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Summertime Allergy Relief

http://blog.drdavidwilliams.com/blog/digestive-health-guidance/summertime-allergy-relief

Allergies are commonly considered to be more of a concern during the spring and fall, but in fact they can be a problem at any time of year if the proper allergens are in the air. During the summer months, the most common allergens are mold and grass pollen.

For many people their symptoms are what’s known as “allergic rhinitis,” or a stuffed nose. Tissues in the airways become inflamed in response to the presence of allergens, gradually closing off the nasal breathing passages. If there’s a runny nose involved as well, it can be difficult to distinguish between allergic rhinitis and a common summer cold. (Other common allergy symptoms include sneezing; itchy, watery eyes; post-nasal drip; and an itchy feeling in either the back of the throat or deep in the ears.) One cue is the length of onset: Colds take a few days to reach full power, while if your problem is an allergy the symptoms appear in as little as 15 minutes.

Numerous herbs are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat allergies and other upper-respiratory ailments. Most work by regulating the flow of Qi (energy) through the Lung meridian (energy pathway). One plant in particular is the areca nut, or betel nut—traditionally used to promote the downward movement of Qi, meaning that it relieves congestion in the upper parts of the respiratory tract. A study performed some years ago at the Bio-Food and Drug Research Center of Konkuk University showed that the betel nut inhibits the release of several compounds that are involved in allergic reactions—particularly TNF-alpha and an enzyme known as ERK1/2. (J Pharm Pharmacol 04;56:927–933)

The same group did similar research on chrysanthemum flowers, and found that they, too, inhibited both TNF-alpha and ERK1/2. Chrysanthemum is used in TCM to release toxins and dispel wind, which makes it suitable for treating upper respiratory conditions. (J Ethnopharmacol 04;95:425–430)

Chinese herbs are most often available in combinations, using proportions that have been carefully researched to provide maximum effectiveness.