Natural Treatments for Allergies 

Overview

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, more than half of the current US population is allergic to one or more substances, affecting about 20% of adults and 40% of children. In fact, allergic disease is the fifth leading chronic disease in the US, ranking third among children under the age of 18 years. 

The number of allergy sufferers in the US has steadily increased over the last few decades. No one knows for certain why this is the case, but theories range from naming environmental toxins to food additives as possible culprits. Another school of thought subscribes to the ‘hygiene hypothesis,’ which proposes that society’s obsession with being germ-phobic (i.e., the chronic use of antibacterial hand soap, overuse of antibiotics, etc.) doesn’t permit our immune systems to naturally develop immunity. In fact, some experts believe this attitude has led to the creation of ‘super germs.’ Whatever the reason for the rise in incidence, allergy is nothing to sneeze at. 

Anatomy of an Allergy 

Many people mistakenly believe that individuals who suffer from allergies have weakened or otherwise faulty immune systems when, actually, the opposite is true. The immune system employs several components--phagocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages and other specialized cells—that behave like a team of militia that stand guard against foreign invasion. When an intruder is detected, various ‘alarms’ sound that dispatch these tiny soldiers (antibodies) to launch a defensive attack at the point of entry. The problem for some individuals is that the immune system has trouble identifying the benign from the bad trespassers, so it attacks both. As you can now see, allergy is actually the result of an overactive immune system and not a lazy one. 

Common Types of Allergies 

When an offending allergen is detected, the immune system kicks in to send antibodies to the site to destroy the proteins introduced by the intrusion. As a result of this confrontation, chemicals (i.e., histamine) are released from mast cells, which produce inflammation and the telltale symptoms of allergy—sneezing, coughing, runny nose, watery eyes, etc. The battleground may occur in different zones of the body, but the driving mechanism is the same and will involve the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or the respiratory system. The most common allergic reactions are: 

-          Hayfever, also known as allergic rhinitis or the blanket term of seasonal allergies. This kind of allergic reaction typically affects the nose and eyes and is caused by sensitivity to pollen released from flowers, trees, grasses and weeds. 

-          Hives, or urticaria, involves the skin, evidenced by the appearance of red, raised bumps. 

-          Asthma is a condition that occurs when an allergen is inhaled and causes the smooth muscle of the bronchial tubes to spasm, ultimately restricting airflow to the point that breathing becomes difficult, particularly when exhaling. 

-          Anaphylaxis is the most severe and dangerous type of allergic reaction most often triggered by insect bites (i.e., bee stings), exposure to latex, or certain medications. However, the inflammatory response is so intense that the tongue/and or throat may swell and completely block off airflow, a situation that can quickly become fatal if an injection of epinephrine (adrenaline) is not given delivered in time. 

Is it an allergy, or something else? 

It’s possible to have a negative reaction to a particular substance without actually being allergic to it. For instance, bloating, gas, diarrhea and nausea can often follow the consumption of a certain food and may simply indicate intolerance for that food. Beans, cabbage, broccoli and high-fiber foods often produce these annoying symptoms, but fail to cause an inflammatory response that defines an allergic reaction. 

Dairy intolerance is the most common of food sensitivities and is caused by an inability to breakdown lactose, a carbohydrate found in milk. This occurs when an individual does not produce a sufficient amount of lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. 

Other food sensitivities can trigger allergy-like symptoms of sneezing, coughing, headache, etc. The most common substances are sulfites in beer, wine and dried fruit, fructose in soda and other sweetened beverages, tyramine in aged cheese, nitrates in cold cuts, and phenylethylamine found in chocolate. However, the symptoms produced do not involve an inflammatory response generated by the immune system and does not constitute an allergy. 

Diagnosing Allergy 

In order to determine whether you are experiencing sensitivity or an allergic response to a substance, it may be necessary to consult an allergist. In addition to a physical exam and review of your family medical history, you can expect to undergo a series of tests, which may include: 

-          Radioallergosorbent tests (RAST), which measures serum levels of various IgE antibodies. 

-          Skin-prick or scratch tests, which involves introducing a small amount of a suspected allergen to the skin to observe the local reaction. 

-          An elimination diet (sometimes referred to as the elimination and challenge diet), which attempts to identify potential allergens by the controlled removal and reintroduction of certain foods from the diet over a period of time. 

-          Measurement of hydrochloric acid (HCI) and pepsin concentrations in the stomach, which are vital for proper digestion and mineral absorption. People with allergies and/or allergic asthma typically have low HCI levels.

