The wattle's in bloom - hayfever remedies?

ant said :

He’s the guy who controls access to the epi-pens (GPs prescribing them have to go through him to get a pen via teh PBS), and tests people, and devises mg’t plans. Chap by the name of Mullins. He also is studying allergies, and runs desensitisation programs, but we decided for me it wasn’t really necessary, the one I did in the 80s is working quite well.

FYI, Ray Mullins isn’t the only immunologist practicing in the ACT – certainly isn’t a lone guru who sits atop a mountain, controlling all the EpiPens in the region! 😛

+1 for Prof Mullins.

Funny I never had hayfever until I moved to Canberra from central west NSW. I used to blame all the pine trees around Canberra (ever see the clouds of pollen being blown out of them on a hot summers day?). Funnily my hayfever hasnt seemed so bad since the summer of 03….maybe its all in my head (lol)

Actually warm salty water works by rinsing the pollen out of your sinus’s and as such removes the allergen.

I also swear by the green telfast once a day.

Thanks ant and baldilocks (great name btw)! I think I will look in to that. Mainly for vanity’s sake 🙂 Sick of the red nose and dark circles under my eyes. I could pay with the savings in makeup!!

I had the desensitising program from Prof Mullins some years ago. Fantastic results – about the best medical treatment I’ve had. Used to have several months each year having bad sneezing fits – no more and I probably sneeze no more than a couple of times each season. Feel as though I have gained a couple of extra months living each year.

As I am also allergic to anti histamines, I didn’t really have much choice as to what to do.

From memory, you start out having injections every week for about three months, then every fortnight, then every month, (then 3 months?)with the program lasting for about 3 years.

Some patience required, but results worth it.

Injections were done by the nurse at my local GP. I think the medicines cost about $150 each 6 mths (or was it per year), with the regular injection cost covered by medicare.

Highly recommended & Prof Ray Mullins (at John James) is excellent.

bellaa said :

What does a desensitisation program consist of?? I have a heap of allergies – none of them serious, just annoying. Grass is the worst. I would love to think I could be desensitised!

I can’t remember if it’s oral, or injection. He’s the guy who controls access to the epi-pens (GPs prescribing them have to go through him to get a pen via teh PBS), and tests people, and devises mg’t plans. Chap by the name of Mullins. He also is studying allergies, and runs desensitisation programs, but we decided for me it wasn’t really necessary, the one I did in the 80s is working quite well.

Although the perfumes thing is becoming an issue, some cause instant migraines and when you ask the wearers to wear less of it, they get offended.

housebound said :

For many people, they find that their hayfever is at its worst on those dry days with a north-westerly wind. This is probably the grasses – especially phalaris and rye grass. .

Yep, blowing in from the SW slopes and Riverina. I’ve recently acquired several bags of Phalaris Australia and a pasture mix containing some Rye, but what can you do? These are grasses taht will grow in this dry environment. Although the Phalaris has been pathetic so far.

I plan to also get some Poa Tussock seed, it’s pricy but that’s the main grass growing here. That doesn’t seem to cause hayfever.

mp2615 said :

I agree. Native species are not the problem. For what it’s worth I used “sabba dilla” (phonetic spell) and it worked a treat. cheap, natural and readily available from the Hierophant in Griffith.

The Hierophant is a great place, They sell many a magical potion there.

Gin02 said :

warm salty water up the nose daily works a charm!

That’s disgusting, and it doesn’t really work.

#18 – People lump all native species together, usually not really thinking about the native grasses. They’re probably no more or less evil than their introduced grassy cousins, but there just aren’t the same amount flowering at any given time (unless, I guess, you went out to the Alps or the Mitchell grasslands).

warm salty water up the nose daily works a charm!

I’ve found that after living in Canberra for a while I’m no longer affected by hayfever. Mind you, it did take over 15 years.

Mrs Deano is sensitive to olive pollen, which is surprisingly common in Canberra.

I got de-sensitised to a lot of things when I was young, and the local allergist (at John James) is pushing an up-to-date desensitisation program that has solid proof of helping.

What does a desensitisation program consist of?? I have a heap of allergies – none of them serious, just annoying. Grass is the worst. I would love to think I could be desensitised!

Oooh- touchy, housebound. Hope that wasn’t the result of personal experience with said drug.

No, the trials would be the rigorously designed things that test a variety of potential allergens (from both exotic and native species, maybe including local acacias) on a representative sample of the population.

