Anna, 32 from Hertfordshire, has suffered from asthma and troublesome allergies since she was a teenager.
Like many sufferers, Anna has always had difficulty pinpointing her triggers.
“My allergies have always been really hard to pin-down. Sometimes it seems to come without warning – I’ll be fine one minute and the next my eyes will be streaming, my throat will feel totally blocked and I’ll have real trouble breathing normally.
“Of course, there are certain situations that I know I should avoid. Living in Bristol, I very rarely suffered from allergies, however I’d have a terrible time whenever I returned to my parents’ house in the countryside. When I moved back to the area for work I knew I’d have a really bad time adjusting.
“I suffer from hay fever quite badly, so during the Spring and Summer months I try to protect myself by staying inside as much as possible on days when the pollen count is high. I also wash my clothes and hair everyday and wear sunglasses whenever I’m outside to limit my exposure to pollen.
“Even with these precautions in place, my allergies remain unpredictable and really hard to deal with. To be honest, until recently I’d pretty much given up searching for a way to control them. Anti-histamine helped to a degree, but the more I took it the less successful it seemed to be. Plus it was really expensive so whenever I was feeling the pinch, it would be the first thing I’d take off the shopping list.
“It was a colleague who was tired of hearing me sniff and moan that suggested I might find a natural way to help manage my allergies, so I started to do a bit of research online. The first thing I tried was green tea. Although I did feel a little healthier after drinking it, I’m not convinced that it had a dramatic effect on my allergies.
“I later stumbled across a review of a salt cave. It wasn’t something I’d heard of before, but the reasoning behind it made perfect sense to me. Inhaling salty air naturally cleanses the respiratory system and opens up the airways, helping you to breathe more easily. I’d certainly always felt better being by the sea.
“The only problem was, I did not have the time or money to visit a salt cave. I spoke to my sister about it, who suggested I try the Cisca Saltpipe, a handheld ceramic pipe containing salt minerals that you can use from the comfort of your own home.
“The Cisca Saltpipe costs just £29.99 and lasts for five years. It’s totally natural and you can use it alongside any other medication. I did see it as a bit of a gamble and wasn’t totally convinced that it would help me, but I’ve been so pleased with the results.
“I use it every morning for 15 minutes while I watch TV and have noticed a real difference. I rarely suffer from feelings of tightness in my chest like I did before, and when hay fever season hits my symptoms are nowhere near as severe. Of course I sometimes struggle during the summer months, and do resort to taking tablets when that happens. The great thing about the Cisca Saltpipe is that it can be used to complement other medication. I’ve recommended it to my whole family!’”
