Nettlesome Allergies!

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Natural alternatives to treat seasonal sneezing.

While most of us enjoy the green grass and flora of the summer months, about 20% of the population will struggle to some degree with watery eyes and bouts of sneezing. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is caused by an allergic reaction to tree and/or grass pollens, and the accompanying symptoms are usually experienced with the change of seasons. If you begin to experience symptoms in early spring, chances are you're reacting to tree pollens. If you acquire a sneezing habit during the summer months, you're probably allergic to grass and weed pollens. If hay fever attacks begin in mid-March and last through late November, you're probably allergic to airborne fungus particles.

An allergic response is driven by excessive amounts of inflammatory agents (referred to as "mediators") being released from tissue mast cells. When an allergen is introduced, its offending particles bind to antibodies produced within the mast cells which promote a defensive response. The mast cells then produce and release inflammatory chemicals, such as histamine, which cause bronchial constriction, mucus discharge, and other familiar symptoms, in an attempt to rid the body of the allergen. One might be tempted to think that a person suffering from hay fever has a faulty immune system, but actually it's a sign that the person's immune system is working overtime. In fact, according to Andrew Weil, M.D., an allergy is really an example of "misplaced immunity." Dr. Weil also believes that an allergic reaction to airborne particles is a learned response of the immune system. In his book, Natural Health, Natural Medicine (Houghton Mifflin, 1998), Dr. Weil contends that, "The goal of treatment should be to convince the immune system that it can coexist peacefully with these substances. Conventional medicine does not achieve this goal."

Antihistamines (and sometimes steroids) are the conventional course of treatment for seasonal allergies. However, antihistamines merely suppress physical symptoms and fail to address the underlying cause. Allergy, and asthma for that matter, can often be attributed to common food allergies, a malfunction in fatty acid metabolism, or even low stomach acid. Many people are under the impression that antihistamines inhibit the production of histamine, as the generic name suggests. But according to Michael Murray, N.D., "Antihistamines do not block the release of histamine. Instead, they block the action of histamine at receptor sites." They also perpetuate a cycle of immune over-responsiveness, allergic reaction, and a need for more medicine to alleviate symptoms. Furthermore, these powerful synthetics invade the brain and nervous systems to produce unpleasant side effects ranging from drowsiness to depression. For some people (as is the case with this writer), antihistamines can cause even more alarming and potentially dangerous symptoms, such as extreme excitability and heart palpitations.