NHS: "Is YOGURT the secret to easing hay fever? Probiotics can 'relieve
sneezing and itchy eyes','' the Daily Mail reports. New research found
initial, but not definitive, evidence that probiotics may offer some
relief from this common allergic condition for some people. Hay fever affects
around one in five people, causing frequent sneezing, a runny nose and
itchy eyes. It happens when an allergic irritant sets off an immune
response in the mucosa of the nasal passages, causing an allergic
reaction. Most often, people are sensitive to seasonal allergens such as
pollen, hence the name hay fever. However, some people can get symptoms
all year round (this is known as allergic rhinitis). There has been a lot of interest in whether probiotics
– "healthy" bacteria that live in the gut
– can relieve symptoms.
