Springtime Brings Allergies

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Springtime Brings Allergies

Spring brings longer days, flowering plants and more time outdoors. For many people, it also brings sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion and the constant search for a tissue.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, occurs when the immune system reacts to a normally harmless substance, most often airborne pollen. The immune system produces IgE antibodies, activating mast cells and releasing histamine and other inflammatory compounds. The result can be a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, watery eyes, an itchy throat, fatigue and poor sleep. It is an immune response that has become overly reactive.

A naturopathic approach asks two questions: What is triggering the reaction, and what may be making it harder for this person to regulate?

Begin with the trigger

Spring allergies are often blamed on flowers, but grasses, weeds and wind-pollinated trees are frequent culprits. Mould, dust mites, animal dander, pollution and household chemicals may add to the overall burden.

If symptoms are persistent, severe or difficult to explain, appropriate allergy testing can help clarify the trigger. This is more useful than removing multiple potential triggers without a clear clinical reason.

Reduce your pollen exposure

You cannot avoid pollen completely, but you can reduce the amount reaching your eyes, nose and home:

• Check the daily pollen forecast and plan outdoor activities around high-count days.
• Keep windows closed when pollen levels are high or conditions are windy.
• Use recirculated air in the car.
• Wear sunglasses outdoors.
• Shower and change your clothes after gardening or spending extended time outside.
• Avoid drying clothing and bedding outdoors on high-pollen days.
• Delegate mowing where possible or wear a well-fitting mask.
• Mow lawn grasses before they flower and form seed heads. My partner tirelessly and lovingly laid couch grass at our home up north, only to discover later that it was one of his top triggers on allergy testing. We did not make the connection until it flowered and almost knocked him sideways.
• Consider a HEPA air cleaner in the bedroom if symptoms are significant.
• Check whether your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter too. More on this below.

Are air purifiers worth it?

A HEPA air purifier can reduce airborne pollen, pet dander, mould spores, smoke and fine particles. Research suggests it may reduce symptoms or medication use for some people with allergic rhinitis, although it works best alongside other strategies.

An air purifier draws room air in, passes it through a filter and blows cleaner air back out. Look for a true HEPA filter, a sealed system and enough clean-air delivery capacity for the room. Activated carbon may help with some odours and gases. Avoid ozone generators and be cautious with ionising models, which may irritate the airways.

A HEPA vacuum removes allergens that have settled on floors and furniture, while an air purifier filters particles still floating in the air. Choose a vacuum with a sealed body so fine particles are not blown back into the room. Bagged models may be easier for allergy sufferers to empty.

Air purifiers cannot correct active mould, excess moisture or the source of indoor pollution. They are one useful tool for reducing the overall allergen load.

Rinse the nose

Saline sprays or nasal irrigation help remove pollen and mucus from the nasal passages and may reduce symptom severity.

If using a neti pot or rinse bottle, use sterile or distilled water, or water that has been boiled and allowed to cool. Keep the device clean and follow its instructions.

Herbal medicine for hay fever

Herbal medicine can be used for immediate symptom relief while also supporting longer-term immune and respiratory health. Rather than treating every case of hay fever in the same way, herbs are selected according to the person’s symptom pattern, constitution and underlying drivers.

Stinging nettle is traditionally used for allergic and inflammatory conditions and may help reduce sneezing, itching and excessive nasal secretions.

Eyebright has a long history of use when symptoms centre around watery, irritated eyes and a streaming nose.

Baical skullcap contains flavonoids that may help regulate mast-cell activity and inflammatory pathways, making it useful when allergic reactivity is a prominent feature.

Turmeric supports healthy inflammatory and antioxidant pathways and can be included regularly in food or prescribed as a concentrated preparation when appropriate.

These herbs are not necessarily interchangeable or used alone. A tailored formula might combine herbs for acute symptoms with others chosen to support digestion, respiratory tissue, stress regulation and overall immune balance. Starting treatment before the pollen season may also be more effective than waiting until symptoms are already severe.

Work with an experienced herbalist or naturopath who can consider the correct plant part, preparation and dose, as well as medications, pregnancy, breastfeeding and individual health needs.

Nutritional support

A whole-food diet provides nutrients needed for immune regulation, tissue repair and healthy respiratory surfaces.

Vitamin C supports histamine metabolism, while quercetin and other plant compounds may help regulate mast-cell activity. Include vitamin C-rich foods such as capsicum, citrus and berries, alongside quercetin-rich onions, apples, capers and broccoli.

Omega-3 fats from oily fish and seafood support a balanced inflammatory response. Zinc also contributes to mast-cell regulation, immune function and the integrity of the respiratory tract, alongside vitamins A and D. Good food sources include oysters and other shellfish, red meat, eggs, pumpkin seeds and dairy products.

