Whenever they arrive on the scene (inside your body), there is no worse annoyance than allergies, especially in the spring. It’s a condition known in medical terms as allergic rhinitis. Think itchy, watery eyes; frequent sneezing; and a running nose that often doesn’t stop for days, even weeks.
An occasional headache and/or scratchy throat might show up as well, determined to subject your life to a season of misery, albeit a temporary one.
The main culprit in this annual troubling tradition of “transition” (springtime’s blossoming of flora) is a substance known as histamine. Its main role is to control many bodily functions (e.g., sleep-wake cycle, cognition, and the inflammatory response). In some cases, though, histamine gets released by your immune system in response to an allergen (a protein) that has invaded your body, and that’s when trouble finds you.
If that allergen/protein happens to be a specific one that your body is allergic to (such allergens can be harmless to other people – the luck of the draw, so to speak), your immune system will initiate an exaggerated defensive action, releasing histamine. This triggers a process that leads to the production of allergic symptoms and, in comparatively rare cases, anaphylactic indicators.
Anaphylaxis has been described as a (more) severe allergic reaction in the body that can produce symptoms such as skin rash, swollen areas of the body such as eyes, lip, mouth, or tongue; and abdominal pain and nausea. Such ramped-up reactions can be life-threatening if not quickly treated by a physician.
A Doctor’s Visit Might Be in Order Anyway
If you have experience with seasonal allergies/rhinitis and want to do something about them, consider seeing your physician to get a diagnosis (of histamine intolerance, perhaps) and guidance, and you might get a prescription (or two) in the process. Also, if your allergic response to allergens is affecting your daily routine for the worse, you will likely be given tests to identify the source(s) of your allergies. In this regard, you might be referred to an allergy specialist.
7 Natural Remedies to Consider as Possible Antihistamines
A variety of over-the-counter antihistamine products such as Loratadine, Allegra or Benadryl are available for short-term solutions. Be careful, however, to always read the ingredients and the warnings. Some OTC antihistamine products contain components that can cause drowsiness and be an impediment to safe driving or operation of equipment, or they might raise blood pressure, which should concern anyone with high blood pressure.
Another option is trying natural remedies (i.e., supplements and herbs) that might help alleviate or even eliminate allergy symptoms. Be sure to discuss your possible use of any of these – to include the type of OTC products described above – before using them for the first time.
In alphabetical order, here are seven possible natural antihistamine remedies:
Berberine. This herb-based supplement continues to grow in popularity although it has been used for centuries, dating back to traditional Chinese medicine. It is known mostly for its antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory qualities, but scientists have seen evidence that it can diminish the type of inflammation associated with allergic rhinitis.
Bromelain. This is an enzyme that can be found in abundance in pineapple and has been touted as a natural antihistamine that possesses anti-inflammatory characteristics. It can apparently assist in the body’s absorption of quercetin, which apparently has antihistamine qualities.
Vitamin C. Vitamin C is also well-known as a go-to nutrient for fighting off colds and other viruses, so why not use it against seasonal allergies? Why not indeed. Not only is it an antioxidant that wages war against damage-inducing free radicals, it also is believed to be an immunity booster that can also lower the body’s sensitivity to allergens.
Ceylon cinnamon. The bark of cinnamomum zeylanicum trees – aka Celyon cinnamon – has shown potential as a natural histamine, a finding in part backed by animal studies that suggested Ceylon cinnamon was successful in relieving nasal inflammation.
Green tea. Its component compounds include quercetin and catechin, both of which have shown antihistamine properties.
Quercetin. Research remains in progress when it comes to studying the health benefits of quercetin, but some studies have seemed to indicate that quercetin can obstruct pathways that aid in the release of histamine into the bloodstream.
Spirulina. This is a type of blue-green algae that contains an abundance of nutrients and compounds, such as phycocyanin and carotenoids, that show anti-inflammatory activity similar to that attributed to blocking allergy symptoms. It is believed able to limit the release of histamine as well as other chemicals that can induce runny nose, sneezing and itching.
The seven natural remedies listed above offer good suggestions where to get started in narrowing down your best natural antihistamine remedies that could help you get back a quality of life unhindered by itchy, water eyes, excessive sneezing and those yucky streams running through your nasal passages.