Here comes warm weather, afternoon drizzles, and blooming flowers. Does this come hand in hand with sneezing, itchy eyes, scratchy throat and a sinus headache? Then you are likely experiencing the infamous spring allergies. With the ever-fluctuating weather and increased rainfall, allergens such as mold and pollen are at a record high!
Why do I get sneezy, stuffy and itchy?
Inhaled allergens such as pollen, mold, dust mites or animal dander enter your nasal passages and come in contact with your nasal mucosa. This triggers a cascade of immune reactions, which allows specific cells called Mast cells, to release inflammatory histamine and prostaglandins. This release of inflammatory products causes the blood vessels in your nose and sinus cavities to dilate, forming those irritating symptoms of congestion, sneezing and itching. This condition is called allergic rhinitis and it affects 20 to 40 million people annually.
Quercetin to the rescue!
Quercetin is a potent flavonoid and antioxidant, which prevents the release of histamine from triggered Mast cells thereby decreasing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. As an antioxidant, quercetin also acts to neutralize damaging free-radicals which may contribute to…
- Lower total inflammation
- Decrease LDL cholesterol damage
- Increase heart health
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce symptoms of prostatitis
- And of course… Decrease sneezing, itching and nasal congestion
For current allergies try Quercetin capsules 300 mg three times a day to reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis naturally. Complete resolution of symptoms does require a multistep approach so it’s best to speak with your doctor for additional recommendations. Preventing the allergic response is ideal, so plan beginning simple and effective treatments in January next year in order to enjoy those first blooms of spring!
If you would like additional ways to decrease allergies, call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bridget. Get back to the activities you love and see what natural medicine can do for you!
Reference:
- http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/quercetin-000322.htm Quercetin 2009.
- http://naturaldatabase.therapeuticresearch.com/ce/ceCourse.aspx?st=0&li=0&pm=5&pc=03-24&sq=0&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 Natural Medicines in Clinical Management of Allergic Rhinitis. 2011
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/16/allergy-season-worse-than_n_862080.html