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Hay Fever

Also indexed as:Allergic Rhinitis, Allergy (Hay Fever), Pollen Allergy, Rhinitis (Allergic), Seasonal Allergy
Sniffling, sneezing, and wheezing? It must be pollen season. If you suffer from hay fever, you can find relief through a number of treatments. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

To help keep you in top health, our experts recommend these steps:

  • Eat the inflammation away. Diet isn’t proven to prevent hay fever. However, a key feature of this condition is excess inflammation, so making anti-inflammatory foods the base of your diet may bolster defenses. Dine on nuts and seeds, fresh, colorful vegetables and fruits, and cold-water fish, such as salmon, sardines, and cod. Select Eating Right, above, for more information.
  • Go fish. Omega-3 fats, found in cold-water fish can dampen inflammation. However, if you don’t regularly enjoy fish, a fish oil supplement may fill in the omega-3 gaps. Select Vitamins, above, for more information.
  • Know your woes. It’s easy to mistake the early phases of a cold for allergies, so be sure you know what you’re dealing with before taking anti-allergy medications. Select Medicines, above, for more information.
  • Control your environment. Healthy living products, such as an air purifier to lessen allergy triggers in your home, may help you feel like you don’t even have hay fever! Select Personal Care, above, for more information.

Our experts recommend the following tips for taming the sniffles, sneezes, and wheezes of hay fever:

  • Reduce allergens. People with inhalant allergies also may have food allergies, and these may worsen hay fever. Consider working with a knowledgeable health care provider to identify and eliminate potential food allergens from your diet. Select Eating Right, above, for more information.
  • Butter it up. Supplements made from the plant butterbur are proven effective at reducing hay fever symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider if this product may be right for you. Select Vitamins, above, for more information.
  • Medicate for prevention. Many allergy medications work best when taken continuously, to keep hay fever symptoms from ever appearing in the first place. Read labels and take medications as recommended for best effect. Select About, and Medicines, above, for more information.
  • Just add water. For both kids and adults, humidifiers and vaporizers in the bedroom at night can soothe dry, clogged sinuses, and ease hay fever symptoms. Select Personal Care, above, for more information.

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The information presented by TraceGains is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2025.