Condition

Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)

Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is an immune overreaction to harmless things like pollen, in which mast cells release histamine and cause sneezing, a runny nose, congestion and itchy eyes. Butterbur and spirulina have the most support, with moderate evidence: trials found butterbur eased symptoms about as well as cetirizine without sedation, and symptoms improved with spirulina. Spirulina's findings rest on only two studies of 194 people.

Sources: PMID 32773785; PMID 18343939

Updated 30 September 2026
How we grade
2 studies cited
Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever) protocol

Supplements studied: 17
Graded outcomes: 20
Trials: 17
People studied: 5,656

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

17 supplements

Black seed

Black seed: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Allergy Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	1 study	257 people
Studies that measured allergy symptoms Herbal treatment of allergic rhinitis: the use of Nigella sativaAm J Otolaryngol · PMID 20947211
	Asthma Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	152 people
Studies that measured asthma symptoms Effect of Nigella sativa (black seed) on subjective feeling in patients with allergic diseasesPhytother Res · PMID 14669258
	Immunity	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	39 people
Studies that measured immunity Potential adjuvant effects of Nigella sativa seeds to improve specific immunotherapy in allergic rhinitis patientsMed Princ Pract · PMID 20357504
	Cortisol	Changes; see studies			152 people
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)			66 people

Spirulina

Spirulina: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Allergy Symptoms Large Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect	2 studies	194 people
Studies that measured allergy symptoms Clinical comparison of the efficacy of spirulina platensis and cetirizine for treatment of allergic rhinitisActa Otorhinolaryngol Ital · PMID 32773785 The effects of spirulina on allergic rhinitisEur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · PMID 18343939
	Interleukin 4	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	101 people
Studies that measured interleukin 4 Effects of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement on cytokine production from allergic rhinitis patientsJ Med Food · PMID 15857205
	Interferon Gamma	Improves (the measure goes up)			101 people
	Interleukin 1-alpha	Improves (the measure goes up)			65 people
	Interleukin 1-beta	Improves (the measure goes down)			65 people
	Interleukin 10	Improves (the measure goes up)			65 people
	Interleukin 2	Improves (the measure goes up)			36 people
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)			194 people

Butterbur

Allergy Symptoms: improves

Butterbur: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Allergy Symptoms Multiple RCTs: Butterbur comparable to cetirizine (Zyrtec) for seasonal allergy relief without sedative effects. 8mg petasin 4x/day effective.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		500 people

Serrapeptase

Mucus Production: improves
Pain: improves

Serrapeptase: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Mucus Production Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect	4 studies	193 people
Studies that measured mucus production Evaluation of Serratia peptidase in acute or chronic inflammation of otorhinolaryngology pathology: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized trial versus placeboJ Int Med Res · PMID 2257960 Effect of the proteolytic enzyme serrapeptase in patients with chronic airway diseaseRespirology · PMID 12911824 Effect of expectorants on relaxation behavior of sputum viscoelasticity in vivoBiorheology · PMID 6375756 and 1 more on the Serrapeptase page
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	193 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Violet Flower

Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms: improves

Violet Flower: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial found that Viola odorata flower oil had significant positive effects on allergic rhinitis symptoms in adults, though the authors noted the study was preliminary and larger trials are needed.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	2 studies	50 people
Studies that measured allergic rhinitis symptoms Efficacy of Sweet Violet (Viola odorata) flower oil on the symptoms of adults with allergic rhinitis: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trialComplementary Therapies in Medicine · 2020 · PMID 32507426 Analysis of Almond-Violet Oil by Gas Chromatography (A Traditional Formula)Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences · 2016 · PMID 27840468

Stinging Nettle

Allergy Symptoms: improves
Nasal Congestion: improves

Stinging Nettle: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Allergy Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	69 people
Studies that measured allergy symptoms Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitisPlanta Med · PMID 2192379
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)			69 people

