Allergies: 5 Facts to Consider

One of my favorite times of the year is spring; everything seems new, trees are getting leaves on them, and flowers such as tulips and crocuses are emerging from the soil.  Pollen is also rearing its ugly head; although it serves a purpose in so many ways and is a beautiful thing; for many, it creates allergy issues.  Fortunately, there are many options to help fight the allergy battle. 

Allergies plague more than half of Americans, with 54.3% between the ages of 6 and 59 testing positive for allergens.  With so many of us suffering through the symptoms, we'd be experts on them by now, but according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we don't know as much as we believe.  If you're suffering from allergies or from a cold that doesn't seem to go away, here are five facts from the Mayo Clinic that you probably don't know about allergies:

•  Many people don't recognize that they have an allergy.  Allergy symptoms often mimic symptoms of a cold.  Both illnesses can cause coughing or a stuffy or runny nose, but a cold may also cause a fever, aches, and pains.  An allergy won't do that.  Colds last 3-14 days, while allergies can last as long as you remain exposed to the allergen. 
• Allergies can occur all year, particularly in the autumn as well as in the spring.  Different plants pollinate in the fall, and with changing weather patterns; therefore, some allergy sufferers are more likely to be affected in the fall.  So, if your annual cold hits just when the tree leaves start to drop, you may have an allergy. 
• Family history of allergies increases the likelihood of getting them.  Allergies, asthma, and eczema are an overreaction of the immune system, and this trend can run in families. 
• The most common allergy triggers are dust mites, rye, ragweed, and cockroaches.  About 25% of Americans are allergic to each one, but most surveyed were unaware that cockroaches were a common trigger. 
• Although most allergy sufferers believe their symptoms are controllable, 80% feel allergies disrupt their lives.  This feeling may be due to another statistic from the survey: 49% of allergy sufferers wait for symptoms to occur before taking action instead of using preventative methods.

Conventional treatments only calm symptoms.  Antihistamines are used to block histamine at the receptor site.  Histamine stimulates the receptor.  It creates swelling, runny nose, itchy eyes, and hives are just a few reactions.  Decongestants shrink blood vessels decreasing swelling but also leading to unnaturally stimulating the body.

Many people are looking for natural alternatives out of personal preference and the side effects that common over-the-counter allergy medicines can cause.  What if we could support and strengthen these pathways, allowing the body to operate naturally?  Could this be a better approach?

When looking for natural relief during allergy season, I like to focus on four main areas: 

(1) the health of the immune system,

(2) how the body responds to allergens and environmental factors,

(3) supporting healthy mucosal linings such as nasal passages, and

(4) stabilizing the mast cells to help prevent excessive histamine release before it ever happens.

If you can avoid allergens, that can be the solution; however, quarantining can get old quickly, so staying indoors forever is not an option, but keeping your windows closed will help decrease your exposure to allergens.

Nasal irrigations are a mechanical solution and involve something most people find offensive, shooting water up their noses.  There are several options: Neti Pot, NeilMed Rinse bottle, and nasal nebulizers. They are listed from the least amount of pressure used to the most.  These products will physically wash the sinus mucosa and rinse away the allergens.  Performing this procedure twice a day can provide significant benefits for patients.

Here are some of my favorite natural ingredients to help during allergy season.  Quercetin has intense antioxidant activity and has been shown to support immune health by decreasing the release of inflammatory compounds, including leukotrienes and prostaglandins.  Quercetin is known for its ability to stabilize mast cells, diminishing the release of histamine, the compound known to cause hypersensitivity reactions during seasonal changes.

Stinging nettles leaf is a plant that balances immune response, specifically in the airways and nasal passages.  Studies have shown that extracting stinging nettle leaves balances various inflammatory activities that affect respiratory health.

Bromelain is a plant enzyme naturally found on the stem and fruit of the pineapple plant.  Bromelain is a proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzyme that aids in the breakdown of large protein complexes, including antigenic compounds, and enhances the absorption of quercetin.  Bromelain reduces circulating allergenic protein complexes associated with hyper-immune sensitivity and seasonal discomfort.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is an amino acid precursor to one of the most important antioxidants in the body, glutathione.  Both glutathione and NAC help reduce the viscosity of the mucus allowing for the clearing of the airways and improving respiratory health. 

Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C, which is, therefore, an essential nutrient that must be consumed in the diet.  Among its numerous health-promoting properties, vitamin C is an essential vitamin that supports the immune system and is also a potent antioxidant.  When the body is under significant stress, vitamin C is excreted rapidly.  Vitamin C has many immune-boosting properties but is distinctively beneficial for individuals with seasonal discomfort because of its ability to deactivate histamine.

And lastly, Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice Root (DGL), the root of the licorice plant, has been shown to have expectorant (mucus-loosening) properties in humans, thus providing healthy respiratory support.  It also acts as a demulcent by soothing irritation in mucous membranes. 

The beauty of working with these natural ingredients is that you can get them all in one product, so you don't have to source them individually.  These ingredients work great for seasonal allergies but are also effective against environmental allergens inside and outside of the home, so you are covered from season to season.  Please call the pharmacy and we can share with you our product recommendation.

Seasonal allergies are common and often resolved with a strategy like the one discussed; however, a group of patients have excessive allergy symptoms.  This group of patients has a super twitchy immune response to allergens, often year around and sometimes quite debilitating.  This group with have other options to tame the immune response.

My staff and I would like to help you out with questions you might have regarding allergies, so please call with questions or to schedule a consultation.  Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to find this and other archived articles in the blog section.  Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!