, Dr. Weil says. He takes 400 milligrams twice a day, between meals, from 2 weeks before the expected start of ragweed season until the season ends. You can buy quercetin in tablet and capsule form in most health food stores.

Ayurvedic Medicine

Try an Ayurvedic formula. Researchers at Maharishi University in Fair­field, Iowa, divided 46 people with active hay fever symptoms into two groups. One group received an Ayurvedic antioxidant formula called MAK-5, while the other received a placebo. After a month, the people taking MAK-5 reported significantly less severe symptoms. If you'd like to try MAK-5, consult an Ayurvedic practitioner.

Over-The-Counter Drugs

Try antihistamines. If alternative therapies don't provide sufficient relief from hay fever symptoms, pharmacists Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., coauthors of The People's Pharmacy books, suggest trying an over-the-counter antihistamine such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). These drugs can cause drowsiness, so they aren't appropriate for people who must operate machinery or drive. Nonsedating antihistamines are available, but they must be prescribed by a physician.

Consider sprays. Over-the-counter nasal spray decongestants can relieve the stuffiness associated with hay fever. These products, however, shouldn't be used for more than 3 days in a row, says Anne Simons, M.D. Prolonged use often leads to "rebound congestion," which makes you feel even worse.

As an alternative to nasal sprays, you may want to try an over-the-counter oral decongestant such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed). But be aware that these drugs can raise blood pressure and contribute to insomnia and nervousness.

Medical Measures

If you have trouble avoiding your hay fever triggers, consider getting allergy shots. This treatment involves injections of tiny amounts of the substances to which you're sensitive. Over time, you become desensitized. In other words, the stuff that made you sniffle and sneeze won't bother you as much.

"Unfortunately, allergy shots don't work well for everyone;' Dr. Simons says. "And at first, you have to get frequent injections, which can be a hassle. But if you respond to the treatment, you'll feel a lot better the next time hay fever season rolls around."