Learn to Read Food Labels 

Many people are surprised to learn that there are only eight major allergenic foods: milk (casein), eggs (albumin), fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soy. Even more surprising is the fact that only one and about 70 people have a true food allergy. 

If it turns out that your allergy is food-related, however, then you should be aware that by-products of that food may be included in other food products. The following is a short list of by-products to be avoided depending on your specific food allergy: 

-          Milk: Avoid whey, nougat, casein, sodium caseinate and lactalbumin. 

-          Wheat: Avoid gluten. 

-          Eggs: Avoid lecithin. 

As of 2006, the US Federal Drug Administration requires manufacturers to list any and all of the eight allergenic foods on product labels, including their by-products.

Dietary Strategies to Combat Allergies 

For individuals who suffer from non-food allergies, diet also matters. For one thing, arachidonic acid, found exclusively in animal products (meat and dairy), encourages excessive production of leukotrienes and prostaglandins, the agents that trigger inflammation. Simply reducing your intake of animal products can significantly reduce your overall allergy symptoms. 

In addition, increasing your consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables will also contribute to reduced inflammation. In particular, certain antioxidants and bioflavonoids can help to improve or even eliminate symptoms of inflammation. 

Quercetin 

This bioflavonoid blocks the production of leukotrienes and, subsequently, histamine release from mast cells. This inhibition occurs when the action of phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase are suppressed, the enzymes responsible for the synthesis of arachidonic acid to leukotrienes, even when the IgE antibody is present. In short, this means that if a sufficient level of quercetin is available, the formation of leukotrienes is blocked even though the antibody calling for their manufacture has been introduced (i.e., an allergen). 

Bromelain 

Even though quercetin can be obtained through certain foods (red grapes, berries, black tea, etc.), it isn’t generally well absorbed due to a slight resistance to water solubility. For this reason, quercetin is best taken in supplement form, together with bromelain. Bromelain is a protein-digesting enzyme obtained from pineapples that works synergistically with quercetin. It also has merit as an anti-inflammatory on its own since it inhibits other inflammatory mediators, such as bradykinin, a peptide with properties similar to histamine.  

Selenium 

As we’ve already concluded, one of the primary goals in treating allergies is to limit the body’s production of leukotrienes. One viable way to do this naturally is to stimulate glutathione activity. However, this is dependant on adequate selenium being present in order for the body to manufacture glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that blocks the formation of leukotrienes. Studies have shown that selenium supplementation may play a key role in reducing the incidence of allergic asthma. 

N-acetylcysteine 

N-acetylcysteine is a form of cysteine, an essential amino acid found in many types of protein. The mechanism of this nutrient is twofold. First, it stimulates the liver to produce glutathione, which in turn reduces inflammation by inhibiting the production of leukotrienes. Secondly, N-acetylcysteine is considered to be mucolytic, meaning that it thins mucous and acts as a natural expectorant. 

Beneficial Botanicals in the Treatment of Allergies 

Angelica 

Also known as dong quai in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), angelica reduces antibody production, which equates to less inflammatory mediators being produced and released from mast cells (i.e., histamine). The mechanism behind this action is thought to be due to the presence of coumarins, water-soluble compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

Licorice 

Like angelica, licorice also contains coumarins, as well as glycyrrhetinic acid, which also reduces leukotriene and prostaglandin production. This constituent also has an impact on adrenal gland functioning by reducing the half-life of cortisol, a hormone that promotes inflammation.  

Nettles 

Stinging nettle is known to many gardeners as an allergy producer, since the formic acid found in the stinging hairs of the plant prompt a rush of histamine to the site if contact is made with the skin. Ironically, however, the herb has anti-inflammatory qualities. In fact, nettle has long been used by traditional herbalists to treat respiratory disorders, including allergic rhinitis. A homeopathic remedy called Urtica is also made from nettle for the same medicinal purpose.  

While there is very little in the medical literature to support the efficacy of nettle in treating allergies, there is an abundance of antidotal evidence. In fact, many seasonal allergy sufferers swear by this botanical therapy to relieve seasonal allergies. The apparent mechanism behind nettle is that its own histamine content competes with the body’s histamines to bind with receptor sites. However, the difference is that the plant’s histamines do not trigger the same degree of inflammatory response. While traditionally given as a liquid extract or prepared as a tea, the preference today is a freeze-dried preparation.  

Butterbur 

This herb is the latest botanical receiving attention from the medical community due to its apparent anti-histamine action that some studies have found to be comparable to the prescription drugs fexofenadine (Allegra) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). In addition to blocking the production and release of histamine as effectively as these medications, it appears to do so without promoting drowsiness. Currently, its application in the treatment of asthma is being studied.