Hay fever season

If you’re one of the 18 per cent of Australians who experience hay fever, you may have already started feeling the symptoms. “It starts with the familiar itch at the back of the throat, and before long it’s congestion, a runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, sinus pressure, constant sneezing and a foggy, throbbing headache,” says Oil Garden aromatherapy educator Pat Princi-Jones. If you’re looking for a natural remedy, try essential oils. “German chamomile reduces inflammation and can ease itching, antibacterial lavender and Roman chamomile help relax and regulate airways, peppermint works on blocked noses, and lemon and grapefruit act as astringents on the bronchial tract,” says Princi-Jones (find some of these in Oil Garden Hay Fever Ease, $29.99, oilgarden.com.au). Use in a vaporiser, add to boiling water and do a steam inhalation, mix with coconut oil and rub over the chest and back, or dispense a few drops on a tissue and inhale throughout the day.