Seasonal Allergies and Histamine Issues
For many people, Spring ushers in allergy season with the flowering of trees and the arrival of tree pollens. For some people, allergic symptoms may be limited to seasonal or environmental allergies. There are natural medicines and treatment approaches that can be very helpful in addressing these types of allergic symptoms. It’s important to keep in mind however, that underlying allergies at the core, are often deeper seated issues related to immunity and gut health. To learn more you can review last weeks post HERE.
When allergies are related to or aggravated by underlying gut issues that may or may not include sensitivities to foods, deeper work on the gut is needed. While avoiding or limiting foods that trigger reactions may be part of the overall treatment strategy, we need to go deeper than “avoidance” in order to uproot the issues contributing to this imbalance in the first place.
Allergic tendencies are often associated with histamine sensitivity. Histamine is a neurotransmitter that can trigger an inflammatory response. While it can be tempting to run in circles around histamine sensitivity by such approaches as avoiding foods high in histamines, we need to address the underlying imbalance in the gut, neurophysiology and immune system that is contributing to this kind of issue in the first place. This is where addressing a person’s overall imbalance with the appropriate use of diet and lifestyle strategies and herbs can be very helpful.
HOMEOPATHIC APPROACHES TO ALLERGIES
The simplest approach in addressing the acute symptoms of allergies might be a homeopathic combination formula readily available online or at your local health food store. Homeocan has a combintaion formula for allergies called Real Relief All Allergies, available in both pellets and chewable tablets. Boiron carries a formula as well, called RhinAllergy that can be helpful. If you love homeopathy and want to approach this in a more individualized manner, you can do a little research to figure out which particular homeopathic of the bunch might be most indicated for you based on your unique symptoms.
While these acute homeopathic treatments can be helpful, they are usually not addressing the underlying issues contributing to your allergies in the first place. There are homeopathic approaches that can address the underlying issues of inflammation, immunity and gut health. These protocols might include remedies such as bovista, calc carb or other deeper acting remedies. If you are interested in learning more Joette Calabrese offers many great online resources on practical approaches using homeopathy.
AN HERBAL APPROACHES TO ALLERGIES
The beauty in using well chosen herbs to address allergies is that they often address not only the allergic symptoms themselves, but also address the underlying gut, immune and inflammatory issues that are contributing to the overall symptom picture. They often help clear congestion in the tissues in general and gently support the kidney, liver and/or lymphatic system. It’s best to choose herbs that are indicated for the person’s unique body type or tissue state. In allergies, we often see the need for herbs that cool hot inflammatory tendencies, as well as those that astringe and tonify the mucous membranes of the gut and the respiratory system.
Most of the herbs that are of benefit in addressing allergies, help calm excess heat and inflammation and/or have an astringent effect that helps tonify and heal the mucous membranes of the gut and the respiratory system, resulting in reduced allergic symptoms. Many remedies that address allergies also have important supportive effects on the kidneys, and or lymphatics and liver to help support overall tissue drainage.
Here are some of my favourite local plants to consider for allergies.
Stinging nettles (Urtica spp) are one of the most helpful herbs to address allergies across the board. They have the strongest effect on allergies when taken as a freeze dried extract or tincture made from the fresh plant material. Nettles support the kidneys and have an overall alterative and anti-inflammatory effect that quells the overreactivity of histamine and the immune system. For some people, nettles may be too drying. In that case, consider plantain.
Plantain (Plantago major) is such a plentiful and ubiquitous herb - and its uses are just as widespread and generous. Its soothing and tissue healing effects give it a special affinity to the gut lining, but it also has effects on quelling allergy symptoms directly. Taken as a tincture or a tea, it can help reduce inflammation and irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes. A salve made from the leaves can be applied directly over the sinuses to help relieve allergic congestion. It helps the body clear tenacious mucous. It also has an affinity to the ears. Plantain can “push out” or expel that which the body does not have use for - including the pollens one has been exposed to.
Elderflowers (Sambucus nigra) have an important effect on the gut and immunity. Sambucus is for mucous as one of my teachers used to say. It helps drain mucous from the upper respiratory tract, clear chest congestion and reduce allergic tendency. Elderflower also has an affinity to the ears.
One other remedy to consider if symptoms of ear congestion is part of the picture is Ground Ivy or Creeping Charley (Glechoma hederacea), which has an affinity for the kidneys, the respiratory tract including the sinuses and also the ears. It can help to quell congestion and associated allergic symptoms.
Peach leaf (Amygdalus persicaria) is one of the best remedies to help quell heated tissue states that underlie allergies and histamine sensitivities, including the associated gut sensitivities. If you find peach leaf hard to come by, cherry bark both wild and domesticated (Prunus species) can be used in a manner similar to peach leaf. These are especially indicated for histamine sensitivities.
Black currant bud (Ribes nigrum) is an excellent medicine that helps reduce excess histamine reactivity, as well as being strengthening to the gut, and immunity. The buds are best harvested in early Spring and extracted in an alcohol glycerate base.
Wild strawberry leaf and flower (Fragaria spp) supports the kidneys and has a cooling effect on inflammed tissues. It has a special affinity to digestive mucosa and lymphoid tissues of the gut, making it particularly useful in allergic symptoms. While in some individuals, strawberry can trigger allergies, for many people its cooling effect is beneficial in allergic states. It is especially indicated for tissue states characterized by dryness and inflammation, and is especially helpful for symptoms of redness and irritation around the eyes. It is reputed to also be helpful for mold allergies.
Rose (Rosa spp) has an overall cooling and inflammation quelling effect on the body, make it especially suited to addressing allergic tendencies. It is of benefit to the immune system in general and has a tonifying effect on the tissues. Its gentle astringent effects reduce the symptoms of runny nose.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is another plant with an affinity to the kidneys, digestion and the gut that helps reduce allergic symptoms associated with irritated and inflamed tissues and sinus congestion.
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is indicated when the mucosa is red, hot and inflammed and highly reactive. When using horsetail, use only Spring harvested plants. Horsetail should not be consumed without proper preparation. Use them as an infusion made using boiling water or as a standard tincture of at least 40% alcohol.
Goldenrod (Solidago spp) blooms in late summer, coinciding with the onset of Fall allergies. As such it is often blamed to be the cause of these allergies, but are really not to blame. Goldenrod can be especially helpful for cat allergies and pollen allergies in general. It has a beneficial effect on the kidneys and are especially indicated then the nose and sinuses are runny versus dry and congested.
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is in fact the plant that most often aggravates late Summer and Fall allergies. The pollen of its flowers is particularly irritating. Most interestingly it makes an excellent remedy for seasonal allergies. In this case, be sure to filter the tincture carefully to remove any pollen residues. It is indicated for all the classic hayfever symptoms of red itchy runny eyes, and itchy runny nose. As most herbs that benefit allergies, it also has an effect on the gut lining and supports kidney function.
There are many readily available herbal formulas geared to allergies on the market. St Francis makes an herbal/homeopathic combination formula called Allergy Relief that is worth trying. They also have an Allergy Relief nasal spray. If you prefer a more individualized approach, work with someone well trained in the use of herbs to come up with a formula geared to your unique symptom picture and needs.