Can a light up your nose help cure hayfever?
HAYFEVER sufferers are being promised sneeze-free summers with an invention that blasts a light beam up the nose.
The gadget, called Sneezer Beam, is being hailed as a breakthrough after it was shown to relieve symptoms.
The device uses two light beams set at a specific frequency to combat allergic reactions.
The beams are fired up the nostrils where the light inhibits the cells that release histamine, which causes sufferers’ hayfever. The device is pain-free and its makers say it has no side effects, unlike some drugs.
The British distributor of the gadget carried out trials on hayfever sufferers and three-quarters of them enjoyed a marked improvement in symptoms.
John Sivyer, managing director of Lifemax Ltd, of Reading, Berkshire, said: “It works by sending infra-red beams into both nostrils.
“It inhibits the cells which produce histamine, which usually react when they think the body is being attacked.
“It will work differently for everyone. Some people will feel an instant benefit.
“It does a similar thing as taking a hayfever tablet, except its totally drug-free and you can use the same one every day.”
The Sneezer Beam must be used twice a day in three-minute sessions sending light beams measuring 940 and 652 nanometres into the nose.
Lifemax says an improvement should be seen within three weeks and users can then start to reduce their doses of light over time.
Tests showed it brought about significant improvement in congestion, sneezing, running nose, itching and mucus.
Mr Sivyer said: “We’ve had a lot of very positive anecdotal feedback and, of course, we’ve got the test results that prove it. The biggest benefit of the Sneeze Beam is that it doesn’t have any side effects; it won’t make you drowsy like tablets do.
“It doesn’t hurt at all and it’s really very comfortable.
“We hope it will make a big difference to people’s lives.
“The past two years have not been too bad for hayfever because of the weather but all the predictions say this year will be particularly bad.”
John Collard, clinical director of Allergy UK, said: “There is evidence to show that it can reduce inflammation.
“It’s very important to take the symptoms of hayfever seriously and get them under control before they lead to other problems such as asthma.
“Trials have shown that these devices can help sufferers to improve their symptoms.”
The battery-powered gadget has a box three inches long connected to two inch-long arms with light emitting diodes that shine up the nostrils. It costs £39.95.
