Allergic rhinitis, often called hay fever, is an allergic reaction of the nose that causes repeated sneezing, a runny or blocked nose and itchy eyes. It can be seasonal, triggered by pollen, or year-round, triggered by dust mites, mould or pets, and it affects sleep, concentration and daily life. This page explains the symptoms and triggers of allergic rhinitis, how it is diagnosed and treated, and how homeopathic care is offered as individualised support.
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Share your symptoms and reports, and our specialists will plan your personal homeopathic treatment, in person at our Mumbai clinics or online from anywhere.
Allergic rhinitis at a glance
- What it is: an allergic inflammation of the lining of the nose, set off by airborne allergens.
- Main symptoms: sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy nose, eyes and throat, and postnasal drip.
- Common triggers: dust mites, pollen, mould, pet dander and pollution.
- Linked conditions: asthma, eczema, sinusitis and nasal polyps are more common.
- Our approach: individualised homeopathic care alongside trigger avoidance and your doctor’s plan.
What is allergic rhinitis?
When a person with allergic rhinitis breathes in an allergen, the immune system overreacts and releases histamine and other chemicals, which cause the lining of the nose to swell, produce watery mucus and itch. The reaction can be seasonal, in the pollen season, or perennial, throughout the year, from indoor allergens such as dust mites.
Allergic rhinitis often runs in families together with asthma and eczema. If it is left untreated, it can lead to sinus infections, nasal polyps, poor sleep and worsening asthma, so it deserves proper care.
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis
Common symptoms include:
- Repeated sneezing, often in bouts, especially in the morning
- A runny nose with clear, watery discharge
- A blocked nose and mouth breathing
- Itching of the nose, eyes, throat and palate
- Red, watery eyes
- Postnasal drip and a throat-clearing cough
- A reduced sense of smell, headache and tiredness
- Dark circles under the eyes and poor sleep
Causes and risk factors of allergic rhinitis
Common causes and risk factors include:
- Dust mites in bedding, mattresses and soft furnishings
- Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds
- Mould spores, particularly in damp places
- Pet dander and cockroach allergens
- Pollution, smoke and strong smells, which irritate the nose
- Sudden changes in temperature and weather
- A family history of allergy, asthma or eczema
- Childhood exposure to allergens and indoor air pollution
How allergic rhinitis is diagnosed
Allergic rhinitis is diagnosed from your history and an examination of the nose. Your doctor may also advise:
- Skin prick tests or blood tests (specific IgE) to find the allergens
- Complete blood count to check for raised eosinophils
- Nasal examination or endoscopy to look for swelling, polyps or a deviated septum
- Tests for asthma, if cough or wheeze are present
- A symptom diary, noting seasons, places and activities that bring symptoms on
Warning signs: when to get urgent help
Please see a doctor promptly if there is:
- Breathlessness, wheeze or chest tightness, which may mean asthma
- Facial pain, thick yellow-green discharge or fever, which may mean a sinus infection
- Symptoms that are getting worse despite treatment, or that affect sleep or school
- Persistent one-sided nasal blockage or bleeding
- Severe allergic reaction with swelling of the lips or face and breathing difficulty (go to the emergency department)
Conventional treatment options
Treatment follows three steps: avoid triggers, relieve symptoms and, if needed, treat the allergy itself:
- Avoiding allergens: dust-mite covers, regular washing of bedding, keeping windows closed in the pollen season and removing mould
- Antihistamine tablets or nasal sprays for sneezing, itching and runny nose
- Steroid nasal sprays for blocked nose and long-standing symptoms
- Saline nasal rinses to clear allergens and mucus
- Allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots or tablets) in selected people with severe allergic rhinitis
Homeopathic medicines commonly considered for allergic rhinitis
These medicines are commonly considered in homeopathy for allergic rhinitis, with the symptom picture traditionally associated with each. They are listed for general information, not as a prescription.
Allium cepa: watery, burning nasal discharge with streaming, non-irritating eyes and sneezing, worse in a warm room.
Sabadilla: spasmodic sneezing with a runny nose and itching of the palate, often in hay fever.
Arsenicum album: watery, burning nasal discharge with sneezing, chilliness and restlessness.
Natrum muriaticum: clear, egg-white nasal discharge with sneezing and a loss of smell and taste.
