Condition
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
An allergic reaction in the nose to airborne triggers like pollen, dust mites, or animal dander, causing sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy, watery eyes.
See a clinician
Some causes of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) need medical care, not self-treatment. Seek help for any of these:
- Strictly one-sided nasal blockage, discharge, or recurrent one-sided nosebleeds — can signal a polyp or other structural problem, not allergy.
- Wheezing, shortness of breath, or chest tightness — possible asthma needing assessment.
- Clear watery discharge after head trauma, or persistently one-sided — could be cerebrospinal fluid; emergency.
- Facial/lip/tongue swelling, throat tightness, or difficulty breathing — anaphylaxis, a medical emergency.
- No response to standard antihistamines/intranasal steroids after several weeks — reconsider the diagnosis with a clinician.
What may help
Remedies studied for allergic rhinitis (hay fever), ranked by strength of evidence.
- B Butterbur herb
A PA-free extract (Ze 339) repeatedly matched non-sedating antihistamines and beat placebo for allergic rhinitis; only certified PA-free products should be used.
- C Spirulina supplement
A 150-patient double-blind trial found spirulina (~2 g/day) reduced nasal discharge, sneezing, congestion, and itching versus placebo, but the overall evidence base is small.
- — Stinging nettle herb
In the main double-blind trial, placebo improved symptoms just as much as nettle (both on SNOT-22), and high dropout limits it — any specific benefit is unproven.
Standard care (antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids, allergen avoidance) works well for most people. Among supplements, a PA-free butterbur extract has the strongest evidence — repeatedly matching antihistamines — while spirulina is promising but less studied and nettle is unproven.