Snot is mucous produced in your nose. Membranes on the inside of your nose are lined with cells that make it. This mucus lining traps dust and germs that you breathe in.

Tiny hairs move the mucus up your nasal cavity to your throat where you swallow. When you swallow, the mucus goes into your digestive system.

If you are already feeling squeamish, skip this paragraph. You usually produce around 1–2 litres of mucous each day, but if your sinuses or other parts of your upper respiratory tract are inflamed, you can produce twice as much. Inflammation of your upper airways can be caused by dust, smoke, pollen, chemicals or infection.

If you have an infection, your body makes extra mucus to trap and get rid of the germs. The extra mucous that is not swallowed comes out your nose as snot.

For hay fever sufferers, the long, hot summer months can mean bleary eyes, constant sneezing and sloppy nose-blowing as pollen-laden breezes spread misery around the island.

Ironically, in hay fever, there is neither any fever nor any hay. Hay fever is caused by an allergic inflammation of the nasal passages, the body’s response to irritants such as pollen, animal hair, mould and dust.

The body’s natural defence is to release histamine stored in specialised cells in the body called mast cells. This causes the streaming eyes and sneezing in a bid to rid the irritants from the body.

Although there are other plants that cause hay fever, grass is the biggest culprit especially in rural regions such as Waiheke. If hay fever is left untreated, it can lead to further complications such as nasal polyps and immune dysfunction.

Typical over-the-counter treatments include antihistamine tablets or sprays which suppress the symptoms of hay fever although the possible side-effects of drowsiness and upset stomachs mean a more natural approach may be helpful.

One of the most effective herbs in treating hay fever is eyebright, traditionally used to treat eye infections. Its official name, Euphrasia, is derived from the Greek word euphrosyne, meaning gladness and was used in the 14^th century to ‘cure all evils of the eye’.

Today it is used medicinally to decrease mucous discharge associated with hay fever by the action of its active ingredient aucubin. Eyebright may help as a preventative if taken one month prior to hay fever season.

Fatty acids such as evening primrose oil are also important in treating hay fever by stabilising the outer membrane of mast cells preventing histamine from being released into the bloodstream.

Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid which may slow blood clotting therefore taking evening primrose oil along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Ribwort is a herb which flourishes here on Waiheke and acquires its name from the strong parallel veins in its leaves.  A ubiquitous weed on roadsides and in lawns, it is used medicinally to dry out the mucus trapped in the sinus cavities, relieving pressure and allowing easier breathing. 

If you are collecting fresh ribwort, the young leaves can be eaten raw in salads as it is rich in vitamin B1 and riboflavin. It can also be added to honey and used to soothe sore throats.

The aptly named herb, eyebright, can be used to promote healthy eyes especially when there is any sign of infection or irritation. The aerial parts (any part of the plant above ground) of this tiny plant are both astringent and anti-inflammatory, and decrease the hypersensitive response of the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, throat, and ears.

If allergies such as grass pollen, flowers, plants and animal fur make summer a misery for you, natural remedies may help without making you drowsy or having adverse side-effects.