Natural Remedies for seasonal Allergies

[rk_sports]

After living in california for sometime, I've developed allergies like stuffy nose, watery eyes (this is the worst while playing tennis in the evenings) :evil:

Hate to take strong medication and just the nasal irrigation is not enough

For those who believe in natural remedies for seasonal allergies and have done research and tried them, what do you recommend?

Few of them I've heard and planning to try are:
- Quercetin
- Nettle (tea)
- Magnesium

 

[fantom]

Do you have an aversion to "strong medication" or "any medication"? I have allergies in the early spring every year. I take Claritin every morning and feel perfectly fine all day. No allergies (until about 9pm) and no side affects.

 

[pvaudio]

I mean, to each his own, but I will never understand natural medicine or alternative medicines (procedures, sure, medication, no). I'll do a run down on each of your three options:

1. Quercetin has been used to try to alleviate pollinosis (inflammation due to common allergens). It has zero effect for nasal symptoms and only unrepeatable results for ocular inflammation.

2. Nettle is said to be an anti-histamine. Two problems here: there are so many species of it that there are zero reliable results. Moreover, there is no data backing its effect on histamine reactions.

3. Magnesium has no purpose as an anti-histamine. It is in fact used for cardiovascular and bone health. Regardless of the fact that these aren't proven, it still is not related to reducing the effects of allergens.

 

[pvaudio]

OP, I am not saying that these things will not work for you. Feel free to try them since that's the purpose of natural remedies. My main issue with them is that people tend to overdo it and either do more harm than good or neglect needed treatment.

 

[Soul]

Saw this bit of information today, thought it might be helpful. Taking vitamin D3 certainly has been positive for my health.

"Randomized controlled trial shows importance of vitamin D in allergic rhinitis"

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=f545cba30e1f9697fddbe8acb&id=1f787ee814&e=d37488c337

 

[charliefedererer]

Do you have an aversion to "strong medication" or "any medication"? I have allergies in the early spring every year. I take Claritin every morning and feel perfectly fine all day. No allergies (until about 9pm) and no side affects.

Clariten (loratadine) usually has no drowsy side effects, unlike earlier generations of antihistamines.
It is now sold over-the-counter without a need for a prescription.
Many pharmacy chains have their own brand of lower priced loratadine.


Allegra (fexofenadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine) are the other widely sold newer generation antihistamine that are also sold over-the-counter, and also sold as lower priced pharmacy brands.


I use one of the above for about a month in the late spring to control seasonal allergy symptoms. My symptoms were bothersome, but my brother's were a real affliction. For my brother, these drugs have brought amazing relief.

 

[akamc]

I have used Flonase with excellent results (along with Zyrtec)... Is there an equivalent non-prescription nasal spray nowadays?

 

[AtomicForehand]

Local honey (from as many varieties of blossom as possible) is supposed to help as well.

 

[charliefedererer]

I have used Flonase with excellent results (along with Zyrtec)... Is there an equivalent non-prescription nasal spray nowadays?

Flonase is a steroid spray.

As such, it is unlikely an over-the-counter equivalent will ever appear.

Steroid sprays should only be used under a doctor's care. There's too big a chance for problems.

 

[stormholloway]

Local honey (from as many varieties of blossom as possible) is supposed to help as well.

I suggest this as well.

 

[pvaudio]

Flonase is a steroid spray.

As such, it is unlikely an over-the-counter equivalent will ever appear.

Steroid sprays should only be used under a doctor's care. There's too big a chance for problems.

Are you a doctor? You sound like my father (pulmonologist and a med school dean) :shock:

 

[pvaudio]

For the record, I use Singulair and 12hr pseudoephedrine. Nothing else cuts it for me since the allergies cause my normally dormant asthma to flare up.

 

[ollinger]

The local honey thing failed a carefully done study, published about 10 years ago in Annals of Allergy. Subjects were divided into three groups: one that consumed local honey daily, one that consumed commercial honey daily, and a placebo group. Neither honey group did any better than the placebo group with their allergies.

 

[mikeler]

Are you a doctor? You sound like my father (pulmonologist and a med school dean) :shock:

Interesting. My Dad and older brother are MDs. I feel like the loser Engineer with "just" a Masters degree.

 

[AtomicForehand]

The local honey thing failed a carefully done study, published about 10 years ago in Annals of Allergy. Subjects were divided into three groups: one that consumed local honey daily, one that consumed commercial honey daily, and a placebo group. Neither honey group did any better than the placebo group with their allergies.

Hey, interesting. I would like to see that study. Can you point me toward a link?

 

[sureshs]

For minor stuff, take natural remedies

 

[ollinger]

Atomic
I don't have a link, read it in the actual journal in a medical library.

 

[AtomicForehand]

Atomic
I don't have a link, read it in the actual journal in a medical library.

Oh, too bad. I'd be really interested in gathering information on both sides of the question.

 

[Frank Silbermann]

Hookworms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthic_therapy

 

[rk_sports]

Hookworms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helminthic_therapy

oh! :shock: .. no thank you

 

[XFactorer]

I'd recommend acupuncture. A quick internet search shoes it can cure, yes, CURE, everything. Plus, the Chinese have been using it for centuries, so it must be good.

...what I'm actually trying to say is to use OTC stuff to treat your allergies. They're based on science, not magical thinking.

 

[sureshs]

See today's Journal. Article on a 4-ingredient natural cocktail used for 1800 years in TCM which shows benefits for cancer treatment. All 4 must be present - that is how detailed the ancients were in their discoveries.

 

[r2473]

See today's Journal. Article on a 4-ingredient natural cocktail used for 1800 years in TCM which shows benefits for cancer treatment. All 4 must be present - that is how detailed the ancients were in their discoveries.

Gin, Vermouth, Olive, and what else?

 

[Kevin T]

Gin, Vermouth, Olive, and what else?

Don't forget the toothpick.

 

[sureshs]

Gin, Vermouth, Olive, and what else?

Extract of Nadal

 

[DANMAN]

Just FYI there is a hierarchy of sedation among the antihistamines. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and other 1st generation anti-H are the most sedating. Zyrtec (cetirizine) is the most sedating of the 2nd generation anti-H, followed by Claritin (loratidine), with the least sedating being Allegra (fexofenadine). If you are taking the D (decongestant), it is actually mixed with ephedrine/pseudoephedrine. The D drugs are only behind the counter thanks to idiots who decided to make methamphetamine from pharmaceuticals.

 

[El Diablo]

^^ uh, no, I don't think decongestants are sold with D-amphetamine. They're sold with ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are distantly related to amphetamine.

 

[DANMAN]

^^ uh, no, I don't think decongestants are sold with D-amphetamine. They're sold with ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are distantly related to amphetamine.

Sorry...had a stimulant discussion right before typing that post. Edited for correctness. D-amphetamine is adderall. Thanks for catching.

 

[Larrysümmers]

im taking some of that cali organic medicine. clears me of my allergies pretty good.