Cough, sneeze, serenity – my life with hay fever

Allergy sufferers take note: Hatschi - climate change is also extending the allergy season

There isn’t a modern Person who hasn’t complained of some kind of allergy at some point in their life. From the most harmless cases – excessively dry skin that flakes and remains tight – to severe asthma attacks that some accept as their fate and suffer from for the rest of their lives.

Into the full with pollen

I’ve been plagued by pollen allergies since I was young. In the beginning, I was mainly plagued by grass pollen in early summer. Today, my Personal pollen season starts with the hazel blossom in January/February and lasts until the mugwort blossom in September/October. The naturopaths from Naturheilzentrum Bottrop, Farid Zitoun and Christian Rüger explained to me that the pollen season is getting longer and longer due to climate change – in total, we have about 40 days longer pollen count each year than 30 years ago – according to the experts. Incidentally, my immune system doesn’t get lazy during the low-pollen winter months – after all, why did God invent house dust mites? My great good fortune: I love animals and have cats, chickens, geese and even a few beehives. And so far I can stroke my cat and muck out the chicken coop without animal hair and feather dust making me cough. I can even cope with a bee sting, I haven’t had to unpack my allergy emergency kit yet. I am confident that it will stay that way, even if there is no reason for optimism: While it used to be thought that People over 50 had nothing to do with allergies, the latest research confirms that one in ten People over the age of 65 will be confronted with an allergy for the first time. So for me, it’s coughing, sneezing and still cheerfulness into old age!

Popular disease with many causes

Where allergies come from is still not fully understood. Only one thing is certain: various factors interact in their development. For example, hay fever and some food allergies have been shown to have a hereditary predisposition. In addition – with all allergies – there is a disorder of the immune system: this does not react appropriately, namely excessively, to substances from the environment. Other risk factors that can promote the development of allergies include air pollutants and tobacco smoke, infections caused by bacteria in the gut, on the skin and in the lungs or mold toxins. If I had grown up on a farm and not in a big city, I might have been spared hay fever. This is because farm dust has been proven to protect against allergies. It is clear that with such a complex combination of different factors, a comprehensive approach must also be taken when treating allergies!

Negative emotions also weaken the immune system

The aforementioned risk factors and heredity are not the only causes of allergies. According to naturopathy experts, psychological and emotional stress, which we are exposed to on a daily basis, can also weaken the immune system and thus promote the development of allergies.

Busy schedules, deadlines, juggling dozens of tasks at the same time and little time for the family: all this can lead to tension, frustration and negative feelings. Anger, frustration and resentment, for example, create an ideal environment for allergic diseases to develop. Farid Zitoun and Christian Rüger from Naturheilzentrum Bottrop know that the allergy we develop is often the result of an intolerance, an allergy to People and situations in our lives that are difficult to tolerate.

The path to health

There is no way to get rid of an allergic disease if we are not willing to change, say the specialists and point the way in the right direction – eliminating infections, detoxifying the body, overcoming bad habits.

Getting rid of outdated psycho-emotional patterns is also important, because our body and soul are one. In such situations, it is good to separate ourselves from People who make us allergic or to change our attitude towards irritants, they advise.

What helps me with hay fever (allergy)

Over the years, I have found a few things that have helped me to live with my allergies more easily. Of course, I don’t want to withhold them from you.

1. get rid of the pollen

Allergens such as pollen, animal dander, mold spores and dust mites can cling to your body, clothes and hair. To reduce exposure, you can undress, change your clothes and wash your hands and face when you come into a closed room from outside. If your children suffer from allergies, make sure they do the same.

2. eveningshower

If you shower in the evening before going to bed, you can make sure that you don’t take allergens that have attached themselves to your hair and skin to bed with you. If your child suffers from allergies, it is beneficial to bathe them in the evening.

3. away with the dust!

Dust can’t be avoided, but taking 10 minutes a day to dust and run the vacuum cleaner can help prevent dust build-up. Use a damp cloth or mop (a dry cloth will only stir up the dust) and a vacuum cleaner with a hepa filter or double bag. If you are allergic, try to delegate these daily tasks to another family member. Or wear a dust mask and gloves when cleaning to reduce exposure to animal hair allergens and dust mites.

