EASY, NATURAL ALLERGY RELIEF. Allergies An allergy is an adverse reaction to a substance that is harmless to most of the population. Symptoms from allergies.

EASY, NATURAL ALLERGY RELIEF

Allergies

An allergy is an adverse reaction to a

substance that is harmless to most of

the population. Symptoms from allergies

are many and varied. A reaction can be

so severe that it is life threatening or it

can result in a minor rash, sinus problem

or other minor symptom.

Allergies

More than 50 million Americans suffer

with allergies. Nearly 55% of Americans

test positive to one or more allergens.

Between 9% and 15% of all Americans

have hay fever.

NIH: Allergies on the Rise

Over 50% of 10,500 subjects tested were

sensitive to at least one of ten common

allergens. This is double the percentage of

allergic individuals tested 30 years ago. The

research appeared in the August, 2005 issue of

the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Allergies

About ¼ of the population is allergic to

either dust mites, rye, ragweed, or

cockroaches.

Allergies are the 6th leading cause of

chronic disease in the United States,

costing the healthcare system $18

billion annually (compared to $6 billion

spent in 2000.

Allergies

Most medical treatment of allergies is directed toward the symptoms. Many of the symptomatic treatments actually undermine health and can make the underlying cause of the allergy worse.

Allergies

Nasal sprays, for example, irritate the mucus membranes. The membranes swell and produce more mucus as a response to the irritation of the spray. They actually create the problem that they are designed to solve.

Allergies

Fatigue and dry mouth are common side effects of common antihistamines like cetirizine (eg. Zyrtec), desloratadine (eg. Clarinex), and loratadine (eg. Claratin). Loratadine may also produce headaches. Deslortadine and loratadine (in very high doses) have produced tumors in mice. While offering relief, these drugs do not, however, address the underlying cause of the allergy.

Fixing the Cause

Many natural health practitioners believe that allergies are the result of poor functioning of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce hormones that enable the body to keep inflammation in check (many of the symptoms of allergies are from inflammation).

Adrenals

Eating sugar and skipping meals are two things that are especially stressful to the adrenal glands, which work to maintain your blood sugar level.

Sugar and insulin also increase inflammation—making allergies worse

AdrenalsEating sugar causes a temporary increase

in blood sugar, which soon drops. Skipping meals also causes the blood sugar to drop. The adrenal glands then have to work to increase the blood sugar. Hypoadrenia and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) usually exist together.

Digestion

Some believe that if there is not enough hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach, or if there is inappropriate microbes (like yeast) growing in the GI tract, the immune system may be overworked. Incomplete digestion creates large molecules that sometimes trigger immune system response, creating allergies.

Core Health Issues: Exercise

A study, published in Allergy (Vol. 61, No. 11, November 2006: 1310-1315) looked at exercise and activity levels in 1,700 German children over a period of 12 years. At the start of the study, 6% of the children were completely sedentary. At the end of the 12 years, the sedentary children were 50% more likely to develop hay fever.

Core Health Issues: Fatty Acids

According to research appearing in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (December, 2003;112(6):1178-84), pregnant women who take omega-3 fatty acids were less likely go have babies with allergies.

Core Health Issues: Fatty Acids

Other research performed by scientists in Finland found that the type of fats consumed in the diet may be connected to the tendency toward allergy, according to research published in the journal Allergy (2001;56:425-428).

Core Health Issues: Diet

Research appearing in the journal Thorax (2007;62:677-683) studied children in rural Crete and the relationship between asthma and allergy with diet. A Mediterranean type diet, high in fresh produce is associated with less or an allergic response.

Core Health Issues: Diet

Flavonoids are plant antioxidants (found if fresh produce) that have anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity.

The Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry (2006; 54(14): 5203-7) a flavonoid was found to reduce inflammatory substances produced by an allergic reaction.

Core Health Issues: Indoor Pollution

A study, published in the March, 2001 issue of the journal, Pediatrics, came to the conclusion that reducing indoor pollutants and allergens in the home can reduce the incidence of asthma in children under the age of six by nearly 40%. This means that over 500,000 children under the age of six would not have asthma if indoor pollution was brought under control.

Antibiotic use and Allergies

Data was collected on 448 children from before birth until seven years of age. Almost half (49%) of the children received antibiotics within the first six months of life. Children given antibiotics once in the first six months of life were 1.5 times more likely to suffer from allergies and 2.5 times more likely to have asthma than children who were not given antibiotics.

Herbal Remedies –Fewer Side-Effects than Drugs

Fritillaria thunbergii (Fritillaria) is an antitussive herb and is a potent cough suppressant.

Fritillaria thunbergii

It has a broncho-dilation effect and inhibits mucosal secretions. Fritillaria’s traditional use is for relief of coughing and dyspnea (The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs, pg 275-6). Fritillaria tends to act in a manner that is similar to dexamethasone, which is used to treat nasal allergy and inflammation.

Solidago virgaurea

(European Goldenrod) supplies flavonoids, saponins and phenol glycosides. S. virgaurea is primarily used to promote the loss of water (aquaretic agent) from the body.

Scutellaria baicalensis

(Baikal Scullcap) possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-allergic properties

Euphrasia officinalis

(Eyebright) – The German Commission E Monographs lists uses of Eyebright which include inflamed eyes, coughs, colds and catarrh (inflammation of mucous membrane). It is useful if an allergic response is the basis for sinusitis (Clinical Botanical Medicine, pg 209).

Morus alba

(White Mulberry) In Chinese Medicine, M. alba is used to tonify the blood and enrich the yin (Chinese Herbal Medicines Materia Medica, pg 334-5). It is used as a tonic and as an expectorant for asthma, bronchitis, cold and cough and dyspepsia.The fruit also contains a significant amount of resveratrol. Interestingly, the leaves happen to be the primary food source for the silkworm.

Platycodon grandiflorum

(Chinese bellflower). Traditional uses are to dispel phlegm, to ventilate the lungs, and to relieve sore throat. In traditional Chinese Medicine, it is often used in combination in order to direct the actions of other herbs to the upper body.

Albizia julibrissin

(Silk Tree) has sweet, neutral properties and contains saponins and tannins. It is calming, i.e. it “calms the spirit” (Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, pg 406-7). Considered an “auspicious tree,” it is used as a tonic and anthelmintic or vermifuge (Li Shih-Chen, Chinese Medicinal Herbs, pg 22-3).

Combine Therapies

• HistoplexABTM, from Biotics Research contains all of the herbs mentioned earlier

• Diet: Avoid sugar, “change your oil”, avoid additives and eat brightly colored produce.

• Be Active: Sedentary people tend to suffer from allergies more than active people.

• Other: Every allergy patient is different, do you need digestive support? Adrenal support? Probiotics? Certain trace nutrients?