Time for Mr Hanky!

Blossom may look gorgeous on the trees at the moment - but if you're a hay fever sufferer you may well be starting to suffer from the effects of tree pollen.

Yes, the hay fever season has started. Spring is the season of tree pollen, summer - generally recognised as the peak of the hay fever season - brings grass pollens and, as if that weren't enough, autumn releases fungal spores and autumnal flower pollens into the atmosphere. Sufferers can be allergic to just one or two types of pollen, so your pattern of symptoms may well be very different to someone else's. However, you don't have to rely on antihistamines to soothe those itchy eyes, dry up that runny nose and stop the sneezing - there are a host of complementary clinics around the capital that can offer help.

SW4 CLAPHAM COMMON CLINIC There are two ways acupuncture can help with hay fever. The first focuses on dealing with the symptoms, which can usually be alleviated with two to six sessions - depending on the severity of the case. The second approach is to have treatment in the autumn to strengthen the immune system and trigger the body's self-healing powers before the hay fever season starts. Many people who take the latter course find they need no further treatment in spring. First Floor, 151-153 Clapham High Street, SW4 (020-7627 8890). www.claphamcommonclinic.co.uk.

E8 HOLISTIC HEALTH Reflexology may be relaxing, but it is also a highly effective way of dealing with hay fever for many people. Like all complementary therapies, the aim is to rebalance the body so that it can heal itself. For the therapist, the feet are a microcosm of the body, not just a representation of it, so he/she will work on areas of the foot that may be imbalanced such as sinuses and lungs, or liver, which is responsible for making antihistamine. 64 Broadway Market, E8 (020-7275 8434). www.holistic-health-hackney.co.uk.

N16 HEALTHY LIVING CENTRE If you enjoy the contact of massage,

aromatherapy could be the treatment for you. Aromatherapists draw on oils with anti-allergenic, calming and antiinflammatory properties which can help to subdue the reaction to pollen. Aromatherapist Claire Atkins says she adjusts her choice of oils to the individual and seasonal pollens - as well as suggesting things clients can try at home such as making eye compresses from cold camomile tea bags. Eve Tomlin, who also works at this busy practice, says drinking a cup of elderflower tea - a tonic for catarrhal conditions - every day, six weeks before the hay fever season starts, can help reduce symptoms. 154 Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 (020-7249 2990). www.thehealthylivingcentre.co.uk.

W4 THE CLINIC AT 251 Although the symptoms of hay fever may appear similar in most people, they are not the same. The key to successful homeopathic treatment for hay fever, says homeopathist Imogen Spencer, is addressing these subtle differences --and finding the right remedy for the individual. She also advises cutting down on mucus-producing foods, such as dairy products, to further relieve symptoms. Spencer also uses a computerised body scan to assess which pollens are causing your problems. Homeopathic remedies are made from very dilute substances which make them gentle enough to use - even in pregnancy. 251 Acton Lane, W4 (020-8747 4816).