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Natural Relief for Allergies
by Jim English

Allergies occur when the body overreacts to substances that are normally harmless, such as pollen. Some people inherit their allergies, while others become sensitive to specific foods or chemicals following repeated exposure. In either case, once the body has mistakenly identified a substance as foreign, or 'not self' it begins to set the stage for future allergic reactions by producing antibodies against the particular substance.

The next time the specific allergen is detected by an antibody the immune system goes into high gear, triggering the rapid release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals from mast cells, a specialized class of immune cells found in connective tissues throughout the body, especially in small blood vessels, skin, and respiratory tract.

As histamine is released into the tissues localized inflammation occurs (Fig. 1), triggering allergic symptoms such as itching eyes, nose and throat, watery eyes, sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, nausea, headaches, and an impaired sense of smell and hearing.

In addition to attacking the sinuses and eyes, histamine can also affect the throat, lungs, stomach, bladder, vagina, muscles, joints, and central nervous system. Histamine also affects brain tissues, causing sufferers to feel "foggy," confused and unable to concentrate. Left untreated, allergies can lead to chronic swelling of the sinuses and increased risk of infection.

Primary Allergic Symptoms

Eyes – Allergic Conjunctivitis

Characterized by inflammation of the eyes, it is the most common form of allergic eye disease. Symptoms include itchy and watery eyes and eyelid distress as the sclera and conjunctiva, which form the lining of the eye, become red and swollen.

Nose - Allergic Rhinitis

This allergic reaction is characterized by nasal stuffiness, repeated sneezing, nasal itching, clear nasal discharge, and itching of the throat and roof of the mouth. There are two primary forms of allergic rhinitis — seasonal and perennial. Allergic rhinitis triggered by the seasonal release of tree, grass or weed pollens is called seasonal allergic rhinitis. Symptoms are most severe during the spring and summer months, when pollen levels are high, and decrease with the arrival of cold weather.

Hay fever, triggered by indoor irritants such as feathers, mold, animal dander (hair and skin shed by pets) or dust mites, is called perennial allergic rhinitis. This type of allergic reaction can result in year-round symptoms. Because different types of pollen, dust and mold spores exist in various geographic locations, some people may suddenly develop allergic rhinitis after moving.

Sinuses - Sinusitis

Characterized by an inflammation of the sinuses, it frequently mimics the common cold. The symptoms of sinusitis persist for a longer period of time than a typical cold. Fever may develop or persist. Symptoms of sinusitis include frontal head discomfort, facial pain that often worsens when patients are bending or straining, and yellow or green nasal discharge. This type of sinusitis is the result of an infection that secondary to allergic rhinitis., occurring as a result of the nasal inflammation.

Lungs - Allergic Asthma

Characterized by airway obstruction that is at least partially reversible with medication and is always associated with allergy. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, especially on exhalation, shortness of breath or rapid breathing, bringing up mucus, chest tightness, and occasional fatigue and slight chest pain.

General Misery

Many people also suffer with additional general symptoms, regardless of the location of the primary problem. These general miseries can include fatigue, malaise, irritability, headache, foggy thinking, poor concentration, loss of sleep, depression, and loss of appetite. The general symptoms can be very disruptive of normal life, leading to reduced work productivity and poor quality of life for many allergy sufferers.

Treating Allergies

The best treatment for allergies is to avoid the substances triggering symptoms. Since this is not always possible, many allergy sufferers turn to prescription and over the counter medications for relief. Over-the-counter medicines line the shelves of pharmacies, calling out to unfortunate victims of these seasonal or chronic problems. While antihistamines and other drugs may help some patients, they also cause serious problems for others. Typical antihistamines may make even the simplest of tasks, such as driving an automobile or operating heavy machinery, difficult, or even dangerous.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines block the effects of histamine after it has been released. Unfortunately, many antihistamines produce side effects, such as dry mouth, nausea, and drowsiness. Other side effects include dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, and tremors.

Decongestants

Decongestants are often used for short-term relief from nasal stuffiness. Ironically, many decongestants can cause a "rebound" effect that actually promotes the release of histamine release, leading users to ultimately feel even more congested than before.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids can reduce allergic reaction by preventing body cells from responding to histamine. These compounds are administered via a nasal spray. For profound allergy symptoms, a one-time, very short course of systemic corticosteroids may be a last resort treatment.

Immunotherapy

Allergy shots may be effective against specific, identifiable allergens, such as ragweed and pollen. Immunotherapy may take six months before any benefit is noted.

AllerPhase™ Inhibits Allergic Reactions

Allergic symptoms are highly varied, because different allergens stimulate the immune system at different sites in the body. Diverse symptoms and locations require a multiple herbal formula to reduces tissue inflammation while correcting the immune response. AllerPhase is the first herbal formula to provide quick-acting symptom relief for upper and lower respiratory allergies while strengthening the immune system to shorten the allergy season.

AllerPhase proprietary allergy formula relieves allergic inflammation while correcting the faulty immune response with a unique blend of herbs that address the various stages of allergic reaction. While each herb addresses immune response and inflammation in some way, various combinations of the herbs attack specific tissue irritations:

Centipeda, Xanthium, and Angelica are well known for their abilities to clear nasal and sinus congestion.

Centipeda and Schizonepeta reduce inflammatory processes that cause itching in the eyes and respiratory tissues.

Fritillaria, Angelica, Paeonia, and Platycodon reduce tissue swelling, the source of much of the misery of allergies.

Centipeda, Fritillaria, Platycodon, and Licorice work together as expectorants to reduce accumulating fluids.

Gastrodia promotes blood flow to the brain to relieve “brain fog” while helping other herbs reduce inflammation.

Paeonia sufruticosa and Pseudostellaria work to dampen the immune response to allergens and provide a corrective effect on the immune system. These two herbs account for the long-term benefits of the formula by helping to desensitize allergy sufferers to various allergens.

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The content provided by this site is for informational purposes only and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA. This site is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional.