Say Adieu to Allergies

The average person inhales and exhales about 17,000 times a day and never even thinks about it. But if you suffer from allergies, you may spend several months in the spring, fall, or even year-round fighting a stuffy nose, sneezing, and other symptoms that make breathing a chore.

People with airborne allergies are cursed by an over-vigilant immune system, which responds to relatively harmless substances such as pollen, mold spores, or animal dander with an all-out attack. An antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) binds to the offending allergen at one end and to mast cells that line the respiratory tract at the other end. The mast cells burst open, releasing histamine, interleukins, and other inflammatory compounds.

A Short History of Histamine

Most of the symptoms of allergies are caused by these inflammatory chemicals, and not by the allergen itself. Histamine, the most notorious of these compounds released by mast cells, causes blood vessels to dilate and become leaky, promoting swelling and triggering runny noses, watery eyes, scratchy throats, and other annoying allergy symptoms. It also stimulates the secretion of large amounts of mucus and constricts the bronchioles, making it hard to breathe.

Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) improve symptoms by blocking histamine receptors on other cells. But these allergy drugs are notorious for their side effects.

Problems With Antihistamines

Chief among them is drowsiness. In fact, the active ingredient in popular over-the-counter sleep aids such as Sominex and Nytol is this same antihistamine! Studies have shown that drivers who use these drugs are 1.5 times more likely to have fatal accidents than drug-free drivers. (What would you expect from taking a sleeping pill before you get behind the wheel?)

The newer prescription antihistamines are widely touted for their ability to relieve allergy symptoms without causing drowsiness or impairment. But these drugs have a sorry history. Seldane, which was hailed as a wonder drug when it became available in 1990, was pulled from the market eight years later because of its potential to cause fatal heart arrhythmias. The next year, Hismanal was withdrawn for similar reasons.

That still leaves Allegra and a fistful of other prescription drugs. Claritin, which is now available over-the-counter, has raked in billions for its maker Schering-Plough. It has been demonstrated to be only marginally more effective than a placebo, and a class-action lawsuit has been filed claiming that the manufacturer misrepresented the drug in its advertising and artificially inflated its price. Furthermore, these drugs do nothing to address the causes of allergies. Far better, in my experience, are natural substances that go beyond symptom relief to actually dampen the allergic response and promote overall health.

Quercetin and Bromelain: Dynamic Duo

One of them is querecetin, a phytonutrient abundant in onions that inhibits the release of histamine and other inflammatory compounds from mast cells. It also puts the brakes on the formation of powerful chemicals called leukotrienes that stimulate airway constriction. In addition, quercetin is a natural antioxidant: It helps mop up free radicals generated during the allergic reaction.

To dramatically enhance the absorption of quercetin, take it with bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple. Bromelain also reduces levels of fibrin and kinin, two compounds that are responsible for tissue swelling, nasal congestion, and sinus pain. In addition, this enzyme helps break down mucus and has produced measurable improvements in lung function in patients with respiratory congestion.

"Itch Weed" Brings Relief

The natural substance that might get the medal for "least likely to succeed" in relieving allergies is stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). This plant goes by the common name of itch weed, for the histamine in its needles causes hives and itching. But stinging nettle, which has been used in traditional medicine for prostate problems, rheumatism, and osteoarthritis, actually has powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

In a double-blind study published in Planta Medica, people with hay fever who were given a freeze-dried stinging nettle extract for one week noticed a much greater improvement in symptoms than those who were given a placebo.

Prevention Is Best

The natural substances I've described are best used as preventive medicine during allergy season (or year-round if you suffer from perennial allergies). But there's another aspect to prevention: blocking allergens from entering your body in the first place. Start by washing your hands frequently. One of the easiest ways for allergens to enter your body is by hand-to-face contact.

Because the eyes and mucous membranes of the nose are the main entry points for allergens, I also recommend using facial dips to flush allergens from these areas. Submerging your face in warm water, with or without special cleansing solutions, blinking a few times, and blowing a little air out your nose helps eliminate irritants from your tear ducts and nostrils. Another way to keep allergens from entering your body is to use a pollen blocker cream. These petroleum-like ointments are applied inside the nostrils with a Q-tip or finger. The offending particles stick to the jelly and never have a chance to enter the body to cause distress.

Finally, if you continue to be plagued with allergies, consider placing a high-quality air purifier in the rooms you use most.

Recommendations

• If you'd like to speak to someone about receiving treatment for allergies at the Whitaker Wellness Institute, call (800) 488-1500 or click here.
• To order my special report, Asthma and Allergies, or any of the natural products discussed above, call (800) 810-6655.

References

• Johnston CS et al. Antihistamine effects and complications of supplemental vitamin C. J Am Diet Assoc 1992;92(8):988-9.
• Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med 1990;56(1):44-7.
• Thornhill SM et al. Natural treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. Altern Med Rev 2000;5(5):448-54.