By Jean Powis, Registered Homeopath, from the Homeopathic Garden
New life bursts from every field and hedgerow as days lengthen and warmth returns. Animals flowers and trees bloom in the glory of Spring. However, fluctuating temperatures and the increase in pollen increase susceptibility for hay-fever sufferers: ‘Weather changes, rain, heat, sun… wind… open air, … draughts… spring,’ are cited by the famous Homeopath William Boercike as potential triggers (Prakesh Gond, 2021).
People often try to reduce susceptibility by eating local honey. A 2002 (Rajan et al) study concluded that consumption of a teaspoon a day was ineffective (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1186892 ). However, a 2013 (Asha’ari et al) study concluded ‘Honey ingestion at a high dose improves the overall and individual symptoms of AR (allergic rhinitis)’. These patients also took Loratadine, an antihistamine, but after eight weeks ‘only the group that ingested honey showed a significant improvement in individual AR… which persisted for a month after the cessation of the treatment.’
Another approach might be the homeopathic remedy Alium Cepa or red onion. Can you remember your grandmother boiling and onion and drinking the cooled water? I wish my mother had known about this simple and readily available remedy, because her symptoms fitted exactly in accordance with the homeopathic principle of like cures like for Alium Cepa. Her eyes would turn red and in combination with her nose would run like a tap; the perfect symptoms for this remedy! According to Robin Murphy (2006) Alium Cepa ‘covers more symptoms of the common cold and hay-fever’ than all of the 1,400 remedies in the Homeopathic Materia Medica.
Whether you choose honey or onions or even antihistamines, here’s wishing you the sweetness and energy of spring.
References
Prakash Gond B., 2021The importance of causation in homoeopathyDOI:
https://doi.org/10.33545/26164485.2021.v5.i4e.491
T V Rajan 1 , Howard Tennen, Richard L Lindquist, Leonard Cohen, J Clive, 2002, Effect of ingestion of honey on symptoms of
rhinoconjunctivitis, Annals of Asthma Allergy Immunology
(Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, triggered by allergies, refers to nose and eye issues that occur at least once weekly. When only the nose is affected, it is termed allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever, sinus or “sensitive nose”. When only the eyes are affected, it is termed allergic conjunctivitis)
Zamzil Amin Asha; Mohd Zaki Ahmad, Wan Shah Jihan, Che Maraina Che, Ishlah Leman ,2013, Ingestion of honey improves the symptoms of allergic rhinitis: evidence from a randomized placebo controlled trial in the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia Annals of Saudi Medicine