A Natural Approach to Hayfever – not to be sneezed at!
While most of us welcome the warmer, drier days of Summer, it can bring misery for thousands of hayfever sufferers in Ireland. Hayfever, or allergic rhinitis, is caused by the pollen of specific seasonal plants, airborne chemicals and dust particles. Constant sneezing, red, watery and itchy eyes, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and wheezing are the symptoms of hayfever that ruin their summers. The current mainstream approach suppresses the symptoms with antihistamines, steroids and decongestants. These drugs are effective because they dampen the immune response by suppressing the...
Read MoreWelcome to summer!
This winter and spring saw more coughs and chesty problems than many of us in the IAHS can ever remember in the past, but brighter days are reflected in people’s faces and moods as well as immune systems. Early flashes of sunshine remind us to stock up on safe, low chemical sun protection and Deet-free insect repellent in the hope of balmy days to come. As I write, the main pollen season caused by grasses is imminent. In recent years we have seen hayfever symptoms become increasingly common for children, and they can present a serious problem for exam students. Children can use vitamin C...
Read MoreWinter Good Health
Although we had a wonderful Indian summer, seasonal coughs and colds made their usual appearance on time, as the school year began and bugs were shared round. IAHS members are often asked what we think about the flu jab, and though we can’t comment specifically, what we can do is offer a wide range of effective immune boosters. Some are well known such as vitamin C which we can now source in drop form which even babies can use. Others are combinations such as vitamin C, zinc and elderberry. Olive leaf as an anti-viral is increasingly popular, and of course nobody needs to be reminded of...
Read MoreHere to help
Despite increasingly restrictive regulations, health stores are still a great source of safe and effective remedies. Elderberry, manuka honey (the genuine, laboratory-tested New Zealand brands), propolis, olive leaf extract, vitamin C, zinc, echinacea (including the increasingly popular Irish Botanica product) plantago, beta glucans, garlic, ivy and thyme – all these and other remedies have been doing what antibiotics can’t manage: keeping viral colds and flu at bay and easing troublesome sinuses, sore throats and chest infections. Feedback from you, our customers, on what works (and what...
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