Have you ever googled “what causes allergies?”
Did you notice the results were a laundry list of irritants, plants, or trees?
This indicates that allergies are caused by outside factors, and there is nothing we can do to heal the root issue in ourselves. Either we avoid the allergens or take medication for the rest of our lives. This is a disheartening and hopeless notion, but fortunately this isn’t true for most people.
There are many natural and holistic solutions for treating both the root cause of allergies as well as the symptoms. I showcased my favorite herb for allergies in my last article, A Springtime Ally: Stinging Nettle, and nettle is one of those herbs that may stop the allergenic reaction in the body. Other environmental allergens (from dust, pet dander, and mold) cause the same allergic reaction, and can be treated with the same protocols in this article.
Early spring brings tree pollen, followed by grass pollen later in the spring and through the summer, and then ragweed pollen in the late summer and fall. It is reported that two-thirds of seasonal allergy sufferers experience symptoms year-round (1). Mitigating symptoms may work as a short-term solution, but taking OTC meds or allergy shots year-round and forever is not ideal. Is there a long-term solution for YOU that addresses the root cause of your allergies? Let get to the root of the issue...
The Biology of Allergies: Seasonal allergies (aka allergic rhinitis, pollinosis, and hay fever) are hypersensitivity disorders. The immune system overreacts to a mostly harmless irritant such as pollen, which causes a release of the allergenic antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) which binds to specialized white blood cells known as mast cells and basophils, causing the release of histamine (2). Histamine causes swelling, watery nasal discharge or clogged nose, sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, sinus headaches, foggy head, and fatigue. The severity of the symptoms vary in individuals based on many factors (3), which are listed below:
Exposure to multiple allergens and respiratory viruses early in life
Antibiotic use/overuse
Emotional stress
Impaired digestive health/gut dysbiosis
Parasite and microbe exposure (such as Giardia and Blastocystis)
Exposure to air and water pollution
Formula fed as an infant (vice breastfed)
Current weather/humidity conditions
Exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins
Do your parents or a parent suffer with allergies too? There is good reason - this disorder is a genetic trait for many people. The most important contributing factor to allergies is a genetic predisposition called atopy (3). But does that mean you need to suffer through because it’s in your DNA? Nope! Mitigating and even preventing the allergenic response can be done through reducing exposure, detox/gut health, supplementation, and medicinal herbs that reduce immune response.
Reduce Exposure: This is a no-brainer, but avoiding the allergens that activate a response is the first line of defense. Close your windows, breathe filtered air as much as possible. It may be beneficial to purchase an air purifier for your home.
Detox and Nutrition: Impaired gut health (including leaky gut syndrome and gut dysbiosis) is a major factor for allergenic response. This is not controversial - there are many solid studies proving this link (4) (5). To address gut health - remove common allergens from your diet (gluten, dairy, soy, all processed foods, produce grown with pesticides, animal products raised with antibiotics), reduce sugar intake and alcohol consumption. Increase antioxidant and polyphenol-rich foods: eat colorful fruits and berries, beets, carrots, dark leafy vegetables. Eat plenty of mushrooms, onions and garlic (which are high in quercetin), green tea, increase healthy fats. Eat bitter vegetables or take bitters extract daily to aid with detox - metabolic wastes and toxins in the body can act as allergens and trigger allergic reactions.
Supplements: A complete multivitamin is a great start to support your whole body and immune system. Quercetin has been shown in laboratory tests to demonstrate the greatest anti-allergic effects among all flavonoids, there is a highly bioavailable form called isoquercetin (6) now on the market. Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Omega 3 EPA/DHA, and polyphenols (extracts of green tea, grape seed, or apple) have demonstrated in scientific studies to reduce seasonal allergy symptoms (7) (8).
Herbal Medicine: Herbs can be grouped into 2 categories: herbs that address the root cause, and herbs that address allergenic symptoms (both lists are not exhaustive.)
Herbs that Address Root Cause:
Adaptogens such as astragalus, reishi, and ashwagandha support the body’s stress and immune response.
Immunomodulators such as astragalus, reishi mushroom, and Siberian ginseng may reduce hypersensitivity - must take months before seasonal allergies begin. They regulate the immune response, and therefore prevent allergic reactions before they begin.
Antioxidants such as turmeric, nettle, and rose hips help modulate inflammation.
Alteratives such as nettle, dandelion, burdock, and Oregon grape root support the elimination of wastes via the liver and bowels which may reduce allergenic response and severity.
Herbs that Address Symptoms:
Mast cell stabilizers such as holy basil, onion, magnolia, and elecampane reduce platelet and mast cell activation.
Histamine-blocking herbs such as Siberian ginseng, katuka, baikal skullcap, and feverfew are high in rutin and quercetin which reduce the rate of histamine release and decrease histamine levels.
Expectorants such as ginger, cayenne, and horse radish address clogged sinus and nose.
Astringents such as goldenrod and peach leaf help with leaky, drippy symptoms.
To summarize - it’s time to stop blaming the plants! It's our body’s reaction to the plants that is the issue, not the plants themselves. In fact, plants (medicinal herbs) can be your greatest ally when treating allergies!
A good treatment strategy includes a combination of both groups of herbs + supplements + detox. A sample herbal allergy formula can include tinctures of:
Reishi 30%
Oregon grape root 30%
Holy Basil (Tulsi) 20%
Goldenrod 20%
Take 30-60 drops 3-5 times per day
Do you prefer customized recommendations with full dosing information? Contact me!
Sources:
(1) American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/seasonal-allergies/ Accessed on March 20, 2023.
(2) Murray, Michael T. The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine 3rd Edition. New York, NY. ATRIA 2012
(3) Stansbury, Jill. Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals Vol 5 Immunology, Orthopedics, and Otolaryngology. White River Junction, VT. Chelsea Green Publishing 2021
(4) Han P, Gu JQ, Li LS, Wang XY, Wang HT, Wang Y, Chang C, Sun JL. The Association Between Intestinal Bacteria and Allergic Diseases-Cause or Consequence? Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Apr 15;11:650893. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.650893. PMID: 33937097; PMCID: PMC8083053.
(5) McKenzie C, Tan J, Macia L, Mackay CR. The nutrition-gut microbiome-physiology axis and allergic diseases. Immunol Rev. 2017 Jul;278(1):277-295. doi: 10.1111/imr.12556. PMID: 28658542.
(6). Kawai M, Hirano T, Arimitsu J, et al. Effect of enzymatically modified isoquertin, a flavonoid, on symptoms of Japanese Cedar pollinosis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. International Archives of Allergy and Immunology 2009; 2009;149(4): 359-368
(7) Kishi K, Saito T, et al. Clinical efficacy of apple polyphenols for treating cedar pollinosis. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biodiversity 2005 Apr;69(4): 829-832.
(8) Enomoto T, Nagasako-Akazome Y, Kanda T, et al. Clinical effects of apple polyphenols on persistent allergic rhinitis: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled parallel arm study. Journal of Investigative Allergology and Clinical Immunology 2006:16(5):283-289.
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