Understanding the allergic response:
In an allergic reaction, an allergen stimulates the release of chemicals that attach to our body’s mast cells, triggering these cells to release histamine. Histamine is responsible for the typical symptoms of the allergic response: Itchy tearing eyes, runny nose/sneezing, rashes/hives, congested sinuses/headaches, wheezing, even stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Antihistamines block this response, but often have undesirable side effects: drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, even headaches and stomach pains.
My favorite product for treating seasonal allergies naturally is D-hist. It is effective and does not lead to the side effects typical of antihistamine medications.
It contains the following ingredients:
Quercetin: A bioflavonoid found in fruits, vegetables, red wine and tea, that inhibits our body’s mast cells from releasing their histamine. In the journal Plos One, quercetin was compared with the medication Cromolyn, a mast cell ‘stabilizer,’ and while both were found to effectively inhibit histamine, quercetin was more effective at blocking the release of additional inflammatory chemicals that are also released from these mast cells. Quercetin was also found to be more effective at preventing the allergic response. Another article published in the journal Int Immunology stated that quercetin administered before the chemical induction of asthma “resulted in a significant inhibition of all asthmatic reactions.”
Vitamin C: Vitamin C lowered the incidence and severity of asthma attacks and bronchial hypersensitivity to histamine based upon research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Stinging Nettle: Nettle extract can block several key inflammatory reactions that cause symptoms of seasonal allergies, such as inhibiting mast cells from releasing chemicals that lead to hay fever symptoms.
Bromelain: Bromelain, an extract of pineapple enzyme, is proven to inhibit the inflammation that results in allergic airway disease.
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC): Helps to clear and thin mucus, support sIgA (the main immune cell that supports the respiratory tract), suppresses IgE, the main allergic antibody, block the adhesion of bacteria, and regulate inflammatory chemicals.
- Quercetin:
- Vitamin C:
- Nettle:
- Bromelain:
- NAC:
- D-hist
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