Anyone for Rhinitis?
Linda Yeodal

The summer is here and the Wimbledon tennis championships almost upon us, but for some people Wimbledon is forever associated with the onset of the hay fever season. Hay fever is caused by an inappropriate and exaggerated   response by the immune system to pollens of various kinds. At Wimbledon time the culprits are grass pollens. Those who suffer earlier in the year probably are probably allergic to tree pollen.   Hay fever and house dust mite allergy together are known as 'allergic rhinitis'. The symptoms are sneezing, profusely runny nose and itchy and, sometimes, infected eyes. Very little is known about why some people develop Hay fever and others are not affected.

Although herbs cannot cure hay fever there are some that can help with the miserable symptoms. Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis) is a pretty, low-growing herb that you can sometimes see along the edges of grassy paths and does what its name implies. It is one of the best herbs there is for soothing sore or itchy eyes either taken as a remedy

or as an eye bath. Elder, which flowers in May and June, can also help with the unpleasant inflammatory effects of hay fever especially with a runny nose.   The flowers, fresh or dried can be taken as a tea and are especially pleasant taken with a leaf or two of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) or Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) or in a cordial. A good quality Elder flower champagne might also help.

Bronchial asthma is caused by inflammation of the walls of bronchial airways in the lungs and can be triggered by a wide range of stimuli. Those with asthma have an immune system that is hypersensitive to such stimuli, which triggers the exaggerated inflammatory response from the body causing the wheeziness and shortness of breath that is typical of an asthmatic attack.   Like hay fever, herbs cannot cure asthma, but may help with some of the symptoms. Asthma attacks sometimes produce a lot of mucous so herbs such as Thyme   (Thymus vulgaris), which dilates the airways of the lung; Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) and Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) can reduce chest spasms; Elecampane (Inula helenium) and Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) which   helps you cough up mucous and Marsh mallow (Althea officinalis) which is soothing and anti-inflammatory. Thyme and Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) can guard against any infection setting in when the airways are inflamed.

One of the most effective herbs for both asthma and hay fever is Ephedra (Ephedra sinica). In the right dosage Ephedra   dilates the bronchioles in the lung relieve significantly the distressing symptoms of an asthma attack. It also can reduce the runny nose of the hay fever attack. However, this is a powerful plant medicine that is restricted by law and should only be prescribed by a qualified Medical Herbalist or a doctor with knowledge of herbs. Ephedra is a powerful stimulant at the wrong dosage and in the past has been misused as appetite suppressant and performance enhancing drug in sport. Ephedra taken for too long a period can also become addictive. However, Ephedra is also one of the oldest known herbal medicines. Traces of this herb and three others, one of which, Marshmallow, is also used to relieve the effects of asthma,   were found in a 60,000 year old Neanderthal grave in Iraq. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing whether this Neanderthal had asthma or just needed a stimulant to help him to escape from a marauding Mammoth!

Linda Yeodal is a fully qualified Medical Herbalist, who treats a wide range of conditions using gentle, healing Western herbs.   She is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.

For further information or to book an appointment, please contact The Natural Practice, 106 Stockbridge Road, Winchester telephone 01962 856310