Take Herbal Action Against Allergies

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Take Herbal Action Against Allergies

Posted On : Aug-20-2011 | seen (462) times | Article Word Count : 572 |

An allergy is a sensitivity or reaction that is caused by exposure to an environmental or ingested antigen. Allergic symptoms may include sneezing, swelling, headaches and sinus congestion—and seemingly harmless symptoms can become quite serious in a short period of time.
At the very worst of the list are fatal allergies to such substances as bee stings and peanuts. At the other end of the spectrum, seasonal allergies (which can, of course, be very aggravating themselves) pop up when the body’s histamine system (which is responsible for allergies) overreacts to tree pollen, dust or ragweed and incorrectly considers them a threat.
Allergies can be split up into four categories: environmental, respiratory, skin and food and drug.
Allergy medications are primarily antihistamines, meaning that they try to inhibit your histamines from going overboard and causing your allergy symptoms. Herbal remedies also have an antihistamine or anti-inflammatory effect and work by reducing symptoms, rather than protecting the allergy sufferer from the reaction itself.
As usual, not a great amount of testing has been performed on herbal remedies for allergies, but there are some that are purported to work for the 50.0 million or so Americans who suffer from annual allergies.
Herbal Remedies
Butterbur
A major clinical journal has found this herb, which is native to northern temperate regions, to be effective in reducing allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itchy nose, watery eyes and sneezing. Butterbur is also known as “butter dock,” “bog rhubarb” and “butterfly dock.” It seems that the leaves and roots of butterbur have what are called “petasines,” which inhibit certain components of anti-inflammatory activity that are seen when someone is sensitive to allergens.
The British Medical Journal found that butterbur could be as effective as the common over-the-counter antihistamine drug “Zyrtec.” Those who used the herb also showed less drowsiness, which is a side effect of older allergy drugs.26
Caution: Avoid any butterbur extracts that have “unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids,” as these may be toxic to your liver and kidneys and could even cause cancer.
Nettle
It’s thought that this perennial plant has ingredients that attach to your histamines to prevent them from hitting the cells of your body during an allergic reaction. Nettle also contains “quercetin”—a “flavonoid” that blocks histamine production. It is a strong anti-inflammatory that may help those with rhinitis (inflammation in the mucus membrane of the nose) in particular. Thus, nettle may be a natural decongestant.
One double-blind study in 1990 found that “stinging nettle” helped relieve sneezing, eye irritation and other allergy symptoms because of its ability to reduce inflammation. After only a week, nearly 60% of study participants had reduced allergic symptoms.27
Licorice
Although it appears that no studies have tried to clinically prove its usefulness, it has been widely suggested that licorice root can help prevent allergy symptoms. In particular, it is “glycyrrhizin,” the active ingredient in licorice, that counters symptoms because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice also thins mucus and soothes the respiratory tract, reducing the irritation that is usually brought on by allergies.
Peppermint
By drinking tea that contains peppermint oil, allergy sufferers may help relieve nasal inflammation (congestion). In particular, it is the ingredient menthol that helps do this and ease your breathing. As it stands, this oil is found in many over-the-counter cough remedies and decongestants. Commonly thought of as an effective remedy for upset stomach, peppermint also has proven to be a powerful tool in the struggle against allergies.

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<h1>Take Herbal Action Against Allergies</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_doctorshealthpress.aspx'>doctorshealthpress</a> An allergy is a sensitivity or reaction that is caused by exposure to an environmental or ingested antigen. Allergic symptoms may include sneezing, swelling, headaches and sinus congestion—and seemingly harmless symptoms can become quite serious in a short period of time.
At the very worst of the list are fatal allergies to such substances as bee stings and peanuts. At the other end of the spectrum, seasonal allergies (which can, of course, be very aggravating themselves) pop up when the body’s histamine system (which is responsible for allergies) overreacts to tree pollen, dust or ragweed and incorrectly considers them a threat.
Allergies can be split up into four categories: environmental, respiratory, skin and food and drug.
Allergy medications are primarily antihistamines, meaning that they try to inhibit your histamines from going overboard and causing your allergy symptoms. Herbal remedies also have an antihistamine or anti-inflammatory effect and work by reducing symptoms, rather than protecting the allergy sufferer from the reaction itself.
As usual, not a great amount of testing has been performed on herbal remedies for allergies, but there are some that are purported to work for the 50.0 million or so Americans who suffer from annual allergies.
Herbal Remedies
Butterbur
A major clinical journal has found this herb, which is native to northern temperate regions, to be effective in reducing allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itchy nose, watery eyes and sneezing. Butterbur is also known as “butter dock,” “bog rhubarb” and “butterfly dock.” It seems that the leaves and roots of butterbur have what are called “petasines,” which inhibit certain components of anti-inflammatory activity that are seen when someone is sensitive to allergens.
The British Medical Journal found that butterbur could be as effective as the common over-the-counter antihistamine drug “Zyrtec.” Those who used the herb also showed less drowsiness, which is a side effect of older allergy drugs.26
Caution: Avoid any butterbur extracts that have “unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids,” as these may be toxic to your liver and kidneys and could even cause cancer.
Nettle
It’s thought that this perennial plant has ingredients that attach to your histamines to prevent them from hitting the cells of your body during an allergic reaction. Nettle also contains “quercetin”—a “flavonoid” that blocks histamine production. It is a strong anti-inflammatory that may help those with rhinitis (inflammation in the mucus membrane of the nose) in particular. Thus, nettle may be a natural decongestant.
One double-blind study in 1990 found that “stinging nettle” helped relieve sneezing, eye irritation and other allergy symptoms because of its ability to reduce inflammation. After only a week, nearly 60% of study participants had reduced allergic symptoms.27
Licorice
Although it appears that no studies have tried to clinically prove its usefulness, it has been widely suggested that licorice root can help prevent allergy symptoms. In particular, it is “glycyrrhizin,” the active ingredient in licorice, that counters symptoms because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Licorice also thins mucus and soothes the respiratory tract, reducing the irritation that is usually brought on by allergies.
Peppermint
By drinking tea that contains peppermint oil, allergy sufferers may help relieve nasal inflammation (congestion). In particular, it is the ingredient menthol that helps do this and ease your breathing. As it stands, this oil is found in many over-the-counter cough remedies and decongestants. Commonly thought of as an effective remedy for upset stomach, peppermint also has proven to be a powerful tool in the struggle against allergies.About the Author: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/subscribe/bb/index.php?sb=ewseh1&affid=wd147&subid=lc1">SIGN UP FOR THE DOCTORS HEALTH PRESS E-BULLETIN AND RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF TOP 12 BRAIN BOOSTING SUPER FOODS!</a> Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Take-Herbal-Action-Against-Allergies_75221.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Take Herbal Action Against Allergies_75221.aspx</a>

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Keywords : Allergic symptoms, herbal remedies for allergies,

Category : Health and Fitness : Alternative Medicine

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