If you suffer from hay fever, you will know the feeling of irritated and watery eyes all too well. In addition to sneezing and a stuffy nose – to name a few symptoms – it can really ruin your summer.
Because of this, many turn to over-the-counter or prescription medication to stop the symptoms. But others are more interested in natural methods – and there’s one that a gardening expert is convinced will work for many.
Taking to TikTok, the gardening expert, @viewfromthepottingbench, said that all you need to do is go outside. He explains: “Have you heard about this crazy cure for hay fever? Now, if you sting yourself on a stinging nettle, it’s supposedly stops some of the symptoms of hay fever.”
The gardening guru has said that he has tried it himself and it really works. He added: “All I’ve been doing for the last couple of weeks or so is just tapping my wrist and my arm on the plant, just enough to sting you and it is working. Is anybody else tried this? It’s working for me and I think it will probably work for you too.”
Symptoms of hay fever
According to the NHS, if you have hay fever, you can expect symptoms to be worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy.
This is because it’s when the pollen count is at its highest. As well as this, hay fever can last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after one to two weeks.
- sneezing and coughing
- a runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes
- itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- loss of smell
- pain around the sides of your head and your forehead
- headache
- feeling tired