How To Deal with Hay Fever in Japan

Time of Hay Fever

From the middle of February to the end of April, hay fever becomes active.

We have to take measures against the Coronavirus, and we also need to deal with hay fever at this time.

The major cause of hay fever in Japan is cedar. Cedar pollen leads to intense symptoms of allergy.

A second famous pollen in Japan is cypress pollen. It spreads from the end of March to the first of May.

As a side note, hay fever exists not only in Japan. In the US, some people are struggling with ragweed pollen, there is acacia pollen in Australia, and some people have rice pollen allergy in Europe.

I realized that hay fever makes people suffer all around the world.

Cause of Having Hay Fever

When pollen goes to a body, the immune system checks whether the body can accept it or not.

If it judges the body can not accept the pollen, the body makes an antibody that attacks the pollen.

The action of the antibody is an allergenic reaction. Because of it, we sneeze, have a runny nose, and have teary and itchy eyes.

Dealing with Hay Fever

There are some ways to relieve symptoms. 

① Using medicines

To ease the allergic symptoms of the nose, antihistamine is effective. If you have nasal congestion, you may use drugs that constrict blood vessels. For the symptoms of eyes, eye drops will help to relieve them.

② Taking treatment

Mainly, there are 3 methods in Japan. ”Allergen immunotherapy” is to cure the symptoms completely. By taking medicine that includes allergen properly, we can say goodbye to the allergy. 

“Sublingual immunotherapy” is only for cedar allergy, taking cedar pollen antigens for 3 to 5 years. We can expect to improve our physical condition in regards to cedar pollen.

③ Laser therapy

By burning the mucous membranes of the nose, we can ease the symptoms, but it does not improve the physical condition. 

to keep in good condition, you have to take the therapy again after around 2 years.

Things You Can Do Daily

I’d like to introduce things that we can do daily for dealing with hay fever.

① Don‘t open the lace curtains during ventilation

Of course, we need to ventilate inside a house, but we don’t want pollen to go inside rooms. Using lace curtains is an effective way to prevent pollen going inside a house.

② Eating particular food

Some foods help us to improve our body condition and immune system.

Foods containing DHA or EPA, like tuna, saury, and mackerel, help against the inflammatory symptoms of allergies.

While food containing vitamin A can help us maintain healthy skin and mucous membranes (e.g., chicken, pork spinach etc.), food containing vitamin C (e.g., peppers, broccoli, kiwis, lemons etc.), helps to reduce the secretion of histamine.  Foods for intestinal health are also effective. 

Foods containing dietary fiber like burdock root, beans and apples, fermented foods such as natto, kimchi and yogurt are also good.

Actually, lucky for me, I am not bothered by pollen myself.

I eat yogurt almost every day, though not to avoid hay fever.

Is that a good thing for me?

The most important thing I think is…

Depending on the intensity of each allergic reaction, there are different treatments to be done and different ways of coping, but I think the most important thing is a regular lifestyle.

It’s tough to fight pollen in our busy lives, but we’ll get through it somehow!