Targeted supplements may provide additional support, particularly when introduced before allergy season, but more is not necessarily better. Zinc supplementation is likely to be most useful when intake or zinc status is low, and excessive or prolonged doses can interfere with copper absorption.

Not all supplements are created equal. They vary considerably in quality, form, dose, absorption and the excipients used, including fillers, binders and coatings. Nutrients also rarely work in isolation. Many rely on cofactors, or their “buddies”, to be absorbed and used effectively. In whole foods, these nutrients naturally occur alongside many of the compounds that help them work, which is another reason food should remain the foundation. Supplements should ideally be prescribed by a qualified practitioner, rather than taken willy-nilly. An experienced naturopath or nutritionist can recommend appropriate support based on your diet, symptoms, health history and relevant testing.

The gut and immune system

The gut and immune system are closely connected. When the intestinal lining becomes more permeable, often called “leaky gut”, it may contribute to inflammation and increased immune reactivity. Digestive infections, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, alcohol, chronic stress, poor sleep and highly processed foods can all disrupt the gut environment.

Gluten may also play a role for some people. Gliadin, a component of gluten, can influence intestinal permeability, particularly in people with coeliac disease or gluten sensitivity. This does not mean everyone needs to avoid gluten, but ongoing digestive symptoms or a clear reaction to wheat may warrant further investigation.

Supporting the gut begins with reducing potential irritants and prioritising whole foods. Include adequate protein, colourful vegetables, fibre-rich plants, extra virgin olive oil and foods containing zinc, vitamin A and omega-3 fats. Freshly prepared meat stock can also provide gelatin and amino acids that support normal tissue maintenance.

Meat stock is generally made from meat on the bone and simmered for around four to five hours, while bone broth is often cooked for 12 to 24 hours or longer. People sensitive to histamine may tolerate shorter-cooked meat stock better, although ingredient freshness, prompt cooling and freezing portions are also important.

Histamine is one of the compounds released during allergic reactions. For susceptible people, alcohol, aged cheeses, cured meats, fermented foods, canned fish, leftovers and long-simmered broths may increase the overall histamine burden and aggravate congestion, itching or digestive symptoms. Temporarily reducing these foods can be helpful, but restrictions should reflect individual tolerance rather than removing entire food groups unnecessarily.

What about local honey?

Local honey is traditionally used in the belief that small amounts of local pollen may help the body become less reactive over time. Clinical evidence is mixed, partly because honey generally contains pollen from insect-pollinated plants, while hay fever is commonly triggered by windborne grass, weed and tree pollens.

Some people still report benefit, and a small amount of local honey can be explored as an individual food-based strategy when appropriate. It should not be confused with allergen immunotherapy, which delivers measured amounts of a confirmed allergen under professional supervision. Honey should never be given to a child under 12 months.

Consider allergen immunotherapy

If symptoms remain significant despite reducing exposure and using appropriate treatment, allergen immunotherapy may be worth discussing with a clinical immunologist. It involves giving controlled amounts of the confirmed allergen over time, either under the tongue or by injection, to retrain the immune response. It can provide longer-term improvement for appropriately selected people.

References

Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). Allergic Rhinitis Clinical Update. 2024.

Wise SK et al. “International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis.” International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2018;8(2):108–352.

Head K et al. “Saline Irrigation for Allergic Rhinitis.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2018;6:CD012597.

Park KH et al. “Effects of Air Purifiers on Patients with Allergic Rhinitis.” Yonsei Medical Journal. 2020;61(8):689–697.

Bakshaee M et al. “Efficacy of Supportive Therapy of Allergic Rhinitis by Stinging Nettle Extract: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.” Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2017;16:112–118.

Maywald M, Rink L. “Zinc Deficiency and Zinc Supplementation in Allergic Diseases.” Biomolecules. 2024;14(7):863.

Mlček J et al. “Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response.” Molecules. 2016;21(5):623.

Comas-Basté O et al. “Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art.” Biomolecules. 2020;10(8):1181.

Hechtman L, ed. Clinical Naturopathic Medicine. Second edition. Elsevier; 2019.

Hollon J et al. “Effect of Gliadin on Permeability of Intestinal Biopsy Explants from Coeliac Disease Patients and Patients with Non-Coeliac Gluten Sensitivity.” Nutrients. 2015;7(3):1565–1576.

Rajan TV et al. “Effect of Ingestion of Honey on Symptoms of Rhinoconjunctivitis.” Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2002;88(2):198–203.

ASCIA. Aeroallergen Immunotherapy: A Guide for Clinical Immunology and Allergy Specialists. Updated 2024.

Bone K, Mills S. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine. Second edition. Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2013.