Treating
Seasonal Allergies
©
2005 Katherine Poehlmann, Ph.D.
Spring and summer are the times when many people are affected,
sometimes seriously, by pollen allergies. Of course, if you can avoid the
blooming plants, and get out of harm’s way, that’s ideal. But few of us
ordinary folks have vacation homes to escape to. So, what are some practical
things we can do to minimize seasonal allergy attacks?
Consider that windblown pollens and mold spores cling to our clothes,
hair, and skin when we’re outdoors. With this in mind, do everything possible
to minimize the influx of pollen to your living space.
·
Do
a thorough Spring Cleaning before allergy season (mopping and vacuuming)
·
Mop
and vacuum more often during the season
·
Steam
clean carpets (shampooing just moves dirt around)
·
Keep
windows shut as much as possible (house and car)
·
Avoid
using circulating fans that just blow pollen around
Not all allergy attacks are triggered by pollen.
Dust mites are equally capable of causing irritation to eyes, nose, and throat.
Dust mites are amazing microscopic scavengers that live on cast off human skin.
Colonies grow in bedding, feather pillows, towels, cloth furniture, drapes, and
carpets as long as there is a steady food supply. Frequent laundering (at least
weekly) in hot water or dry cleaning limits the colonies.
Bathe or shower before going to bed. Otherwise,
the dead skin accumulated on your body during the day is transferred to your
bedding, making a feast for dust mites. What triggers allergy symptoms is not
the mites per se, but the fecal matter they exude. It dries and becomes
airborne, like pollen granules. Research has shown (Alcoholism: Clinical and
Experimental Research, January 2002;26:60-64) that regular alcohol intake
was associated with increased blood levels of dust mite-specific IgE
antibodies. Ongoing studies indicate that drinking even moderate amounts of
alcohol is likely to adversely affect the immune system’s ability to control
allergic reactions.
Keep pets off furniture. They not only bring in
pollen (including burrs and grasses) from the outdoors (transferring it to
couches, chairs, and beds), their dead skin also sloughs off (providing food
for dust mites), and their jumping on furniture stirs up dust mites, mold
spores, and other allergy-causing airborne particles.
There are many herbal remedies for allergic rhinitis
that have been popular for decades: nettles, garlic, cayenne, feverfew,
skullcap, ginger, peppermint, picrorrhiza kurroa, schisandra, and turmeric.
Some of these are available in combinations. One of these is called ALLER-7Ô, distributed through Nature’s Plus.
The bioflavonoid Quercetin blocks the histamine
reaction and reduces inflammation in mucous membranes. It is naturally found in
grapes, grapefruit, onions, berries, green vegetables, legumes, green tea, and
blue green algae. Many studies have shown Quercetin to control symptoms of
asthma and hay fever, but it has many other benefits: stabilizes connective
tissue; is anti-viral, anti-tumor, and anti-cancer; modulates the endocrine
system; reduces stress; protects against herpes and polio viruses; prevents eye
problems such as cataracts and glaucoma; reduces inflammation of the gastric
and respiratory tracts. Quercetin as a supplement may be difficult to absorb,
so many nutritionists recommend taking it with bromelain, which is valuable in
clearing up sinusitis.
Raw honey contains pollen dust and may help build
resistance to certain allergens.
Blessed thistle helps loosen mucus and phlegm, and
strengthens lung tissue.
Ma huang is a natural antihistamine, popular for
centuries in Chinese medicine.
Vitamin C in large doses (up to 4,000 mg) can be
helpful, especially when taken together with magnesium (400 mg) per day.
While suffering allergy symptoms, avoid consuming
FD&C yellow #5 dyes, BHT-BHA, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and vanillin.
Extracts of Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) have been
used effectively to treat whooping cough, bronchial asthma, muscle spasms,
headache, and allergic rhinitis. This herb is native to Europe, north Africa,
and southwest Asia. It is also called butter dock, bog rhubarb, capdockin,
flapperdock, langwort, and exwort. Studies have shown it to be as effective as
commercial antihistamines but without the sedative effects.
Most over-the-counter (OTC) oral antihistamine medications are effective only for a short time and may make you sleepy and listless. Products like AllegraÔ, SeldaneÔ, and ClaritinÔ are formulated for somewhat less drowsiness. The antihistamine Chlorpheniramine maleate is the active ingredient found in many OTC remedies. The difference in price depends on packaging and the company’s advertising costs. Shop by price, but just be sure the product has the USP (United States Pharmacopia) seal of approval and is not out of date. Steroid nasal sprays, eye drops, and inhalers may be helpful for some, but they have been known to cause an intensified reverse effect that worsens the problem and creates an even greater reliance on these products.
In severe cases, corticosteroid drugs may be prescribed , but be advised
that these cortisone products (like prednisone) have serious side effects when
used over the long term: infections, peptic ulcers, eye problems, bloating,
water retention, heart failure, bruising, loss of potassium, and osteoporosis.
Check with your doctor about which medications are right for you. Do not take
any corticosteroid when pregnant or nursing. For best results, it’s advised to
take allergy medications 30 minutes before exposure to allergens. Never consume
alcohol or sleeping pills while taking antihistamines.
Allergy shots may prove helpful as a desensitizing
measure, but the success rate varies with the individual and type of allergy
being treated.
Acupuncture has been found to be effective for
certain types of allergies, not as a cure, but as temporary relief of symptoms.
Keep your immune system healthy and better able to
fight off foreign invaders (seasonal pollens and other airborne particles):
avoid junk foods, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, white sugar, white flour foods,
and too much salt.
The immune system’s fight against allergens produces
lots of “post battle debris” that must be eliminated from the body lest it
settle in the joints and organs as toxic material. Eat lots of high fiber foods
and drink plenty of pure water to flush these toxins.
Note: This article deals with seasonal allergies. Be
aware that some people suffer year-around from sensitivities to foods and
chemicals (ingested, touched, aspirated), and these constant reactions are
often made worse by seasonal events like pollen release. These unfortunate
people fall into two groups: those who are genetically hypersensitive and those
who develop sensitivities later in life. These categories will be discussed in
a future article.
References:
General points made in this article come from a
variety of sources, including publications by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation
of America, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, Dr.
Linda Hinderliter (www.vitaminlady.com),
American Academy of Environmental Medicine, and Dr. Atkins’ Vita-Nutrient
Solution (Fireside, 1998).
************************************************
Dr. Poehlmann is the author
of Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Infection Connection, available at
Amazon.com and major bookstores, or click here to order now.
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