Is there an effective natural alternative to Piriton for hayfever?

[MaggieW]

Poor DS, 5, has recently started suffering from hayfever. He's also sensitive to animal hair and if he touches his eyes they go red and itchy. I've been using Opticrom drops but today, after returning from a class trip to a farm, his eyes looked as if he'd been in boxing ring with Mike Tyson. I feel desperately sad that he seems to have what I see as a lifetime of discomfort ahead of him and really want to avoid drugs if at all possible. Does anyone have a good natural alternative that is effective to recommend please?

We've been having some success with a homeopathic remedy. I've taken dd1 (who is 6 and has suffered with hayfever pretty much since birth) and she has been prescribed Euphrasia. You can get this from most chemists, including Boots (you would probably need the 6c strength) and dd takes one whenever she needs it. School are happy for her to do this by herself.

You'd be best going to a qualified homeopath though, as there are a few hayfever remedies available, and the precise one you need will depend on the symptoms.

We have been using an antihistamine too, as this helps with dd's eczema and food allergies, so the homeopathic remedy might not be as effective on its own.

Boots also does a combination hayfever remedy that includes 3 homeopathic remedies. DD has tried this and found it helpful, as has an adult friend of mine.

Maggie - I know what you are going through. My ds (aged 4) has got the red panda eyes this year and an itchy nose. All the doctor gives him is piriton and a greasy cream to apply around the eyes (which he oftens gets in his eyes as he rubs them!). I've started giving him manuka honey in a morning (small 1/2 teaspoon) and will see if this clears it up. I believe Califrau was refering to pollen balls which you can buy but are very expensive.

I tried homeopathic hayfever treatment whgen i was pg, and it had no effect whatsoever.

I take anti-histamines, DS takes anti-histamines. Hayfever is so miserable, not just the itching etc, but the tiredness and feeling of deadliness you get.

Why do you want to avoid these drugs? As I understand it there are no side effects, no long term effects, and I don't even think it's possible to over dose on anti-histamines.
We use Benadryl or Zirtek for DS and neo-clarityn (prescription only) for me. We take then regularly throughout the pollen season. They work, they remove the discomfort and misery, we get on with our lives.

What is the problem with piriton? The poor boy must be miserable.

I usually find piriton v effective but this year it hasn't worked so I've been trying the homeopathic remedy from boots with 3 ingredients in. It is working on the sneezing but hasn't made any difference to my itchy eyes (had to go to doc for eyedrops).

Message withdrawn

You can also try using a nasal steroid spray. Although its a steroid, its treated very differently by the body than say oral steroids as it only affects the localised area (i.e. the nose).

I'm allergic to cats and have 3 of them, and its only ever been the nasal steroid spray that's completely made me better. Even when on anti-histamines 110%, it hasn't completely sorted my allergies.

The only thing with the nasal spray is you need to keep taking it - its not a reliever, but a preventer.

Oh sorry, meant to say that you will need to visit your doctor and get this on prescription, but its very very common, so shouldn't be a problem

Have a look at the Lloyds Pharmacy Allergy reliever. It's £15 but they have a 10% discount voucher on their site. It works in a similar way to "Medinose" if you would like to read something more about it. Not a single anti-histamine has passed my mouth for nearly a week now.