My All-Natural Hayfever Survival Kit

As a teacher, I always feel sorry for the pupils suffering from hayfever at exam-time, mainly because I can totally sympathise with them because I've been there and done that. While everyone else was lining up different coloured pens, rulers, Tippex and a snack on their tiny table in the exam hall, I'd be lining up packets of tissues, lip balm, eye drops and wet wipes in an effort to stay functional until the end of the exam !

When I first started getting hayfever in my teens, I was prescribed anti-histamines and worked my way through various different brands - they all seemed to stop working after a few seasons. When I mentioned this to my doctor and asked if your body got used to them, he said it was probably due to new pollens arriving into the country with exotic flowers and trees that the tablets weren't designed to deal with. The problem with taking any medication is that you have to take it over a few days for the effects to kick in - not good news if your hayfever kicks off the day of your big exam, your wedding or that big night out - and you have to keep taking them for the results to last, so I always feel like I'm pumping my body full of drugs possibly for nothing.

When I was pregnant and had to stop taking anti-histamines, I started off going cold turkey but felt thoroughly miserable, with streaming, sore eyes and a nose rubbed red raw from the constant wiping and blowing. It was actually my doctor in France who suggested Sterimar as a natural alternative for alleviating the symptoms and it was an absolute Godsend. The soothing results were instantaneous as it flushed out the pollen from my nose and eyes and, as it's pure seawater, I could use it as often as I needed without worrying about any harmful effects. I haven't looked back since and still prefer using Sterimar as much as possible to replace anti-histamines even now I'm no longer pregnant or breastfeeding. Often it's enough and I can get through the whole summer without resorting to tablets at all. It's also great for spraying over your face and hair to dampen down pollen which again helps to reduce the effects.

If you have a hayfever-sufferer who's about to sit their exams, pop a bottle of Sterimar in their school bag to provide instant relief when needed. As it's totally natural, the school won't kick off about them taking it in, unlike medicated products that have been prescribed by the doctor. My Hayfever Survival Kit for exams also includes lip balm (breathing through your mouth because your nose is bunged up will dry out your lips), a small pack of wet wipes (for wiping over your face and hair to remove/dampen down pollen), a small pot of Vaseline (or Haymax, which is a slightly less gooey option) for wiping around your nostrils to catch pollen before it enters your system (and to soothe red noses).

Whenever possible, have a shower and change your clothes to remove pollen and leave your hair wet to catch pollen before it gets to your eyes and nose. And if you're taking exams, good luck !

For a little light relief, you might enjoy watching this classic Mr Bean sketch ! (I've seen this clip so many times and have only just realised that the invigilator is Patrick Truman from EastEnders !)

Disclosure : While this isn't a sponsored post, I do receive a financial contribution from Sterimar for getting involved in Mummy Ambassador activities on their facebook page and other social media platforms. I was using Sterimar long before they asked me to be an Ambassador though !

Other blogposts you may be interested in :

Tips from The Madhouse for using Sterimar Baby

101 Uses of a Can of Sterimar !

Check out the new Sterimar Baby UK Facebook Page