Hayfever sufferers can have things rough at this time of year. While spring is indeed such a gorgeous time of year in the Southern Highlands, it can cause stress and discomfort to many people, particularly if you’re out and about in one of our many beautiful parks or walking paths.

To help you out, I asked Southern Highlands naturopath Mim Beim (who happens to be one of the best in the country) to reveal some natural ways to prevent and alleviate hay fever. Give them a try before you reach for a pill, or if you can’t get by without an antihistamine, use them to support your anti-hay fever program. 



Practice Breathing Techniques For Hayfever

Butekyo is a technique that I teach that really really helps with asthma, sinusitis and hay fever. It slightly increases carbon dioxide in the body, switching on the relaxation nervous system and helps to clear and open the airways. This is particularly great for sinus and nasal congestion.

Evening Primrose Oil Helps Hayfever

I find that this settles down irritated mucous membranes and helps to settle the histamine response involved with hayfever. Take three or four capsules a day. 

Take Vitamin C


This is nature’s anti-histamine and together with Quercetin (a plant flavenol found in red onions and kale) it creates an anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine effect. Look for a combination of these in one tablet or powder typically available over the counter at any pharmacy or health food store. 

Enjoy some local, raw honey


In particular from the flower you are allergic to, if you know what it is. This has a homeopathic effect and may help relieve the symptoms of hayfever. 

Take Perilla 


This beautiful tasting leaf hails from Traditional Chinese Medicine and helps with sneezing and hay fever. Bioceuticals has a great tablet that you can take and if you can come across it in a grocery or health store, you can throw leaf and seeds in a salad or use it has a garnish. It’s also often used in Japanese foods. You can also grow it yourself – look up the seeds online for home delivery. 

Embrace Spices Like Horseradish, Fenugreek, Garlic and Chillies


These have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits and help to calm inflamed  mucous membranes. In particular, horseradish is a decongestant that clears the nasal passages. 

Eat onions


They contain quercetin that helps reduce inflammation.  Try to eat them raw in a salad. 

Baical Skullcap


This plant, which hails from high-altitude places like Siberia and Mongolia, is known to have immune-regulatory properties. More specifically, it has anti-allergy and anti- inflammatory benefits and is thought to suppress histamine release within the body when we come into contact with an allergen like pollen. You can find it in tablet or liquid form from your health food store. 

Have A Saline Nasal Rinse


Buy a nasal irrigation bottle from the chemist and put a teaspoon of table salt (or saline sachet) in it and fill it with warm water. Use daily to keep sinuses clear. It goes in one nostril and out the other and is a lot more fun than it sounds. 


I hope that helps you overcome the itches, sniffles and senses this hay fever season! 

Love, Di x 

Want to know more about living in the Southern Highlands? Pop into my office at 373 Bong Bong Street, Bowral, visit Home & Hearth Property or call me on 02 4862 4488.