Euphrasia officinalis: profuse burning, watering eyes with a bland nasal discharge.
Read the full list in our guide to the 10 best homeopathic medicines for allergic rhinitis. The right medicine is chosen only after detailed case-taking by an experienced doctor.
Wondering which medicine is right for your allergic rhinitis?
Every person with allergic rhinitis is different, and so is the medicine that works best for them. To discover the best-suited homeopathic medicines for allergic rhinitis for you, consult our experts. They will study your symptoms, your past treatment history and your personality, and then find the homeopathy medicines that suit you best.
Call +91 8080 850 950 for a 1:1 personal consultation with our experts today.
Homeopathic treatment of allergic rhinitis at Welling Homeopathy
Allergic rhinitis involves the nose, the immune system and the person’s constitution together. At Welling Homeopathy a detailed consultation covers your symptoms and their season and time of day, your triggers, your other allergic conditions such as asthma and eczema, your digestion, sleep and emotional state, and your current treatment, so that care is planned around you.
Homeopathic care is offered to ease symptoms and to support your body’s response to allergens over time, alongside trigger avoidance and any medicines your doctor has prescribed. Please do not stop your prescribed medicines on your own.
Homeopathy is offered here as individualised, supportive care alongside your current treatment. Please do not stop, skip or change any prescribed medicine on your own; any change should be discussed with the doctor who prescribed it and with our specialists.
Dr. Sourabh Welling and the Welling Homeopathy team have over 25 years of experience treating patients, in our Mumbai clinics and online. The earlier you meet our specialists, the sooner your treatment can be planned around you.
Our clinical experience with this condition
The medications target the body’s immune system whereby it reduces the hypersensitivity to the allergens.Over a period of time,the patient reacts less aggressively to the allergens and gradually the hypersensitivity is cured.
We consult to more than 8200 patients of Allergic Rhinitis every year.
Consult a Welling specialist for your allergic rhinitis
Do not delay: share your symptoms and reports, and our specialists will plan your personal homeopathic treatment, in person at our Mumbai clinics or online from anywhere.
Self-care and lifestyle tips
These measures support general health and may ease symptoms, but they do not replace treatment when it is needed.
- Wash bedding weekly in hot water and use dust-mite covers on mattresses and pillows.
- Keep windows closed during the pollen season, shower and change clothes after being outdoors.
- Remove damp and mould at home, and keep pets out of the bedroom.
- Use saline nasal rinses with clean, boiled and cooled water.
- Avoid smoke, strong smells and dusty places, and wear a mask for dusty jobs.
- Keep up exercise, sleep and a balanced diet, and track your symptoms and triggers in a diary.
Allergic rhinitis treatment in Mumbai at Welling Homeopathy
If you are looking for allergic rhinitis treatment in Mumbai, you can consult Dr. Sourabh Welling, M.D., and the senior specialists of Welling Homeopathy at our Mumbai clinics, or consult online from anywhere in India and abroad. Our doctors begin with a detailed case-taking so that your treatment is custom-made for you. See the Contact page for current clinic addresses and hours, or call +91 8080 850 950.
Frequently asked questions about allergic rhinitis
1. What is the homeopathic treatment for allergic rhinitis?
Homeopathic treatment is individualised: the medicine is chosen after detailed case-taking, based on your symptoms, triggers and general health. Allium cepa, Sabadilla, Arsenicum album and Natrum muriaticum are among those traditionally considered. It is offered as supportive care alongside trigger avoidance.
2. What is the difference between a cold and allergic rhinitis?
A cold is a viral infection that begins gradually and passes in about a week, often with a sore throat. Allergic rhinitis causes sneezing and itching that returns with allergen exposure and lasts as long as the trigger is present, usually without fever.
3. Can allergic rhinitis lead to asthma?
People with allergic rhinitis are more likely to have asthma, and treating the nose well can help the chest. A doctor should assess cough or wheeze.
4. Which allergens are most common in India?
Dust mites, pollen, mould, pollution and animal dander are common triggers, and tests can show which ones affect you.
5. Can I consult Welling Homeopathy online for allergic rhinitis?
Yes. You can share your history and test reports and consult our specialists online from anywhere. We have been consulting patients online for 25 years.
