Coconut oil has been credited with many things: reducing symptoms of eczema, burning fat and even improving dental health. Now it seems the miracle ingredient has another miracle purpose: helping us beat hay fever.
We already know that lining our nostrils with Vaseline can work wonders when it comes to hay fever, but did you know that coconut oil can be just as good at trapping pollen before you breathe it in?
We spoke to experts, who told us that all you need to do is apply a helping of coconut oil around the edges of your nostrils, either before you spend time outdoors or before going to bed to avoid irritating nighttime symptoms.
"Coconut oil can be used as a barrier to airborne irritants, to avoid them gaining access to the nasal membranes," Alison Cullen, Nutritional Therapist & Education Manager at A.Vogel, told Pretty52.
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"Applying coconut oil in its solid form to the nasal openings will enable it to trap pollen particles and other pollutants or irritants that will otherwise further irritate inflamed and sensitised nasal membranes. Coconut oil is vegan and widely available."
Dr Clare Morrison, a GP and medical advisor at Medexpress, agreed that coconut oil can be a lifesaver for hay fever symptoms.
"Dabbing a little coconut oil around the edges of the nostrils can help to trap pollen before you breathe it in, as once you breathe in these particles it's hard to get rid of them, and you will most likely start to have a sneezing fit as a result," she says.
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"Plus it also moisturises the areas of the nose that usually get sore from rubbing with a tissues, so it's a win-win trick. Coconut oil also has a pretty low melting point which means you can carry it around with you and not worry about it melting in your handbag."
Sky-high pollen levels have already caused misery for hay fever and asthma sufferers across the UK so far this summer.
So let's pray this really is the answer to all our hay fever woes.
Featured Image Credit: PexelsTopics: Health