Nettles may seem like an inconvenience during country walks, especially for those wearing summer shorts, but according to Bristol-born TV presenter Naomi Wilkinson, they have the power to cure a very common illness: hay fever.
The 47-year-old, who has appeared on shows on CITV, CBBC and the BBC, has become something of a TikTok sensation thanks to her unusual nettle trick, with one of her videos on the subject racking up almost 800,000 views.
The former Milkshake and Countryfile presenter, like many other Brits, suffers from extreme hay fever symptoms during the summer.
Hay fever, which is actually a pollen allergy, affects one in five people in the summer months, according to NHS Inform, causing watery eyes, itchy and stuffy noses and, most annoying of all, uncontrollable sneezing. .
And, with pollen counts soaring during the UK’s long-awaited heatwave, it’s now causing plenty of irritating problems for people across the country.
Naomi Wilkinson (pictured), 47, from Bristol, posted a clip on TikTok explaining how she had started using nettles to treat her hay fever symptoms.
The TV presenter’s second TikTok clip about nettles has been viewed almost 800,000 times
In an effort to deal with her hay fever, Naomi has rejected traditional over-the-counter or prescription medications in favor of stinging herself with nettles to relieve her symptoms.
The unconventional stunt, which the presenter has documented on TikTok (@naomi_wilkinson_), has allowed Naomi to walk freely in nature this summer.
To help cure her hay fever, Naomi gathers nettles and proceeds to rub and sting them on her wrists and ankles.
Having come up with the idea of using nettles in this way online, the TV presenter is unsure of the science behind the trick, but said the results have been surprising.
Naomi said: ‘The nettles are helping me a lot with the hay fever.
‘Obviously I’m not a doctor, so I do this at my own risk, but I’m seeing huge benefits, a remarkable change.
‘I have suffered from this all my life and I feel very excited about the possibility of finding a remedy to this annual misery.
‘I’ve tried everything: the nasal spray, the eye drops, the acupuncture bracelet, the local honey, the balm around the nose… everything.
Naomi detailed all the symptoms she suffers from and explained how treatments she has previously tried, including eye drops and nasal spray, have been much less effective than rubbing nettles on her wrists.
Naomi, who has appeared on CITV, CBBC and BBC shows, has posted clips of her hayfever hack on TikTok, where they have gone viral.
‘Nothing has worked like this, I feel different.
“I’ve done it on the inside of each wrist and on my ankle, I’m not sure if it matters where.”
Dr Hana Patel, who works in south-east London, explained why Naomi may have benefited from using nettles.
She said: “The way they (nettles) might do this is by blocking histamine receptors and preventing immune cells from releasing chemicals that trigger allergy symptoms.”
He added: “There is not enough evidence for the NHS to suggest this as a routine treatment.”
Fans were shocked by the presenter’s hack.
One of them said: “Nettle tea would be a less painful option.”
Craig Sayers added: “I’ve been doing this for years.”
Another said: “The pain of the bite makes you forget about hay fever for a while.”
Jimmy Turner said: ‘I tried nettles yesterday and had the worst hay fever I have had in years.’
Another joked: “I’ve been suffering for about 70 years and have found the best cure is to go to the Canary Islands until it’s over.”