GESUNDHEIT!!

ASK THE HERBALIST – SEASONAL ALLERGIES

Dear Herbalist,

Every spring I suffer from seasonal allergies. The minute the trees and bushes start budding, my nose starts running and doesn’t stop until well into the summer. HELP! I hate taking prescription drugs. There has to be a natural way to address this.

It’s SPRING!!  Although not my favorite season, I love the arrival of spring after a long cold winter. The days are getting longer and warmer, and the songbirds are returning, the trees and flowers are starting to bloom. And for many, the nose starts getting stuffy, their eyes get itchy, they begin to sneeze, and their head feels congested. It is estimated that roughly 35 million Americans live with seasonal allergic rhinitis, or what we commonly call hay fever. While it can occur at any time of the year, springtime is generally one of the worst seasons for allergy sufferers. And after COVID, every time I sneeze, people are giving me stink eye! (that’s Hawaiian for a mean look!)

For some, when they inhale pollen, it gets trapped in the mucus lining of the nose and causes an immune reaction. When activated by an allergen, mast cells release histamine, causing your nose to swell and itch, eyes to water and cause you to feel generally lousy. However, you don’t have to become a slave to the pharmaceuticals on the shelves of the local drug store. There are numerous natural remedies you can use to ease your symptoms.

Dietary Suggestions – Come on. You all know me well enough by now to know that’s the first place I will go!

Stay hydrated. Yes, I say this all the time, but it is so true. Throw some lemon or lime in a pitcher of water and drink it throughout the day. Or cucumber and mint! Follow an anti-inflammatory style diet, which means keeping the sugar and highly processed foods/carbs and milk products to a minimum. Good advice any time of the year but especially when your body is dealing with allergies. 

Load up on foods high in flavonoids, compounds in plants that help lower inflammation. There are many, but a few particularly rich sources include onions, garlic, apples, berries, tea, chocolate, (yay!) and wine. (double Yay!) Papaya and pineapple contain enzymes (e.g., papain and bromelain) that are powerful inflammation fighters. Many of these foods are also high in vitamin C, which acts as a natural anti-histamine. Our cold regimen continues until May, so at our house we are still taking massive doses of vitamin C still.  

Ginger and turmeric are two of my most favorite spices, and they are simply amazing for reducing inflammation, thinning mucus, easing congestion and relieving headaches. Ginger tea with lemon and local honey is delicious and incredibly symptom-relieving. You can use it fresh or dried. Turmeric powder can be added to morning smoothies. 

Foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids can also be helpful. Now is the time to add more flax and chia seeds to your smoothies and cold water oily fish, like salmon or tuna, to your meals. If you don’t like eating fish, you might consider taking fish oil supplements for 6-8 weeks to see if they help. Store them in the refrigerator (once opened) and take with the largest meal of the day.

Some people find that taking a little local raw honey can help ease their symptoms. This depends on what you are allergic to as bees don’t typically forage for airborne pollens, which are mostly what people suffer from. Raw, unfiltered honey may reduce inflammation, however, which may be why people report feeling better! And it’s immune boosting, so go ahead and add it! As me Mum used to say, “It couldn’t Hurt!”

You may not realize it, but many allergists recommend washing your nasal passages daily to remove pollen, dust, etc. A review of the studies found that on average people experience a 27% improvement in nasal symptoms and a 62% reduction in medicine consumption! That’s great in anyone’ Invest in a neti-pot, a container that looks a little like Aladdin’s magic lamp or purchase one of the newer machines like the Navage Nasal Irrigation, which many people find easier to use. You can purchase a pre-made saline solution or make your own by pouring 8 ounces of distilled water, or water that has been boiled for 10 minutes, over 1/4 tsp non-iodized kosher salt and 1/8 tsp baking soda. Stir well until salt and baking soda has dissolved. Make fresh daily.

Note: I prefer using a buffered saline over normal saline solution as a nasal rinse. A study found in children that it worked better for relieving allergic rhinitis symptoms and was better tolerated! Baking soda takes away the sting. If you could only do ONE thing for your allergies, nasal irrigation is probably one of the most important. I do it in the shower. It's less messy that way!

There are several herbs that have proven very helpful to me and my clients over the years.

Stinging Nettles

The dreaded “stinging” nettle can pack quite a punch if you rub up against it while out hiking. However, cooking, drying or making an extract from nettles will take away the sting. A randomized double-blinded study of 90 people found that 600 milligrams a day of freeze-dried fresh nettle was more effective than placebo for relieving allergy symptoms. Forty-eight percent of the participants stated that nettles equaled or surpassed previous medications that they had taken for seasonal allergies in terms of effectiveness. Not surprising, researchers have found that nettle leaf contains compounds that inhibit histamine release. There are no known safety issues.

Quercetin

Quercetin, a natural compound found in many plants, including onions, turmeric, citrus fruits, dark berries and red wine; has been shown to stabilize the membranes of mast cells and reduce the release of histamine. I have found quercetin supplements to be very useful if taken regularly at the start of the allergy season. The dose is generally 300-500 two times per day. While considered safe, quercetin is not recommended for all the pregnant mommies out there.

Probiotics – Here I go again!

Studies have shown that probiotics can be useful in reducing seasonal allergy symptoms. In fact, a review of 22 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies found that 17 showed a significant benefit of probiotics clinically, while eight trials showed significant improvement in immunologic parameters. All five studies that included Lactobacillus paracasei strains demonstrated clinically significant improvements compared with placebo. I think many people benefit from the addition of probiotics into their diet in the form of fermented foods (e.g., yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi) and if allergies are a problem, you might want to consider looking for a probiotic product that contains L. paracasei.

Butterbur 

Researchers have found the herb butterbur to be as effective as prescription antihistamine medications for relieving hay fever symptoms. Clinical trials conducted in Europe have shown that butterbur is as effective as a leading prescription allergy medication. Look for a product standardized to provide a minimum of 15% petasin per 50 milligrams of extract and FREE of harmful pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), compounds that are naturally present in the herb but removed during extraction. Generally, 50 mg is taken twice daily.

Note: There have been some studies that show not all butterbur products are free of PA. These compounds can cause liver damage. Petadolex is one product that has been used in clinical trials and contains zero detectable pyrrolizidine alkaloids and is the one I generally recommend. Safety in pregnancy is not known and its use is not recommended.

There are lots of things you can do to help you get through allergy season. In addition to the recommendations made above, try to limit your time outside when the pollen counts are high, especially if it is dry and windy. We use a vacuum with a HEPA filter in it to help keep airborne pollen under control in the house. Some people use HEPA filters in their homes, especially if they have pets. Different things work for different people. Figure out what works for you!

You can also go to the Herb Shoppe in the Apothecary and get one of my new Allergy Inhalers. Perfect to take with you so you can use through the day without offending anyone. I also offer a wonderful Allergy Tea in the Medicinal Teas section. Whatever your preference, I have something especially for you!