healthy tonics

Silence hay fever’s sneezing, wheezing, and sniffles with homeopathy.So Long, Seasonal Allergies

By Kristin Bjornsen

A few months ago, actress Michelle Rodriguez—the gutsy pilot in Avatar and heroine in the TV show Lost—appeared on The Jay Leno Show. “You filmed

Lost in Hawaii,” said Leno. “What was the hardest thing about living in Hawaii?”

“The constant allergies. I was allergic to everything on that island, especially the seasonal cockroach resin, dust mites, you name it,” Rodriguez replied. “But I went to an amazing allergist, and she got rid of everything, doing some homeopathic stuff. I’m a true believer now.”

Rodriguez is not alone—about one in five Americans suffer from allergies, including hay fever, according to the Mayo Clinic. But the actress is somewhat unique in treating them with homeopathy. In society’s mad grab for conventional antihistamines and decongestants, this effective, nontoxic op-tion gets overlooked. “Unlike conventional allergy drugs, which just relieve symptoms temporarily, homeopathy treats the under-lying problem, sometimes completely cur-ing the allergies,” says Barbara Seideneck, RSHom, director of the Homeopathy School International in Colorado.

Doctors don’t entirely know why some people get seasonal allergies and others don’t. Genetics play a role, as do foods and environ-mental factors, such as being born during a pollen season or growing up with secondhand smoke. Whatever the initial trigger, the general mechanism behind allergies is the same: A person encounters a certain substance—be it pollen from trees, grass, or weeds—and the immune system mistakes it as a threat. The person becomes “sensitized,” so the next time she encounters that allergen, the immune system overreacts with an inflammation response: Antibodies signal to the body to release inflammatory chemi-cals like histamine, which can cause runny nose, congestion, sneezing, sinus pressure, asthma, or watery eyes.

Conventional allergy medicines work by interrupting the body’s response. Antihistamines like Benadryl and Claritin block histamine; corticosteroids such as Flonase and Nasonex prevent and suppress inflammatory responses; and decongestant sprays such as Neo-Synephrine and Afrin shrink swollen nasal membranes. Many of these meds carry unpleasant side effects, including drowsiness, sinus irritation, headaches, dizziness, and—in the case of oral corticosteroids—cataracts, osteoporosis, or muscle weak-g

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ness. Moreover, the corticosteroids “suppress the immune system, which can cause health problems,” says Dana Ullman, author of The Homeopathic Revolution (North Atlantic Books, 2007). “The word symptom is derived from the word signal. Allergy drugs mute that signal, so you’re ignoring your body’s message about the under-lying problem.” He compares taking allergy drugs to discovering that your car’s oil light is flashing, and rather than changing or adding oil, you just unscrew the fuse.

Your body has to learn that allergens are not a threat. Homeopathy accom-plishes this by introducing into the body minute, nontoxic amounts of the allergen (or a substance that causes allergy-like symptoms) in order to strengthen your defenses. Homeopa-thy operates on the principle of “like cures like.” In other words, a substance capable of producing certain symptoms when given to a healthy person will cure those same complaints in a sick person, explains Seideneck. Say, for example, hay fever makes your eyes water. Then the appropriate homeo-pathic remedy for hay fever might be Allium cepa, made from onion (which is also known to make eyes water).

“Homeopathy is a type of ‘medical aikido’—the medicine mimics the g

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body’s own symptoms to create real healing, not just a suppression of the disease,” says Ullman. Although people with severe, chronic allergies may need months of treatment for a complete cure, “research shows that the results of homeopathic treatment are rapid,” he says, with symptoms quickly abating. What’s more, the principles behind homeopathy are similar to allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots). But homeopathic remedies are an easier, less expensive alternative to weekly allergy shots. (One vial of a homeopathic remedy can last the whole month and costs as little as $5 to $15.)

Roughly 400 homeopathic remedies are used for allergies, says Seideneck. Choosing the right ones depends partly on what level of treatment you need: acute, chronic, or something in between.

Acute treatmentIf you don’t have a history of aller-gies and just experience occasional flare-ups, you might get relief from a generic homeopathic blend. These combination formulas, available at most health food stores, contain the most common substances to which people are allergic, such as ragweed (the homeopathic name is ambrosia) or house dust mite (labeled as such).