There seems to be a commonly held belief that nasty exotic plants cause hayfever, but cuddly native species don’t. The same way that some people keep telling us to plant natives, because they’ll be more drought resistant- they obviously haven’t noticed all the dead eucalypts around Canberra. I’d just like to know what actual research has been done to investigate the allergic potential of native species.

Medical trials – they would be the things that drug companies try before releasing arthritis medications that kill people?

mp2615 said :

I agree. Native species are not the problem. ….

Has this been proven by medical trials, or is it another Tim and Debbie-style assertion that’s gained credence by repetition?

Can’t go past Quercetin to build immunity and to deal with symptoms. Available at some health food stores and on the internet

androo said :

and yet there is growing evidence that grass pollen contributes far more towards hay fever than wattle.

Yep. Spot on. Everyone blames the wattle, but it is very likely something else causing rhinitis, probably the dreaded rye grass which is everywhere. That said, certain pollens do affect certain people.

A real nasty that people often don’t realise is the various cypress species around the place. When they release their pollens into the air, it’s misery for many.

I got de-sensitised to a lot of things when I was young, and the local allergist (at John James) is pushing an up-to-date desensitisation program that has solid proof of helping. I should check adn see if he does stinky perfumes, some of those are dreadful and you can’t get away from them.

I had all the allergy tests when I was young, turns out I had major reactions many of Canberra’s grasses, yay. Wattles also send my allergies crazy. Within minutes of walking past one in full bloom I start sneezing and my eyes start pouring. It is unbearable.

I use rhinocort nosespray (over the counter only) seasonally, and on really, really bad days I take a laratadine tablet (the generic claratyne)too. I never use rhinocort all year around, and intentionally give my body a break from it.

It is the only thing (and I’ve tried many things) that works – for me. It does have a lead in time and I often find it takes up to 5 days to have an effect and then all I need is a spray up each nostril in the morning for the duration of the hayfever season.

Unlike beconase (and other relief nose sprays) you do not become desensitised to rhinocort in a short amount of time. But rhinocort is a steroid, so there are different issues to take into account, and it’s another reason I give it a break between seasons.

If there was a way to manage my allergies successfully without drugs I’d do it, but I got sick of trying when I found something that worked.

Also, aloe vera tissues. Since they appeared on the market I haven’t needed to deal with the cracked and peeling nostrils issue from so much sneezing and blowing.

Beconase. Over at least a month it will lead to desensitisation. Take it with a symptom treatment as well until it is kicking in. Long-lasting, if not permanent, relief.

A slice of pineapple (tinned is OK)first thing in the morning. Cheap, tasty and effective.

A little off topic, but I’ve been looking for a wattle essence/oil for the last few years with no luck. Any ideas on where you can obtain the smell in liquid form?

If you are afflicted by hayfever, what do you find works to alleviate your suffering?

* I chop it down or move lol

Agree with the others on acacia pollen – it’s generally not the culprit. It’s got to do with the size of the pollen grains themselves, or so I’ve ben told.

For many people, they find that their hayfever is at its worst on those dry days with a north-westerly wind. This is probably the grasses – especially phalaris and rye grass. Locally, plantain pollen is also a major allergen, wreaking more havoc on hayfever sufferers than any forest of acacia could manage (hence bad reactions in a fenzied weekend of suburban lawnmowing). Other places I’ve lived, the ‘dust’ from the crop harvest has also been bad at times – but I couldn’t see that being an issue here.

All that said, one friend swears by a daily glass of pineapple juice and a vitamin C supplement. His job required him to stomp around in farm paddocks and it seemed to work for him. The only thing is that you have to take this all year round.

“This here’s the wattle
it’s the emblem of our land
you can stick it in a bottle
or hold it in your hand!”

(crack tube)

sorry – couldn’t resist

There’s a couple who sell Queanbeyan honey at the Southside Farmers Markets, and it’s the best honey I’ve had for a long time!

Yep im with Rottweiler, local honey is the best!

Find a local bee keeper buy a pot of honey and have 1 teaspoon daily, Honey contains traces of the pollen from which it was made, so honey from your local area should contain the pollen that causes your allergenic reaction. By consuming it you are encouraging your body to build up a natural immunity or tolerance to it.

I think the issue is less the wattle pollen as the other species with less flamboyant blooms also getting to work.

I agree. Native species are not the problem. For what it’s worth I used “sabba dilla” (phonetic spell) and it worked a treat. cheap, natural and readily available from the Hierophant in Griffith.

and yet there is growing evidence that grass pollen contributes far more towards hay fever than wattle.