Allergic rhinitis (also called hay fever) is the most common form of allergy. Symptoms often vary with the seasons.

• Stuffy, runny nose
• Sneezing
• Itchy nose, eyes, and throat
• "Sinus" symptoms—headache, feeling of pressure behind the eye, pain above the cheekbones and on the lower forehead, aching teeth
• Skin rashes or hives
• Diarrhea or frequent urination

Your body's immune system is overreacting to irritants in the environment, such as the following.

• Pollens, grasses, or ragweed (in certain seasons and areas)
• Dust and household mites
• Changes in temperature or humidity
• Spicy foods
• Smoking or prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke

Your health care provider will examine your nose and nasal secretions. You may be instructed to use a nasal spray, a decongestant, or an antihistamine. You may also be referred to an allergist, a physician who can pinpoint what you are allergic to by performing skin or blood tests.

Your heath care provider or allergist will work with you to identify your allergens. Depending on the cause of your allergies, you may need to do any or all of the following.

• Cover pillows and mattresses with plastic covers
• Use synthetic materials (acrylic) instead of animal products (wool)
• Minimize dust-collecting household items (e.g., carpets)
• Use air purifiers or dust filters
• Desensitization therapy—repeated injections of gradually increasing amounts of the identified allergen (varying results)

• Nonsedating antihistamines—may cause life-threatening irregular heartbeat and should not be taken with other drugs or if you have other liver or heart problems
• Oral decongestants—may have systemic side effects
• Nasal corticosteroid sprays—effective if used properly; improvement takes 1 to 2 weeks
• Systemic steroids—prescribe only for severe allergic rhinitis; generally prescribed for short amounts of time because of their many side effects

• Antihistamines—may cause drowsiness
• Alpha-adrenergic topical sprays—reduces congestion but there is a rebound effect if used for more than a few days
• Cromolyn sodium—only preventative drug choice; works as well as antihistamines but does not cause drowsiness; take continuously or it will not work effectively; essentially without side effects

Allergic rhinitis may be successfully treated with alternative therapies, beginning with dietary changes. Use the tincture and homeopathic remedies for acute allergic reactions.

• Do not eat foods that trigger your allergies.
• Eat fewer foods and additives that are likely to cause inflammation and allergic reactions, such as saturated fats (meats and dairy products), refined foods, eggs, citrus, bananas, chocolate, peanuts, shellfish, food coloring, preservatives, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and sugar.
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
• Drink plenty of water and fresh juices.

The following nutritional supplements can help your symptoms.

• Vitamin A (10,000 to 15,000 IU per day)
• Zinc (20 to 30 mg per day)
• Vitamins B₆ (50 to 100 mg per day) and B₅ (50 to 75mg/day)
• Vitamin C (1,000 mg three to four times per day)
• Vitamin E (400 IU per day)
• N-acetylcysteine (200 mg three times per day)

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.

Plants high in bioflavonoids (quercetin, curcuma, rose hips, bilberry) are especially useful because they reduce your body's production of histamines (substances that cause allergy symptoms) and strengthen connective tissue. Rose hips (Rosa canina) can be used as an infusion or solid extract. Nettles (Urtica urens) are traditionally used for hay fever and may be drunk as an infusion, 2 cups a day.

A tincture of equal parts of coneflower (Echinacea), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), cleavers (Gallium asparine), eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis), ginger root (Zingiber officinalis), and elderberry (Sambucus nigra) will strengthen your immune system, increase circulation, and help your respiratory system work better. Take 30 drops two or three times per day.

Some of the most common remedies used for allergic rhinitis are listed below. Usually, the dose is 12X to 30C every one to four hours until your symptoms get better.

• Allium cepa for a lot of irritating nasal discharge and tearing eyes
• Euphrasia for bland nasal discharge, with stinging, irritating tears
• Sabadilla for sneezing with watery discharge from nose and eyes
• Wyethia for an itchy nose, throat, and soft palate

Use a nasal rinse made with water and salt to taste like tears. Rinse each nostril and, with your head over a sink, hold your head sideways and let the water run from your upper nostril to your lower nostril. Keep your nostrils lower than your throat to prevent the salt water from draining into the back of your throat. This rinse shrinks your sinus membranes and increases drainage.

Treatment with acupuncture can help promote both immune system function and drainage of lymphatic fluid.

Therapeutic massage can assist drainage of lymphatic fluid.

Take steps at home to eliminate allergens (such as covering your pillows and mattress with plastic covers and using an air purifier).

Extended use of antihistamines or nasal sprays can make your allergic rhinitis worse. If you are pregnant, do not take high doses of vitamins A and C.

The Burton Goldberg Group. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. Tiburon, Calif: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc; 1997.

Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. St Louis, Mo: Mosby-Year Book; 1999.

Fisher C. Nettles: an aid to the treatment of allergic rhinitus. Eur J Herbal Med. p. 34–35.

Morrison R. Desktop Guide to Keynotes and Confirmatory Symptoms. Albany, Calif: Hahnemann Clinic Publishing; 1993.

Noble J, ed. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 2nd ed. St Louis, Mo: Mosby-Year Book; 1996.

Tierney LM Jr, McPhee SJ, Papadakis MA, eds. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 1994. Norwalk, Conn: Appleton & Lange; 1994.