What is hay fever?
Hay Fever is an allergy to pollen, often triggered when pollen makes contact with the sufferer’s nose, eyes, mouth or throat. The severity of this allergy is different from person to person.
As the summer months get closer, increased pollen levels are causing havoc for hay fever sufferers. Between the months of March and September, the pollen count is likely to be at its highest due to the weather being warm, humid and windy.
Symptoms of hay fever?
The symptoms of hay fever are different for each person, and some symptoms can be a lot more severe than others. The most common symptoms of this allergy are:
· Sneezing and coughing
· Itchy eyes, throat, nose, mouth and ears
· Red, sore eyes
· Headache and earache
· Pain around the head and temples
· Fatigue
· Tight chest and cough
Hay fever symptoms can last for several months at a time, unlike the cold which tends to last around 1-2 weeks at a time.
Treatment
There is no cure for hay fever, but side effects and symptoms can be managed with the help of home remedies or medication for more serious cases.
This includes:
· Staying indoors when possible
· Applying Vaseline to the end of the nose
· Taking Anti histamine medications
· Steroids
· Immunotherapy when treatment is ineffective
What is CBD?
CBD is one of over 100 compounds found within the cannabis plant. These compounds are called cannabinoids. CBD works with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a cell signalling
system which helps to regulate functions in the body such as sleep, appetite, mood, reproduction, immune system and more.
The endocannabinoid system is made up of CB1 and CB2 receptors around the body, and cannabinoids bind to these receptors to give signals that the endocannabinoid system needs to take action.
CB1 receptors are mostly found in the central nervous system whilst CB2 receptors are commonly found in immune cells. Cannabinoids may bind to CB1 receptors to help relieve pain whilst binding to CB2 receptors to signal the body’s anti-inflammatory response.
CBD and Hay Fever
Anti-inflammatory
CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, meaning that many people choose to use CBD to help soothe inflammation.
Hay fever may cause joint pain, a result of the body trying to flush out the allergen. This can potentially make daily activities painful and draining. CBD topicals may be an ideal for body aches as they can provide more direct relief. With some cases, hay fever can also cause inflammation in the nasal passage, throat and eye membranes. This could then impact functions in the body such as breathing, eating and senses such as taste, smell and sight. CBD products such as CBD oil and sprays may be a useful way of taking CBD for hay fever as they can be taken sublingually (under the tongue) or mixed in with drinks. This could reduce the level of irritation on the throat compared to other forms of CBD, such as edibles.
Overview
Overall, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD may aid in alleviating the symptoms caused by hay fever, such as inflamed throat, and nasal passages, however results can vary depending on what works for the user. It is important to consult your GP before taking CBD with other medications.