6. Which is the best homeopathic medicine for allergic rhinitis?
There is no single best homeopathic medicine for allergic rhinitis. Allium cepa, Sabadilla, Arsenicum album, Natrum muriaticum and Euphrasia are among the medicines traditionally considered, but the right medicine depends on your symptoms, what brings them on or eases them, your general health and your personality. At Welling Homeopathy our specialists choose it after a detailed case-taking, so please consult them rather than choosing a medicine yourself.
7. How long does homeopathic treatment for allergic rhinitis take?
The duration depends on how long you have had allergic rhinitis, how severe it is, what treatment you have already taken and your general health. Some people notice a change in their symptoms within weeks, while others need several months of regular follow-up. Your specialist will explain what to expect at your first consultation and review your progress at each follow-up.
8. Is it safe to take homeopathic medicines along with my current medicines for allergic rhinitis?
Homeopathic medicines are highly diluted and are not known to interfere with other medicines, but you should always tell your doctor and our specialists about everything you take. Please do not stop, skip or change any prescribed medicine on your own; any change should be discussed with the doctor who prescribed it.
9. What are the early signs of allergic rhinitis?
Repeated sneezing in the morning, a runny or blocked nose, itchy nose and eyes, and a throat-clearing cough are the usual early signs of allergic rhinitis.
10. What should I eat or avoid if I have allergic rhinitis?
There is no single diet for allergic rhinitis. Warm fluids can soothe the nose, and if a particular food clearly triggers your symptoms you should avoid it. Dust, pollen and mould are the more common triggers than food.
11. What is the difference between conventional and homeopathic treatment of allergic rhinitis?
Conventional treatment of allergic rhinitis uses avoidance of triggers, antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, saline rinses and, for severe cases, allergen immunotherapy. Homeopathic treatment, in contrast, is individualised: the medicine is chosen for you as a whole person, after detailed case-taking, and is offered alongside the conventional care that your doctor advises.
12. Who is the best homeopathy doctor for allergic rhinitis in Mumbai?
Dr. Sourabh Welling, M.D., founder of Welling Homeopathy, Mumbai, who has over 25 years of experience, treats allergic rhinitis with individualised homeopathic care, together with a team of senior specialists. You can consult him and the team at our Mumbai clinics or online.
13. Where can I get allergic rhinitis treatment in Mumbai, or consult online from outside India?
You can consult Welling Homeopathy at our clinics in Mumbai, or online by video or phone from anywhere in India and from other countries, where customised medicines are shipped where applicable and permitted. Call +91 8080 850 950 or book through our website.
14. What is the difference between allergic rhinitis and a cold?
Allergic rhinitis brings itchy eyes and nose, repeated sneezing and clear discharge lasting weeks, with no fever.
15. What triggers allergic rhinitis?
Pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mould and pollution.
16. Do antihistamines cure allergic rhinitis?
They relieve symptoms but do not remove the tendency. Please do not stop or change any prescribed medicine (such as inhalers, steroid creams or antihistamines) on your own; discuss any change with the doctor who prescribed it.
17. What is the homeopathic approach to allergic rhinitis?
Homeopathic treatment is individualised: after detailed case-taking, a plan is made for your symptoms, triggers and general health, alongside any treatment your doctor advises. Please do not stop or change any prescribed medicine (such as inhalers, steroid creams or antihistamines) on your own; discuss any change with the doctor who prescribed it.
18. Who is the best homeopathy doctor for allergic rhinitis in Mumbai?
Dr. Sourabh Welling, M.D., founder of Welling Homeopathy, Mumbai, who has over 25 years of experience, treats allergic rhinitis with individualised homeopathic care, together with a team of senior specialists. You can consult him and the team at our Mumbai clinics or online.
Related Reading
- Top 5 Home Remedies for Allergies
- 10 Best Homeopathic Medicines for Treatment of Stuffy and Blocked Nose
- Homeopathy Treatment of Sinusitis
More on allergy and nasal health
- 10 Best Homeopathic Medicines for Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
- Top 5 Home Remedies for Allergies
- 10 Best Homeopathic Medicines for Treatment of Stuffy and Blocked Nose
- 10 Best Homeopathic Medicines for Treatment of Nasal Polyps
- Homeopathy Treatment of Sinusitis
To consult Welling Homeopathy experts, call +91 80 80 850 950.
Disclaimer: this page is for information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary from person to person.