Bromelain

Nasal Congestion: improves

Bromelain: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Nasal Congestion Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	116 people
Studies that measured nasal congestion Therapeutic use, efficiency and safety of the proteolytic pineapple enzyme Bromelain-POS in children with acute sinusitis in GermanyIn Vivo · PMID 15796206

Astragalus

Nasal Congestion: improves

Astragalus: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Nasal Congestion Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	41 people
Studies that measured nasal congestion Efficacy and safety of Astragalus membranaceus in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitisPhytother Res · PMID 19504468

Rosmarinic Acid

Nasal Congestion: improves
Allergy Symptoms: improves

Rosmarinic Acid: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Nasal Congestion Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes up)	Small effect	1 study	29 people
Studies that measured nasal congestion Extract of Perilla frutescens enriched for rosmarinic acid, a polyphenolic phytochemical, inhibits seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in humansExp Biol Med · PMID 14988517
	Allergy Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		29 people

Guduchi

Allergy Symptoms: improves
Eosinophil count: improves
Lymphocyte Count: improves

Guduchi: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Outcome	Effect	Size	People
Allergy Symptoms Large Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect	75 people
Eosinophil count Moderate Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	75 people
Lymphocyte Count	Improves (the measure goes up)		150 people
Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)		75 people
Neutrophil Count	Improves (the measure goes up)		75 people

Artemisia annua

Symptom Reduction: improves

Artemisia annua: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Symptom Reduction Sublingual pollen extract (2400 BU/day) reduced symptoms over 32 weeks	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		40 people

Guduchi

Allergy Symptoms: improves
Eosinophil count: improves
Lymphocyte Count: improves

Guduchi: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Allergy Symptoms Large Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Large effect		75 people
	Eosinophil count Moderate Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect		75 people
	Lymphocyte Count	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	150 people
Studies that measured lymphocyte count Efficacy of Tinospora cordifolia in allergic rhinitisJ Ethnopharmacol · PMID 15619563
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)			75 people
	Neutrophil Count	Improves (the measure goes up)			75 people

MSM

Allergy Symptoms: improves
Nasal Congestion: improves

MSM: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Allergy Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		55 people
	Nasal Congestion	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	55 people

Chinese sweet leaf

Allergy Symptoms
Nasal Congestion

Chinese sweet leaf: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Allergy Symptoms No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	89 people
	Nasal Congestion No effect		NoneNo effect		89 people

Loquat

Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms: improves

Loquat: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms A single 4-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 27 healthy adults found that 2.5 g/day of loquat leaf supplement significantly reduced itchy nose, itchy eyes, and eye symptoms compared to placebo. Anti-allergic activity attributed to ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and related triterpenoids.	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	27 people

Royal Jelly

Allergy Symptoms: improves

Royal Jelly: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Allergy Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	64 people

Lactobacillus reuteri

Allergic Disease Risk: changes; see studies

Lactobacillus reuteri: outcomes studied for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Allergic Disease Risk	Changes; see studies		1 study	184 people

Key findings

Allergy SymptomsBlack seedImproves (the measure goes down)
Mucus ProductionSerrapeptaseImproves (the measure goes up)
Allergic Rhinitis SymptomsViolet FlowerImproves (the measure goes down)

The Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever) protocol

2 primary supplements · 2 supporting supplements

Butterbur75 mg twice daily (PA-free extract)
Quercetin500 mg twice daily

See the full protocol

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Studies cited

2 studies from PubMed

Efficacy and safety of biyuan tongqiao granules in the treatment of allergic rhinitis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 40024455
The effect of six-weeks of sauna on treatment autonomic nervous system, peak nasal inspiratory flow and lung functions of allergic rhinitis Thai patients.Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol · PMID 23859414

Evidence by supplement

Key findings

The Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever) protocol

Shop the evidence-backed picks

Studies cited

Related conditions

Supplement stack for Allergic Rhinitis (Seasonal Allergies / Hay Fever)