4. Wash away allergens

To reduce the accumulation of allergens in your bedding, you should wash comforters and pillows on a hot cycle (at least 54°C) every week. There are special bedding products for allergy sufferers that are boil-proof. Pillowcases and comforter covers should also be changed frequently. During the pollen season, I avoid drying bedding and clothes outside on the washing line and prefer to put them in the tumble dryer.

5. keep an eye on the humidity

Dust mites and mold thrive in a warm and humid environment. You can buy a hygrometer for an affordable price at any household goods store. If the humidity rises above 50 percent, you should use a dehumidifier.

6. Check the pollen forecast daily

The pollen forecast can change daily and depends on a number of factors, including the weather. The best way to prepare is to check the pollen forecast daily. Pay attention to the spread of pollen, even if you spend most of your day indoors.

7. Have allergy medication ready

Of course, all precautions are sometimes not enough. So always have allergy medication to hand. Ointments containing cortisone help with skin allergies, antihistamines in tablet form and special decongestant nasal sprays alleviate the symptoms of pollen allergy sufferers.

Natural remedies for allergy sufferers – from Snakemed (snake venom therapy) to acupuncture and butterbur

There are natural remedies that you can use for allergies, and I’ll introduce you to some of them here. Please discuss their use with your naturopath beforehand!

Snake venom. The Snakemed experts (Snakemed – generic term for animal venom-based therapy) Farid Zitoun and Christian Rüger from Naturheilzentrum Bottrop use venoms from snakes, toads and scorpions with three decades of expertise in their treatment. Toxins are injected intramuscularly or intracutaneously into selected acupuncture points in homeopathic doses. This form of stimulation treatment is believed to have a long-term soothing effect. Not only for allergies, but also for rheumatism, psoriasis and other chronic skin diseases. The positive experiences with this form of therapy are based not least on my naturopath colleague Norbert Zimmermann, who worked in Düsseldorf until 2021. Incidentally, my older beekeeping colleagues swear by bee venom as a remedy for all kinds of ailments and volunteer to be stung!

Common butterbur (Petasites hybridus) It works well against seasonal allergies. Research has shown that butterbur is just as effective as a common oral antihistamine for itchy eyes.

Acupuncture. Over a dozen studies to date have concluded that acupuncture shows positive results for both seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis.

Quercetin. This is a powerful flavonoid favored by natural treatment advocates because it stabilizes histamine release and helps control allergy symptoms. Quercetin occurs naturally in broccoli, cauliflower, green tea and citrus fruits.

Peppermint essential oil Research has shown that peppermint oil has sufficient anti-inflammatory effects to relieve the symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Essential oils can be diffused in the air using diffusers. For external use, they should be diluted in a base oil.

Eucalyptus essential oil Eucalyptus oil as an antimicrobial agent can be added to the laundry in a few drops during the allergy season (put a few drops on a cotton cloth in the drum).

A healthy diet really helps with allergies!

Foods to which allergic reactions often occur include soy, gluten-containing plants and dairy products. It is often not enough to eliminate these products from the diet, as some foods can be hidden sources of these products. For this reason, all ingredients are listed in detail on labels and packaging. Furthermore, due to the relationship between two substances, it is possible that the immune cells perceive two different foods as the same type of allergen.

Frequent consumption of vegetables and fruit ensures a high intake of fiber (especially insoluble fiber), which is associated with the cleansing of the intestinal wall from adhering food residues. This also reduces the contact time with potential allergens. In addition, the high vitamin C content of certain fruits and vegetables (cabbage, rose hips, kiwis, peppers, some citrus fruits) reduces the release of histamine, which is an important element in the development of an allergic reaction.

Don’t worry – hypersensitivity is not a punishment!

The most important thing you should do is to change your lifestyle: avoid stress, eat a healthy diet and drink enough water. This will help you because it improves the functioning of your immune system. It may take a few weeks for the symptoms to subside, but don’t give up, because in this way you are tackling the underlying causes. Whenever you have the opportunity, you should support your immune system with natural remedies. Take natural antihistamines in the form of food supplements, improve your diet and the hygiene of your environment to fight the pathogens.

I would be delighted if you could share your Personal experiences, tips and tricks with me and the readers of nabo-magazine here in the comments. I look forward to a lively exchange in the spirit of “sharing is caring”.