Allergen Practitioner Doctor Clare Anyiam-Osigwe has shared her top tips for tackling hay fever this summer season, as the warmer weather brings a higher pollen count for sufferers.
Speaking to GB News, Dr Anyiam-Osigwe revealed some key diet changes and lifestyle tips to help alleviate symptoms.
Detailing how the warmer weather can affect pollen levels, Dr Anyiam-Osigwe said: "Heat actually accelerates the issue. So you've got pollen from the trees, from the grass, you've got pollution, and now you've got the heat wave as well.
"So that concoction flares up the skin, especially around the nostrils.We're streaming, we're sniffling, and we're itching our eyes"
Dr Clare Anyiam-Osigwe shared her top diet and lifestyle tips to tackle hayfever
GB News
Sharing her top tips for using "plant based antihistamines" as opposed to over-the-counter products, Dr Anyiam-Osigwe explained: "I think the prep starts the night before. You're washing the clothes that you've worn during the day, so you're not bringing pollen into the home.
"You are eating quercetin-rich ingredients like leeks, garlic, kale, so you can make yourself a lovely soup or lovely stew with those ingredients. And then overnight, you're waking up, if you do need to take some supplements that have got those ingredients in as well, that's really, really good. You can do a breakfast smoothie."
Highlighting some key ingredients which can help soothe irritation on the skin, particularly the eyes and nostrils, Dr Anyiam-Osigwe told GB News: "You're going to be using natural sort of balm, to use as a barrier around the nose with some lavender oil. You can pop some cucumber on your eyes, that'll be a great relief to a lot of people.
"I also use a bit of aloe vera as well, mixed with arnica. And then you're going out into the world, facing the day with something to combat that naturally. That's my recommendation."
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A common symptom of hayfever is itchy, red or watery eyes
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Asked by GB News host Sophie Reaper about over-the-counter antihistamines, Dr Anyiam-Osigwe revealed which of the drowsy and non-drowsy types of medication can prove more effective.
Dr Anyiam-Osigwe told Sophie: "Essentially the non-drowsy ones are less effective. There are less of the ingredients in there that stop the streaming and all of the symptoms. However, if you combat that and use it in conjunction with what I'm suggesting, you won't lose that energy, you won't have that lethargy that you feel.
"You won't have the headaches and also the screaming will stop around the eyes."
As host Stephen Dixon questioned whether the natural remedies for hay fever can help relieve symptoms without the use of tablet medication, Dr Anyiam-Osigwe recommended using both types of remedy for the most effective prevention.
Dr Anyiam-Osigwe told GB News that natural ingredients help 'boost the immune system' and helps alleviate symptoms
GB News
Dr Anyiam-Osigwe said: "The general practitioner will say take your over-the-counter tablets, I would say use them together. If you are somebody that already eats quercetin-rich foods in your diet, you're doing a more plant based diet, then you're ahead of the game.
"But if you're not and you've suddenly been hit this week, you know it's 26C, it's going higher every day. 16 million of us are suffering with hay fever, 3.4 million of those have hay fever and asthma. So for those sufferers, they're looking for a solution right now, and I would combine the two."
Highlighting the importance of natural ingredients to "boost the immune system", Dr Anyiam-Osigwe concluded: "I would start changing my diet to match what I've suggested, and I would also do what your GP suggests. It's about immune boosting.
"So your green ingredients, your berries, your oats, your banana, your kale, that's what it's about. Natural teas, nettle, turmeric - again, for some of us, these don't sound like the best tasting ingredients, but actually that's going to boost the immune system."
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