Hay fever and fatigue/"medicine head" - suggestions?

[Rachel J.]

Every spring my allergies start up and every year it seems like they're getting worse. The trees are just barely starting to get leaf buds and I'm feeling it. I sometimes get the typical symptoms of itchy eyes, sneezy, runny nose and those seem managable with Claritin (although I would prefer to find a more natural treatment) but the most common and worst symptom I get is fatigue with "medicine head," like I've taken an antihistimine (which I can't tolerate). It's becoming more incapacitatig each year. I wake up exhausted after 9-10 hrs of sleep and can nap for hours but wake up feeling drugged and still tired. With a baby and 3 yo I need to be able to function better. (Okay, I'm starting to get scared of Spring talking about this.) Does anyone have any recommendations for breastfeeding-safe herbs, supplements or treatments?

[Caden's Mom]

Hmm. I know someone will. I'm not really familiar with herbs. Have you tried doing honey treatment though? Buy raw honey as close to your home as possible, but definitely within 50-100 miles. Take a teaspoon or more a day. Its supposed to help.

[USAmma]

I know how you feel! It's like first trimester pregnant but all the time, right? (the tiredness, not morning sickness obviously. )

Along the same lines as honey, I did sublingual immonotherapy from an NP and that seems to have helped. I still take allergy shots for grass allergy, and I take Flonase during the really bad times because I tend to get sinus problems if I let it get beyond a certain point.

Oh, and drink lots of fresh squeezed OJ. I swear, I have been feeling so great since I juiced 2-3 oranges a day. The pasturized juice is not the same as fresh. I am not getting as sick even when my family gets sick. My allergy symptoms are also better.

[Rachel J.]

Originally Posted by USAmma

I know how you feel! It's like first trimester pregnant but all the time, right? (the tiredness, not morning sickness obviously. )

Along the same lines as honey, I did sublingual immonotherapy from an NP and that seems to have helped. I still take allergy shots for grass allergy, and I take Flonase during the really bad times because I tend to get sinus problems if I let it get beyond a certain point.

Oh, and drink lots of fresh squeezed OJ. I swear, I have been feeling so great since I juiced 2-3 oranges a day. The pasturized juice is not the same as fresh. I am not getting as sick even when my family gets sick. My allergy symptoms are also better.

Yes! First trimester pregnancy fatigue with nothing to look forward to and no end in sight except winter. Of course during my pregnancy last year the fatigue continued on into my 2nd trimester (allergy induced) and might have cont'd into my 3rd if I'd made it that far (preemie babe). I wonder if the o.j. works because of a higher vit C content than I would imagine is available in less fresh pasturized o.j. I know that allergies deplete vit C from our systems more quickly. Maybe I nned to add some vit C powder to my honey I do have some very local raw honey which I'm sure is packed with all kinds of polleny goodies; I live in one of the most flora diverse areas of the country (i.e. pollen and allergy producing).

[Rachel J.]

Bump.... Any one else? The daffodils are blooming and fading into a fog :

[JaneS]

Sounds exactly like me. Hay fever totally gone on raw milk kefir and high vitamin cod liver oil. And small amounts of local honey but I dont' do that anymore and it has stayed gone for several years. Raw milk confers passive immunity. Supporting your immune system is the way to go.

[Rachel J.]

I know I posted this a long time ago but I was going through all my old threads and thought I'd give an update. I've been taking vit. C, homeopathic drops and raw honey and didn't have nearly the symptoms this spring that I've had in the past. In fact, dh, who used to mock my allergies (kinda joking) suffered much more than me. I haven't kept up with it through the summer but I'll definitely pick up the regimen again in the fall.