Ragweed

50 | May 2010 * naturalsolutionsmag.com

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Remedy: Onion (Allium cepa)Symptoms: Watery, burning discharge from nose, which may redden the nose or upper lip * Eyes tear profusely, but tears don’t irritate the skin * Nose is completely obstructed by swollen mucus membranes * Symptoms are worse on the left side of the nose

* Symptoms are better in open and cold air; they are worse in the late summer, afternoons or evenings, or in a warm room

Remedy: Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)Symptoms: Eyes are extremely irritated, inflamed, burning, and itchy * Crusty eyelids * Intense sneezing with watery discharge

* Constant, tickly cough * Symptoms are better during the night when lying down; they are worse in the morning, and with warm breezes and wind

Remedy: Yellow jasmine (Gelsemium)Symptoms: Overwhelming drowsiness during the allergy attack

* Violent sneezing in the morning * Nasal discharge that may feel like hot water * Symptoms are worse when you’re overheated or in warm, humid weather

Remedy: Table salt (Natrum muriaticum)Symptoms: Inflammation and swelling of the nose * Sneezing

* Head cold symptoms * Itchy, inflamed eyes

Remedy: Sponge cucumber (Luffa operculata) Symptoms: Acute or chronic inflammation of nasal membranes

* Congestion, with frequent sneezing * Headache * Watery discharge from nose * Symptoms are worse in stuffy rooms and in the morning

Barbara Seideneck, RSHom, and Mark Phillips, PharmD—both with homeopathic manufacturer Hyland’s—recommend five cures for specific allergy symptoms. For each remedy, follow the bottle’s dosage directions. Note: Long-term cures might need a more personalized regime (see page 52).

Five Homeopathic Allergy Remedies

A study published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy showed that allergy sufferers in Phoenix who received a homeopathic preparation containing common Southwest allergens reported a significant decrease in symptoms after four weeks.

Take combination blends when symptoms strike. Or if you know you have seasonal allergies, it may help to start the formula a couple weeks before the season begins. Observe the results. If the symptoms feel the same every year, the remedy probably isn’t the right one for you. Either try a different combination or consider

receiving a deeper level of treatment. TRy: Ullman’s favorite homeopathic combina-tion blends include Heel’s Luffeel Nasal Spray, Boiron’s Sabadil, and Hyland’s Seasonal Allergy Relief.

Digging deeperFor people with more chronic or un-common allergies, the generic combo formulas might work for awhile, says Seideneck, “but next season, you’ll get symptoms again.” If this happens, you may need a more personalized treatment. Everyone’s symptoms are unique. One person’s nose drips while another’s gets stuffy; some people’s f

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eyes water and others’ itch. The more closely the remedy matches the per-son’s symptoms, the better it works, says Seideneck.

Start by consulting a homeopathic book, such as The Complete Homeopathic Resource for Common Illnesses (North Atlantic, 2006) by Dennis Chernin, MD,

or Ullman’s Everybody’s Guide to Ho-meopathic Medicines (Tarcher, 2004). “Write down your symptoms and then look to see which remedies are called for,” says Ullman. For example, if your allergies make you extremely drowsy, with violent sneezing that’s

worse in warm, humid weather, you might reach for the remedy yellow jasmine, since this flower produces similar symptoms.

Another option is to have an al-lergist determine the substances to which you’re sensitive. Doctors do this with a skin-prick or a blood test.

With the former, a small amount of an allergen is pricked into your arm or back; if you’re allergic, a hive will develop. The blood test measures the amount of allergen antibodies. Once you know your allergies, you can begin taking homeopathic remedies

containing those exact substances at the start of allergy season.

In a study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers gave half the participants a homeopathic dose of the substance to which they were most allergic; the other half received placebo. Not only did the homeo-pathic group’s symptoms improve, but they improved almost as much as you’d expect from topical steroid treatments, minus the side effects.

curing chronic allergiesIf you have severe allergies—or if you’ve tried the above methods and nothing’s worked—you’ll want to fi nd a certifi ed homeopath to create a regimen that fi ts you specifi cally. The homeopath will conduct an interview to determine:•The initial onset of your allergies•The location, quantity, and quality

of symptoms•Your response to stressors, such

Did you know? Hay fever is the fi fth-leading chronic disease in adults. It results in nearly 4 million missed workdays annually, costing more than $700 million in lost productivity. Source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

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A n indispensible reference with the latest alternative approaches

Visit the Allergies and Asthma Condition Center at naturalsolutionsmag.com for more natural remedies for seasonal allergies.

more online!

healthy tonics

as anxiety, disappointment, loss, and types of shock

•Conditions that improve or worsen your symptoms, such as hot versus cold weather, humidity versus dryness, and food cravings and sensitivities

•Your family health history

Although genes play a role in our allergies, environmental conditions can be the factor that triggers them. A homeopath tries to identify the stress that may have weakened the immune system enough for an allergy to develop, explains Seideneck. “It could be an emo-tional trauma like the loss of a family member, a failed exam, or someone really upsetting you. Whatever the cause, the stress may activate your immune system into a high alert, and the body responds with symptoms.”

