‘It got messy': the good, the bad and the sneezy of testing hay fever remedies
The best things in life are a … a … wait, it's coming … a … Achoo! Ew, sorry. Where was I? The best things in life are itchy and explosively sneezy. Picnics in freshly cut grass, walks in the woods, burying your face in the cat. Full of the joys of summer, and guaranteed to send your body's allergy responses wild.
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If you're in the 49% of British folk who suffer from seasonal hay fever, you probably envy me for being asked to test hay fever remedies for the Filter. Here was my chance to have all my symptoms blitzed by the best cures medical science and TikTok had to offer. Sadly, it didn't quite work like that.
For starters, I had to give up my daily pill (second-generation antihistamine Allevia, which works fairly well) to test supposed alternatives (such as local honey, which did not work for me). I wanted to give each purported panacea a fair shot, so I had to go in with eyes streaming and nose a-blazing.
It got messy. I would always rather be in the woods, as I insist on stating at the end of all my articles, and I wasn't about to let my break from Allevia put me off. Off I went each morning, my body's histamine system ready to leap into completely OTT defence against deadly threats such as, oh, the common hazel tree. Hazel, of course, is not deadly. My body's reaction to its pollen is like a chihuahua losing its furry little mind at the postman. Both overreactions are very real, very annoying and potentially physically debilitating.
For one woodland walk, I wore a thick Hepa filter mask that I expected to be one of the most effective products in my test. I promptly sneezed into it. Long, soggy seconds passed as I untangled its Velcro fastenings from my hair and got the thing off my face so I could blow my nose. I won't be donating that one to charity.
Perhaps good old (like, really old) first-generation antihistamines would be more effective? Diphenhydramine was developed in the 1940s to treat allergies and motion sickness, and today it's the active ingredient in Nytol. Down the hatch it went, and down went my mood and energy. The zombie afternoons didn't translate into well-slept nights. I'd wake up coughing, my throat dry from breathing through my mouth because my nose was inflamed (please do not try to picture this). Different anti-allergy drugs have different effects on different people, but Nytol won't be going on my shopping list again.
Even the best remedies brought their own problems. My bedroom became a bombsite of nasal sprays, eye drops, eucalyptus patches, special bedding, highfalutin vacuum cleaners and assorted air purifiers. I'd raised an eyebrow at the idea of an air purifier (great, another magic gadget), but the MeacoClean proved a revelation, humming away quietly and helping to rid the air of allergens. It and HayMax barrier balm were the two products that made me wonder whether I should bother going back to Allevia.
Well, I did – not least because an air purifier isn't much use in the woods. I really didn't want to put 'take a pill' at the top of my remedy league, and it's probably not what the honey influencers and stinging nettle advocates want you to hear. And hey, maybe they'll work for you. But for me, a second-generation antihistamine remains the least bad symptom suppressant of the lot. Achoo.
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Heading to a festival this summer? Unlike camping-camping, festival camping requires extra thought. You won't have a car to ferry all your gear, you can't choose the weather, and you want to bring a bit of glamour to the party.
So whether you're raving on a Spanish island or sheltering from the drizzle with the kids in Wales, you need our expert guide to what to bring – from toiletries to the best shoes, camping gear to blister plasters. Plus, the things you don't need to lug.
Hannah BoothEditor, the Filter
Planning some picnics in the park while the sun is shining? You might be surprised to know just how many high-quality drinks in tins are available these days – from watermelon margaritas to kombuchas and modern-day meads. And there's nothing like a can of Villa Maria sauvignon blanc to go with those posh crisps and olives. Our drinks expert Joanne Gould put 40 to the test.
Has something you bought made you fitter or healthier? Maybe it's the budget resistance bands that have you working out every day, or a bento box that's inspired you to pack healthier lunches.
Let us know by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com.
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