How to Get Rid of Hay Fever with 5 Pollen-Proof Remedies

When spring rolls in, so does the pollen – and for lots of people, that means the return of hay fever, and the itchy eyes and runny noses that it brings. In this article, we’ll cover 5 natural remedies so you won’t need to hide away indoors. While some of these tips might help you to tackle hay fever symptoms, just remember: it’s always best to check in with a healthcare professional if you’re in doubt.

When kids get hay fever, it can mean spending the warmer months with a runny nose that can get sore. Check out our article on how to treat children’s hay fever here.

Our round-up of great hay fever home remedies

From herbal teas to incorporating daily house cleans to your routine, our list of hay fever relief methods should help to ease your symptoms and get you back out into the great outdoors.

1. Honey for hay fever relief

Whilst there is some debate around the science behind using local honey to get rid of hay fever, it is one of the sweetest natural remedies around. It is recommended to eat two tablespoons a day of locally grown honey as that will help desensitise the body to local pollen. It’s best practice to start this natural treatment three months before hay fever season begins, to allow your body to adjust. You might want to consider this method if you think you have a local pollen allergy – if you’re unsure on whether this is something you suffer from, we would recommend that you take a pollen allergy test with your GP.

2. How to relive hay fever with essential oils

Often blocked noses and congestion are hay fever side effects, and steaming is a good hay fever home remedy to clear the airways. We recommend adding essential oils to your hot water, especially eucalyptus and lavender as they have natural antihistamine properties. Otherwise, if you’re looking for a quicker method, you can add a few drops of essential oils to a soft tissue to hold near your nose.

3. How to ease hay fever by keeping on top of your cleaning

Sometimes hay fever home remedies are as easy as a good old-fashioned house cleaning. In the heat of summer, it may be unrealistic to keep your windows shut at all hours, but you can help to manage pollen that has blown into your house by regularly wiping surfaces and windowsills. Wiping dust away from surfaces with moistened tissues instead of a cloth helps to avoid the transfer of pollen to other parts of the house. 

4. Herbal teas as natural remedies for hay fever

If you love herbal teas, you’ll be glad to know that many of them are a natural remedy for hay fever – in particular, nettle tea. Along with chamomile and liquorice teas, nettle tea contains antioxidants and antihistamines which act as anti-inflammatory agents. The soothing warmth of the tea can also help to clear your nose.

If you’re dealing with your children's hay fever, natural remedies like herbal teas can be an acquired taste. So if you’re looking for home remedies that your child will better tolerate, you might want to check out this article instead.

5. Garlic and onion: everyday hay fever home remedies

Both garlic and onion have anti-allergen properties that make them a great natural remedy for hay fever. Garlic especially helps to boost your immune system, as well as acting as a decongestant – a double win!  So when spring lands, start cooking with more onion and garlic, you’ll be glad to know that you don’t have to eat them raw! This classic combination is the basis of many go-to meals, such as pasta sauces and curries so it should be really easy to follow this advice.

We hope that our hay fever home remedies will come in handy, and keep you feeling ready for anything! Remember to always keep handy sized pack tissues on you so you’re able to deal with any runny eyes or noses when out and about.

Unfortunately, there is no official hay fever cure so if you, or a member of your family, have severe symptoms, it’s always best to consult a health professional. They will be able to give you advice on what specific medications and antihistamines will be most effective to help.