Why antihistamines are not the whole answer and what actually works.

Spring arrived last week and within a day my nose was tingling. As a naturopath who treats allergic rhinitis regularly in clinic, I will admit there is something quietly humbling about experiencing a common problem many people suffer from daily during the spring.

Watery eyes, itchy nose, sneezing fits that seem to come from nowhere, a fuzzy head that makes it hard to think clearly. For millions of Australians, this is simply what spring feels like. Many reach for antihistamines and while they can take the edge off, they do not address what is actually driving the reaction. And for a lot of people they do not even work that well anymore. I have patients who take them daily as an “insurance policy” but still suffer from hay fever. Go figure!

So let me share what I actually look at when a patient comes in with hayfever because there is quite a lot more going on than just pollen.