Respiratory Allergy

     Respiratory allergies are particularly bad this year due to all the rain and pollen. These allergies are triggered when a sensitizing substance penetrates the sinus tissues triggering the release of histamine. A common sense approach to dealing with this problem would include the following:

1. Avoid exposure to sensitizing agents. There are some excellent air purifiers available. Simply cleaning the air at night can make a major difference for many people.

2. Prevent the penetration of sinus tissues by sensitizing substances. The sinuses are usually filled with mucus which traps pollen, dust and other irritating substances. Cilia then sweep the irritants away. Mucus is primarily water so dehydration can aggravate respiratory sensitivity.  Deficiency of essential fats, zinc, and vitamin A can compromise the secretion of mucus and the activity of the cilia.

3. Stabilization of the mast cell and removal of histamine can make a major difference in respiratory allergy. Histamine levels have been shown to be inversely correlated with vitamin C levels. At least 2 grams of vitamin C is recommended for nasal allergy. It is most effective in a continuous release form such as NeoLife Super C. Vitamin C at higher doses has a half-life of only 30 minutes so intake should be spread out. HIstamine is released by free radicals so it should not be surprising that other antioxidants like Vitamin E and Carotenoids can also benefit respiratory allergy.

References:

"Natural Treatment of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis," Thornhill SM, Kelly A-M, Alt Med Rev, 2000;5(5):448-454.

Masini, Emanuela, et al., The release of histamine by free radicals, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 1988; 5(3):177-197.