When allergies hit, you want relief fast, but having some options that don’t require a (sometimes daily) medication can be of value. Here’s a list of some natural ingredients that may be able to offer some relief:
Vitamin C – offers many benefits, one of which is its ability to detoxify histamines, decreasing congestion symptoms. One in-vivo study showed a 38% decrease in histamines just from oral supplementation1. In addition, vitamin C can help improve recovery time from the common cold, so if you’re unsure if you’re coming down with a cold or allergies, vitamin C can be a great option.
Quercetin – an extract naturally found in apples and onions, is a potent antihistamine agent. It both inhibits histamine release as well as suppresses H1R gene expression, a known receptor that correlates with severity of allergy symptoms2. Clinically, I find this extract to show benefit typically within a few days, making it an ideal option for those with seasonal allergies that vary based on weather.
Uritca dioica (Stinging Nettle) – a common herb, can improve allergic reactions through a host of immunological changes. It acts to inhibit several inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and mast cells involved in the histamine response, as well as inhibiting the H1R gene expression. This can be a great option for those with more chronic allergies who are looking from longer term relief.
These are just a few options you might want to consider when managing your allergy symptoms. Whenever it comes to choosing the best option speaking with a health care provider that knows your health concerns is a great way to go.
In health
Dr Chanel Cressman, ND
1. Johnston CS, Martin LJ, Cai X. Antihistamine effect of supplemental ascorbic acid and neutrophil chemotaxis. J Am Coll Nutr. 1992 Apr;11(2):172-6. PMID: 1578094.
2. Hattori M, Mizuguchi H, Baba Y, Ono S, Nakano T, Zhang Q, Sasaki Y, Kobayashi M, Kitamura Y, Takeda N, Fukui H. Quercetin inhibits transcriptional up-regulation of histamine H1 receptor via suppressing protein kinase C-δ/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 signalling pathway in HeLa cells. Int Immunopharmacol. 2013 Feb;15(2):232-9. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2012.12.030. Epub 2013 Jan 16. PMID: 23333628.
3. Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael M, Alberte RS. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytother Res. 2009 Jul;23(7):920-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2763. PMID: 19140159.
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