Spring Allergies Cured, Naturally!

By Alexis Wolfer

With April just a week away, and warm weather and blooming flowers hopefully not far behind, those of us who suffer with seasonal allergies are starting to dread the stuffy, runny noses, itchy eyes and generally groggy feeling that often follows suit.

While many of us typically manage (or attempt to manage) our seasonal sniffles with some sort of a combination of antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and sometimes even “allergy shots” for those with severe, unrelenting symptoms, many of these traditional allergy solutions have serious side effects. If, like us, you’re tired of your allergy meds making you feel, well, tired, or, if like some, you’re intolerant to steroid-based preparations, there are a number of alternative, naturally based therapies to consider.

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We asked Dr. Robert Glatter, the founder of Dr. 911, an uber-chic service that provides medical care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the comfort of your home, office or hotel, to weigh in on our other options.

Neti Pots: Shaped like Aladdin’s lamp, these small vessels have been used in India for thousands of years to irrigate the sinuses and keep them clear. Based on the idea that you can rinse away allergens and sinus congestion with saltwater, Neti Pots work as a natural nasal spray. Used twice a day, especially in the morning and after spending time outdoors, neti pots have been shown in numerous studies to be an effective way to treat seasonal allergies, while also reducing the need for antihistamines. You also can use a neti pot before bed to prevent snoring caused by allergies and promote optimal overnight breathing.

Quercetin: Derived from a natural plant compound, quercetin helps prevent the release of histamine, the compound that causes red, itchy eyes, welts and nasal congestion. Onions, citrus fruits, tea, apples, parsley, broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce and wine are naturally high in Quercetin; however, most seasonal allergy sufferers will likely need to use supplements to build up enough of this compound to prevent attacks. The recommended dosage is about 1,000 milligrams a day, taken between meals. It’s best to start treatment about 6 weeks before allergy season. Those with liver disease shouldn’t use quercetin, so please consult your doctor before using this or any other supplement — especially if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, patients taking fluoroquinolone antibiotics should avoid taking Quercetin, since Quercetin may either enhance or reduce the effectiveness of the antibiotic based on multiple studies.

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Stinging Nettle: If you feel that you need an antihistamine, but prefer a natural option, stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) functions like many of the drugs sold to treat allergies, but without the unwanted side effects of dry mouth and drowsiness. A common weed in many parts of the United States, you can take Nettle in capsule form to naturally inhibit the body’s ability to produce histamine, although the effects may last only a few hours. (Contact with the stinging hairs on fresh nettle can cause skin inflammation, so wear protective gloves when handling it.)

Butterbur: Derived from a common weed in Europe, butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is another alternative to antihistamines, though it may be hard to find in the United States. A Swiss study, published in British Medical Journal, found that butterbur was as effective as the drug cetirizine, the active ingredient in Zyrtec. Even though cetirizine is supposed to be a nonsedative antihistamine, researchers reported that it did cause drowsiness, though butterbur did not. Participants in the study took 32 milligrams of butterbur a day, divided into four doses. A word of caution though — butterbur is in the same family as ragweed, so it could worsen allergy symptoms in some cases. Effects of taking butterbur over a long period of time also are unknown.

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Allergy Fighting Foods:  A number of studies have found that patients who ate foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids were less likely to suffer allergy symptoms than those who didn’t regularly eat these foods. Omega-3s help fight inflammation and can be found in cold-water fish, walnuts, flaxseed oil as well as in grass-fed meat and eggs. When pollen counts are particularly high, another dietary option is to add small amounts of chili peppers, horseradish or hot mustard to your food, all of which function as natural decongestants.

Sublingual Immunotherapy:  While allergy shots have been used widely to inject patients with diluted doses of certain allergens to help build immunity over time, allergy shots can take three to five years to be effective and a small percentage of people suffer severe reactions to this treatment. New studies have found sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) to be a gentler way to acclimate the body to pollen and other allergens. Used for the past 20 years in Europe, in SLIT treatments patients put drops of a very small dose of the allergen (initially a 1:1,000 dilution) under the tongue for two minutes, then swallow. The daily therapy begins before peak pollen season for seasonal allergy sufferers, but also can be used to treat year-round allergies, though treatment must be specific to the type of allergen. Because an allergy extract has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States, check with your doctor and insurance provider before considering SLIT therapy.

For more information on Dr. 911, see dr911md.com

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