Peer Reviewed
Complementary medicine update

Herbal remedies for hay fever

Ron S Walls
Abstract
Allergic diseases are among the most common diseases for which patients seek assistance from alternative medications. Only two herbal preparations, however, have been shown in clinical trials to be effective in relieving the symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Key Points
    Allergic rhinitis is a common disorder, affecting up to 40% of the Australian population. Formal studies have shown that allergic rhinitis significantly impairs the quality of life of affected patients, in many respects to a similar extent as asthma or diabetes. Allergic diseases are among the most common diseases for which patients seek assistance from alternative medications, even though most herbal and natural therapies have not been subjected to appropriate trials to prove efficacy. Some reasons for the popularity of these therapies are listed below.
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