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Herbal Remedies for Allergies

• NETTLE (Urtica dioica) is among the most effective herbs for allergic rhinitis - the combination of runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes. In a research study conducted at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Ore., participants were randomly given either 300 mg freeze-dried nettle or a placebo for one week. The participants were asked to rate their symptoms: 58% who took the herb described it as moderately effective for decreasing symptoms and 48% said it was as or more effective than their previous medication. Only 37% in the placebo group found relief. The study also found that one week was long enough to determine who would benefit from nettle therapy. For allergic rhinitis, it seems that the herb must be used in the freeze-dried state to preserve the constituents responsible for its therapeutic effect.

Dosage: 300 mg of freeze-dried nettle leaf twice a day.

• GINKGO (Ginkgo biloba), ST. JOHN'S WORT (Hypericum perforatum), ELDERBERRY (Sambucus nigra) and EUCALYPTUS (Eucalyptus globulus) are medicinal plants containing flavonoid constituents that provide antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effects shown to help people with hay fever. One of the most potent and widely distributed flavonoids in the plant world is QUERCETIN, which is contained in the four herbs mentioned above. It is also found in many fruits, vegetables and herbs, including onions, apples, tea and berries. After taking quercetin, the membranes of the cells that release histamine are strengthened, making it harder for them to dump histamine into the bloodstream and cause an allergic reaction. In one study, when nasal scrapings of people with seasonal allergies were exposed to an allergy-producing substance, quercetin was able to prevent the release of histamine. The effect of quercetin is not immediate. You may need to take it for three to six weeks to notice an effect.

Dosage: 250 to 500 mg three times daily with meals is recommended. A form of quercetin that is more soluble in water, and therefore better absorbed, is quercetin chalcone. Quercetin may also be used in a saline nasal spray to relieve the symptoms of a runny nose and nasal irritation.

• GREEN TEA (Camellia sinensis) is an especially good source of catechins, which are another family of flavonoids exhibiting antihistamine effects. Unlike black tea, the leaves of green tea are steamed, which preserves the potency of the flavonoids.

Dosage: Drink 2 or 3 cups of green tea daily, especially during allergy season. Green tea extracts are also available in capsule form; the recommended dosage is 300 to 600 mg twice daily.

• PINEAPPLE (Ananas comosus) contains BROMELAIN, a collection of protein-digesting enzymes from the stem of the pineapple that may provide some allergy relief. Bromelain appears to work by providing anti-inflammatory rather than antihistamine effects. It inhibits chemicals that cause swelling and inflammation of the nasal passages that can result in sinusitis. In a study of 48 patients with sinusitis, 23 were given bromelain along with standard therapy (antibiotics, if necessary, as well as antihistamines and painkillers), while 25 patients received just the standard therapy plus a placebo. Of the patients receiving bromelain, 83% had complete resolution of nasal swelling and inflammation compared with only 52% in the placebo group. Also interesting: In patients hospitalized with respiratory conditions, bromelain was found to decrease the volume and thickness of mucus in their respiratory tracts. Like other botanical extracts beneficial for allergies, bromelain is also a common cause of allergic reactions. These reactions are typically due to occupational exposure via skin contact or inhalation rather than ingestion. Avoid taking bromelain orally, however, if allergic to pineapple.

Dosage; A typical therapeutic dosage of bromelain is 4,000 gelatin digesting units (GDU) per day in two divided doses.