I’m a doctor and here are four ways to control your hay fever WITHOUT taking medication, including a household cleaning tip

By Gina Kalsi For Mailonline

Published: 02:29 EDT, 23 June 2023 | Updated: 03:45 EDT, 26 June 2023

A doctor has revealed the three ways hay fever sufferers can combat hay fever without using medication.  

Dr Sooj, who lives in the UK, took to TikTok to share his tips online in a video which has racked up almost 90,000 views. 

The NHS doctor often makes health-related videos such as speaking about the symptoms of melanoma, foods to avoid in pregnancy and carbon monoxide poisoning. 

Discussing the ‘pollen bomb’ that has hit the UK, he said: ‘Since we’re approaching the summer months here are five things you can do to improve your symptoms of hay fever and the last (tip) has really helped me.

‘One, put Vaseline around your nostrils and just under your eyes to try and trap some pollen.’

Dr Sooj, who lives in the UK, took to TikTok to share his tips online, racking up almost 90,000 views

The doctor, who also has a YouTube channel, then moved onto his second tip, which was to wear wrap around sunglasses as it stops pollen from getting into and irritating your eyes. 

Dr Sooj continued by saying: ‘Three, keep your windows and door shut as much as possible.’

The fourth piece of advice was to vacuum your house regularly and dust it with a damp cloth. 

The medic then moved on to his final point to combat hay fever without medication. 

‘Finally, buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car.’ 

Users took to the comments to speak about his tips and even shared their own. 

One person said: ‘Wouldn’t trapping the pollen activate symptoms and keeping it on you. Doesn’t seem like a good idea.’

But Dr Sooj responded: ‘It helps stop pollen going into your eyes and causing symptoms.’

The doctor started with his first tip, which was to put Vaseline around your nostrils and under your eyes 

Another wrote: ‘Also cutting out dairy as it’s a mucus-inducing food, studies have shown,’ however the doctor did not confirm nor deny this. 

In a second video, the medic spoke about what you shouldn’t do if you have hay fever, including cutting grass or even walking on grass.

He also said: ‘Avoid keeping fresh flowers in the house. Don’t smoke or be around smoke because this can make your symptoms worse. 

‘Don’t dry your clothes outside because these can catch pollen. 

‘And finally, if possible, don’t let pets inside the house, this is because they can bring pollen indoors.’

Earlier this week, another NHS doctor, Dr Karan Rajan, also made a video claiming that most people use their hay fever nasal sprays wrong.

Users took to the comments of the hay fever video to speak about his tips and even shared their own

Dr Karan Rajan has taken to TikTok to reveal the most effective hay fever medicines, as well as the best way to use nasal spray

He said: ‘If you use a nasal spray don’t point up towards your brain. Point sideways towards your ears.

‘This way it will be in parallel with your sinuses which is where the medication needs to go.

‘Don’t inhale because the medication will end up in your throat and it won’t work’.

‘But you need to do these as well’ he adds.

Women unable to get their usual hormone replacement therapy (HRT) due to shortages should not worry about switching to products that aren’t in short supply, top menopause doctors have advised.

Demand for one HRT drug, Utrogestan 100mg, has doubled over the past 12 months and five-fold since March 2021, according to manufacturer Besins.

The surge has led to stocks running dry in some areas, and last month the Government enacted a Serious Shortage Protocol limiting pharmacists to prescribing no more than two months’ worth of the capsules.

The British Menopause Society (BMS), which represents leading treatment specialists, have now issued guidance, suggesting alternative drugs that women can take.

‘Women shouldn’t worry if they can’t get hold of Utrogestan, as there are quite a few similar drugs GPs can prescribe which do the same thing,’ said Dr Paula Briggs, chair of the BMS and a consultant is sexual and reproductive health.

Stocks of popular HRT pills such as Utrogestan, pictured, are running low leading the government to implement a Serious Shortage Protocol limiting pharmacists to prescribing no more than two months’ worth of the capsules

HRT typically comprises of two female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, taken together. In some forms of HRT, both hormones are combined in a single pill or patch, however it’s more common to take each separately

HRT typically comprises of two female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, taken together. In some forms of HRT, both hormones are combined in a single pill or patch, however it’s more common to take each separately.

Oestrogen HRT taken alone increases the risk of thickening of the womb lining – known as endometrial hyperplasia – and even womb cancer. Progesterone reduces this risk to considerably.

Utrogestan contains micronised progesterone, which is identical to naturally occurring progesterone produced by the body. Other similar drugs contain synthetic versions, known as progestogens, and the BMS advises taking these if the supply of Utrogestan is a problem.

‘The main thing is that women keep taking something to protect the womb,’ says Dr Briggs. ‘There is a very small increased risk of blood clots and breast cancer with progestogens, but it’s almost negligible, particularly if it’s short-term.

‘The shortage of Utrogestan is likely to resolve by the end of the year, so in the meantime we advise taking one of the number of alternatives.’

The BMS advises: ‘Alternative progestogen options include norethisterone 5 mg daily and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 5 mg daily, for those using oestrogen replacement therapy.’

There is also the option of changing to oral HRT, including Bijuve and one of the Femoston range, both of which contain the two hormones combined, it adds. An intrauterine system – known as a coil – containing the progestogen levonorgestrel is another choice.

Some private doctors on social media have been instructing women to ask for Cyclogest, a drug used in fertility treatment, which also contains micronised progesterone.

But the new BMS guidance states: ‘Cyclogest is not licensed for [use in HRT] and there is no evidence to support using it in preference to the synthetic progestogens, particularly as it will not be available from the majority of NHS GPs.’

Cyclogest is delivered via a pessary inserted into the vagina. Dr Briggs said: ‘It often causes a lot of discharge, which isn’t pleasant. It’s also never been studied for use in HRT, so we don’t know how well it protects the womb.’

Progesterone can cause side effects in some women, including mood swings, breast tenderness, bloating and digestive issues.

While micronised progesterone is ‘the closest thing to naturally occurring progesterone,’ Dr Briggs says there is no evidence women feel any different while taking synthetic progestogen, particularly in the short term.

‘If you’re running out of Utrogestan, you can switch straight to a progestogen and it shouldn’t make any difference,’ she adds.

In April, the BMS issued a warning in response to an MoS investigation that revealed GP Dr Louise Newson, who runs the UK’s biggest private menopause clinic, was said to be prescribing ‘risky’ higher than licensed doses of oestrogen HRT.

It said ‘oestrogen should not be regularly prescribed in doses higher than the upper [licensed] limit’ to ‘ensure patient safety’.

Dr Briggs says: ‘If women are on very high doses of oestrogen, they need to take double the normal amount of progesterone in order to protect the womb. In larger doses, the medication is more likely to cause side effects.

‘Any woman on oestrogen HRT at the maximum licensed dose or higher should speak to their doctor about exactly why they’ve been given so much, and discuss any potential risks.’