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Spring is such a great time to get outside for some family fun, but sometimes seasonal allergies can get in the way. It is rough when everyone else is playing, but you, or your child, are on the sidelines with a runny nose, watery eyes, or even asthma. Over the counter medications can offer some relief, but they aren’t without their side effects. A natural approach to allergies has proven time and again to be more effective for my patients.

What Causes Seasonal Allergies?

Allergies are caused by a dysregulation of the immune system that causes mast cells to release histamine and other inflammatory chemicals in response to an allergen. 

Root causes of seasonal allergies also cause immune dysregulation, difficulty processing histamine, and systemic inflammation. Patterns that I look for include liver and digestive problems, chronic stress, food allergies or sensitivities, unresolved chronic infections, nutrient deficiencies, and past antibiotic use. 

Treatment Strategies For Seasonal Allergies

To treat allergies acutely, we look for herbs or drugs that:

  1. Reduce histamine (antihistamines)
  2. Stabilize mast cells
  3. Decongest the upper airways
  4. Open the airways
  5. Reduce inflammation
  6. Reduce exposure to allergens

To treat the root cause of allergies, we look for strategies to:

  1. Heal the liver and gut
  2. Reduce stress
  3. Balance the immune system
  4. Reduce inflammation 

Treatment Tips

Look for a natural allergy medication containing herbs that help block histamine, stabilize mast cells, thin mucus, reduce inflammation, open airways, and act as decongestants. Such herbs may include Nettle Leaf or Eyebright Herb (histamine modulating herbs), Fresh Yerba Santa Leaf (decongestant), and Fresh Lobelia Herb (thins mucus). 

It is ideal to start taking most natural allergy medications 2-4 weeks before allergy season starts to allow time for deeper acting changes to be made. It is always best to consult with a physician before starting a new medication, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. 

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Nutrients To Treat Seasonal Allergies A girl plays outdoors in a green and yellow field.

I usually recommend that people have a solid nutritional foundation with an anti-inflammatory diet that focuses on fruits, vegetables, fatty fish, lean protein, and complex carbohydrates, while avoiding processed food, sugar, known food allergies, and dairy. It can be tough to get kids to eat a fully balanced diet, so in most cases a multivitamin and fish oil are recommended along with a probiotic. 

Quercetin and vitamin C are complementary therapies that work together to stabilize mast cells. A diet focused on foods high in quercetin will often supply foods high in vitamin C as well. They can be supplemented for even stronger effect. Again, they should ideally be started 2-4 weeks before allergy season. 

Root Cause Treatment Of Seasonal Allergies

To treat the root causes of seasonal allergies, I assess stress, diet, food sensitivities, digestion, and liver function and address those on an individual basis. People who routinely get seasonal allergies often do better with a yearly spring liver cleanse. 

Summary

Allergies are caused by an immune imbalance that causes mast cells to release histamine and other inflammatory chemicals. Anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, decongestants, bronchodilators, and mast cell stabilizers are usually used to treat the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Complementary nutritional therapies include quercetin, vitamin C, multivitamin, fish oil, herbal remedies, and probiotics. Making lifestyle changes to reduce both exposure to allergens and systemic inflammation can be helpful. Root cause treatments that address individual imbalances in diet, stress, digestion, liver health, and immune system are important for long term resolution of allergies. 

References:

Thornhill, S. M., & Kelly, A. M. (2000). Natural treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis. Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic, 5(5), 448–454.

Nguyen, K., Sparks, J., & Omoruyi, F. O. (2016). Investigation of the cytotoxicity, antioxidative and immune-modulatory effects of Ligusticum porteri (Osha) root extract on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Journal of integrative medicine, 14(6), 465–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-4964(16)60280-7

Andreicut, A. D., Pârvu, A. E., Mot, A. C., Pârvu, M., Fischer Fodor, E., Cătoi, A. F., Feldrihan, V., Cecan, M., & Irimie, A. (2018). Phytochemical Analysis of Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Mahonia aquifolium Flower and Fruit Extracts. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity, 2018, 2879793. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2879793

Dennis-Wall, J. C., Culpepper, T., Nieves, C., Jr, Rowe, C. C., Burns, A. M., Rusch, C. T., Federico, A., Ukhanova, M., Waugh, S., Mai, V., Christman, M. C., & Langkamp-Henken, B. (2017). Probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2) improve rhinoconjunctivitis-specific quality of life in individuals with seasonal allergies: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 105(3), 758–767. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.116.140012

Vliagoftis, H., Kouranos, V. D., Betsi, G. I., & Falagas, M. E. (2008). Probiotics for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, 101(6), 570–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60219-0

Güvenç, I. A., Muluk, N. B., Mutlu, F. Ş., Eşki, E., Altıntoprak, N., Oktemer, T., & Cingi, C. (2016). Do probiotics have a role in the treatment of allergic rhinitis? A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis. American journal of rhinology & allergy, 30(5), 157–175. https://doi.org/10.2500/ajra.2016.30.4354

Kitz, R., Rose, M. A., Schubert, R., Beermann, C., Kaufmann, A., Böhles, H. J., Schulze, J., & Zielen, S. (2010). Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and bronchial inflammation in grass pollen allergy after allergen challenge. Respiratory medicine, 104(12), 1793–1798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2010.06.019

Mlcek, J., Jurikova, T., Skrovankova, S., & Sochor, J. (2016). Quercetin and Its Anti-Allergic Immune Response. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 21(5), 623. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21050623

Jafarinia, M., Sadat Hosseini, M., Kasiri, N., Fazel, N., Fathi, F., Ganjalikhani Hakemi, M., & Eskandari, N. (2020). Quercetin with the potential effect on allergic diseases. Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology : official journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 16, 36. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-020-00434-0 

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Dr. Green Mom

Dr. Mayer is a naturopathic medical doctor and an expert in nutrition and wellness as it relates to pediatrics and families. Her passion for prevention of disease as cure fueled her desire to immerse herself into specializing in adult onset chronic conditions, as well as childhood chronic illness.

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