Natural Treatments for Allergies

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Natural Treatments for Allergies

by Wong, N.D.,www.about.com, Your Guide to Alternative

Medicine.

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to a normally

harmless substance, such as pollen. Although there are many

different types of allergies, including food and skin allergies,

here we are talking specifically about allergies to airborne

particles, known medically as allergic rhinitis. Pollen allergies

are called hayfever. Approximately 20 percent of North Americans are

affected.

Key Symptoms of Allergies

runny nose, nasal congestion

sneezing

itchy, watery eyes, nose or throat

coughing

skin itching or rash

fatigue

Allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe. The above symptoms

are generally considered mild. See a doctor immediately if you begin

wheezing or have difficulty breathing, which could be signs of an

asthma attack.

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.

Although it often begins with itching of the eyes or face, within

minutes it can progress to such severe swelling that make it

difficult to breathe and swallow. Abdominal pain, vomiting, and

diarrhea may also occur. This is a medical emergency and requires

immediate treatment.

How Diet Can Help

The foods you eat can boost your immune system and prevent symptoms.

A Japanese study assessed the possible protective effect of the

traditional Japanese diet on allergies. They looked at 1002 Japanese

pregnant women, and found that calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus

were associated with a decreased prevalence of allergies. The

typical North American diet tends to be lower in magnesium and

calcium.

Getting Enough Calcium in Your Diet

People with allergies may also have a sensitivity to certain foods.

For example, several studies have found that people allergic to

grass pollens also react to tomatoes, peanuts, wheat, apple, carrot,

celery, peach, melon, eggs and pork.

To find out which foods aggravate symptoms of allergies in a

particular individual, an elimination-and-challenge diet is

recommended. This diet involves the removal of suspected foods from

the diet for at least a week followed by systematic re-introduction

of those foods in order to isolate the foods that may aggravate

certain symptoms. It should be done under the guidance of a health

professional.

How Herbs and Supplements Can Help

Bromelain

Bromelain is an enzyme found naturally in the stem of the pineapple

plant. When taken with food, bromelain aids digestion. However, if

it is taken with water between meals on an empty stomach (one hour

prior to or two hours after a meal), bromelain is believed to have

an anti-inflammatory effect, which can help to decrease mucus and

other allergy symptoms. A typical dose is 400 to 500 mg of bromelain

(look for 1800 to 2000 m.c.u. on the label) one to three times a

day. People who are sensitive to pineapples should not take

bromelain. Side effects, while rare, may include nausea, vomiting,

diarrhea, and abnormal menstrual bleeding.

Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica)

Nettle leaf, also called stinging nettles, are a popular remedy for

allergies. This herb is believed to have an anti-inflammatory

effect. In a double-blind, randomized study of 69 people, 58 percent

rated a nettle extract effective in relieving symptoms after one

week. In addition, 48 percent found it equally or more effective

than previous medicine. A typical dosage for allergies is 300 mg one

to three times a day of a freeze-dried nettle extract.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a compound found naturally in vegetables, such as

onions and berries. People with allergies may benefit from quercetin

because it has been found to inhibit the release of histamine and

reduce inflammation. Quercetin is believed to work by stabilizing

cell membranes so they are less reactive to allergens. A typical

dosage for allergies is 200 to 600 mg three times a day, taken 15

minutes before meals.

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)

A randomized, double-blind study, 330 hay fever patients at 11

clinics in Switzerland and Germany received either a tablet of

butterbur herbal extract three times a day (providing a total of 8

mg of the active petasine a day), the antihistamine Allegra once a

day, or a placebo. The researchers found that the butterbur was as

effective as the antihistamine at relieving sneezing, nasal

congestion, itchy eyes, and other hay fever symptoms.

How Acupuncture Can Help

A German study published in the journal Allergy found that

acupuncture may an effective and safe option for people with

seasonal allergies. Patients in the study were randomly assigned to

two groups. One group received a semi-standardized treatment of

acupuncture once a week and a Chinese herbal tea three times a day

and the other, control, group received acupuncture needles that

weren't really in acupuncture points and a non-specific Chinese

herbal formula. Patients who received the acupuncture and herbal

treatment noticed an 85 percent improvement on a global assessment

of change scale compared to 40 percent in the control group. They

also noticed a significant improvement in the quality of life

questionnaire.

Allergic Rhinitis

References

Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica

dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med. 1990 Feb;56

(1):44-7.

Secor ER Jr, Carson WF 4th, Cloutier MM, Guernsey LA, Schramm CM, Wu

CA, Thrall RS. Bromelain exerts anti-inflammatory effects in an

ovalbumin-induced murine model of allergic airway disease. Cell

Immunol. 2005 Sep;237(1):68-75. Epub 2005 Dec 6.

Schapowal A; Petasites Study Group. Butterbur Ze339 for the

treatment of intermittent allergic rhinitis: dose-dependent efficacy

in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled

study. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2004 Dec;130(12):1381-6.

Thomet OA, Schapowal A, Heinisch IV, Wiesmann UN, Simon HU.Anti-

inflammatory activity of an extract of Petasites hybridus in

allergic rhinitis. Int Immunopharmacol. 2002 Jun;2(7):997-1006.

Thornhill SM, AM. Natural treatment of perennial allergic

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