Homeopaths select the best remedy to address the allergy symptoms and to strengthen the body altogether

so that you’re more resilient. During homeopathic treatment, you’ll visit your specialist biweekly or monthly to see how much the remedy helps, and if it should be changed.

In-depth treatments have been shown to produce better long-term results. A British Medical Journal study reviewed a total of four double-blind, placebo-controlled trials involving more than 250 allergy sufferers. It found that symptoms improved by 28 percent in the homeopathy groups compared to 3 percent in the placebo groups. Interestingly, the researchers initially were skeptical of homeopa-thy, but the positive results lead them to conclude that “this study has failed to confirm our original hypothesis that homeopathy is a placebo.”

Of course, chronic allergies don’t disappear immediately. “The longer the condition has lasted, the longer it takes to get rid of,” says Seideneck, who has found that chronic allergy sufferers typically

need two to 12 months of treatment. Kids, on the other hand, usually respond very quickly, and their allergies may go away after one or two treatments.

Occasionally, lifestyle changes also must accompany homeopathic treat-ment. “If you have a compromised lifestyle—such as taking multiple medications or recreational drugs, not getting enough sleep, smoking or drinking a lot, not getting sufficient nutrition—then you’ve got stressors that are preventing a cure, though symptoms might improve some,” Seideneck says.

The end goal remains the same, though: Help your body help itself. n

ALteRnAtive MeDicine cAbinet

By jennie Dorris

Imagine wearing a football helmet that’s too tight. Add to that

upset stomach, blurred vision, and flashing lights. This is a migraine—a type of headache one memoir-ist described as feeling like “God just punched you in the side of the face.”

In the simplest terms, migraines are caused by the brain’s blood vessels enlarging and stimulat-ing nerve endings. Most migraine sufferers (75 percent are women) experience more than one symptom. And the triggers are just as varied—from bright lights to stress to changes in hormones. Mary Gustafson, 30, of Chicago says that if she sneezes too many times or watches a 3D movie, she can get a migraine.

With that many trig-gers and symptoms, “it’s a bit of a detective game trying to find the cause,” says Brent Mathieu, ND, of Boise, Idaho. He sug-gests that patients first remove possible food allergies and emotional stressors. But if migraines persist, he says, they may be the result of more com-plicated issues: hormonal imbalances, toxins in the body, or inflammation.

The herb feverfew is good for migraines because of its anti-inflam-matory properties. (We first reported this in 2008; for the complete story, search for “Go Against the Graine” at natural solutionsmag.com.)

Here, we outline four more natural remedies that tackle migraines.

Omega-3s During a migraine, the tissue surrounding the brain becomes inflamed. That’s why Roy Upton, herbalist and executive director of the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, suggests taking omega-3 fatty acids, which lessen cells’ reaction to inflammation. TAKE: 4,000 to 6,000 mg of fish oil daily with meals for best ab-sorption. After eight to 12 weeks (if the migraines have stabilized), you can adjust the dose to 1,000 mg per day. Xiao yao wanKelly Parcell, ND, of NatureMed Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, points to liver qi stagnation—when the liver doesn’t properly clean toxins from the body—as a possible cause of migraines. She suggests xiao yao wan (also called xiao yao san), a blend of plant roots, rhizomes, and mushrooms that is believed to help cleanse the liver. TAKE: Use as directed; consult your healthcare practitioner.

chasteberry Many women suffer from menstrual-induced migraines, which is why some healthcare practitioners, including Parcell, see hormones as a possible trigger. If your progesterone level is too low in relation to estrogen, it can cause blood vessels in the brain to dilate, which is a known cause for migraines. Parcell uses the herb chasteberry (as a tea or in concentrated herbal capsules) to boost progesterone levels. “I try to affect hormone change without actually giving the hormone,” she says. TAKE: Parcell suggests drinking several cups of chasteberry tea per day. David Riley, MD, Natural Solutions’ medical editor, also sug-gests 500 mg of chasteberry supplements every morning.

butterbur root According to the journal Neurology, the root extract from this daisy plant is one of the best herbs to prevent migraines; patients who took butter-bur extract saw migraine frequency decrease by as much as 48 percent. TAKE: 100 to 150 mg two to three times per day. Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, suggests looking for extracts with low levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), which are naturally occurring in the butterbur plant and can be toxic to the liver. He recommends the brand Petadolex. n

Try these treatments when the throbbing starts.Real Relief for Migraines

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