Hay fever: natural remedies to ease the sneeze

If you're like millions of people around the country plagued with seasonal allergies, the return of summer can literally bring tears to your eyes. Joy Davies from Tesco Diets offers some words of comfort

Instead of being outdoors and smelling the roses, allergy sufferers have already retreated indoors to battle a war of sneezing fits, scratchy eyes, runny noses and the dreaded post-nasal drip. The culprit, commonly known as hay fever, attacks when your body's immune system over-reacts to dust, pollens, grasses and other allergens in the air.

Traditionally, people with seasonal allergies have sought temporary relief from over-the-counter medications in the form of antihistamines, decongestants and nasal sprays. But chronic sufferers have become all too aware that allergy medicines can cause annoying and sometimes even dangerous side effects.

With alternative healthcare steadily gaining acceptance, more and more people are ditching conventional allergy medication and opting for holistic therapy, a healing approach that integrates the whole person; mind, body and soul.

Unlike conventional, western medical philosophy, the holistic principle behind treating allergies involves naturally strengthening the immune system, providing support for the adrenal glands and using the right combination of vitamins, herbs and spiritual energy.

So if you're sick and tired of your allergies, fed up with annoying side effects that can rival the allergies themselves, or just sick and tired of hearing other people battle with allergies, check out these natural remedies and get on the road to holistic healing.