What's the difference between hay fever and rhinitis?

Hay fever is seasonal, triggered by grass, pollen or trees. Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal passages, and it comes in two forms — allergic rhinitis, which is an immune response to something like dander, dust or pollen, and non-allergic rhinitis, which produces much the same symptoms without an allergy behind it.

What causes non-allergic rhinitis?

Pollution, smoke, strong odours and other irritants. Some medications cause it too. Because the symptoms look identical to allergic rhinitis, working out which one you have changes what's worth doing about it.

When should I see a doctor rather than a naturopath?

If your symptoms persist, get checked by your GP. Wheezing and coughing in particular should be assessed medically — they can indicate asthma, which needs medical management. Naturopathic care sits alongside that, not instead of it.

Hay Fever & Rhinitis | Naturopath Melbourne

Hay fever

Hay fever is seasonal, and it’s set off by grass, pollen or trees.

Rhinitis

Rhinitis means inflammation of the nasal passages, and there are two kinds.

Allergic rhinitis is caused by a reaction to something — animal dander, dust, pollen. The symptoms are your immune system doing its job: it treats the allergen as a foreign invader and sneezing, itching and post-nasal drip are the mechanisms it uses to clear it.

Non-allergic rhinitis produces the same symptoms, or close to them, without an allergy behind it. Pollution, smoke and strong odours are common triggers. Some medications cause it too.

Telling the two apart matters, because avoiding an allergen you don’t react to achieves nothing.

Symptoms

Watery eyes, a running or stuffy nose, and itching of the eyes and nose — one of them, all of them, or any combination. Fatigue, disturbed sleep, sore throat, headaches, coughing and wheezing also occur.

Severity varies a lot. At the worse end it genuinely interferes with daily life.

⚠ If your symptoms persist, get assessed by your GP. Wheezing and coughing in particular need medical assessment, because they can point to asthma.

How a naturopath approaches it

Your naturopath will take a history covering when symptoms appear, what you’re exposed to, your diet, your digestion and your general immune picture. Where it’s clinically appropriate they may suggest allergy testing through pathology.

From there, nutritional and herbal support is chosen for your presentation, along with practical changes to reduce exposure. Because immune symptoms and gut health are closely related, expect questions about digestion even though the symptoms are in your nose.

Hay fever and rhinitis