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ALLERGY REVIEW (1)
Nutritional Support For Springtime Allergies Plants to Avoid - Plants to Take
Nita Bishop, Clinical Herbalist
Seasonal changes usher in the spring regalia, but along with the grass and flowers comes sneezing, wheezing, and sniffling. Ironically, although May is designated as Clean Air month, it is also the time when pollen counts and allergy symptoms are at their peak for 50 million Americans annually.
While the common allergy was relatively rare during the nine-teenth century in Europe, it has increased dramatically over the last 50 years, more so in industrialized countries. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is now the most common seasonal allergy in the United States, and it is estimated that one person in three suffers from allergies.
The term "allergy" is relatively new and has only existed for approximately 100 years. C.H. Blackley, a homeopathic physician from Scotland, identified pollen as the cause of hay fever in 1871. The symptoms that we experience (sneezing, red eyes, stuffy nose and congestion) are the result of abnormal reactions to various causative agents - for example, tree pollens in the the spring, grasses and weeds in summer and fall. The immune system generates histamine in response to these allergen invaders (in this case pollen). However, the body's immune system can have an overreaction to histamine, which is then manifested in the exaggerated responses of excessive sneezing, congestion, and headaches.
The Cause of an Allergic Reaction
Allergic reactions tend to be the result of repeated exposure to a foreign protein/antigen, such as pollen, triggering IgE, an immuno globin, production. Once IgE antibody production begins, it can persist for months, even years. These IgE antibodies remain active and on alert in the body waiting for the next allergen encounter. Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic bronchial asthma are triggered by antigen/IgE binding to sensitized mast cells and basophils which cause a decrease in cyclic Adenosine MonoPhosphate (cAMP). Eosinophilic chemotactic factor and histamine are released, which bind to H1-receptors and a complex cascade of events follows, causing a "hypersensitivity" reaction, ultimately resulting in nasal congestion with watery discharge, sneezing, and itching eyes.
The main focus of traditional allergy practice is to address the IgE-histamine response of patients with "atopies," or hereditary allergies, typically seen in hay fever and asthma. The challenge for doctors is to desensitize the patient to the allergenic substances and block the body's over-reaction. Decongestants and antihistamines, are the conventional drug treatments of choice for these seasonal allergies. Mainstream allergists often use allergy shots, known as immunotherapy, in which increasing amounts of allergen extract are injected subcutaneously over time to lessen the clinical symptoms of allergen exposure.
In Chinese medicine, as well as natural healing, allergies are viewed as "energy imbalances" that can be corrected with acupuncture and herbs. Since allergic reactions are inflammatory processes, treating the immune system is paramount. Herbalists and naturopathic physicians use normalizing herbs called "adaptogens," which function via hormone regulation. The discipline known as Clinical Ecology focuses on our interaction with the environment and its effect on human health and disease. Clinical Ecology typically seeks to isolate the patient from allergens and institute dietary changes often coupled with nutritional supplements. Indeed, nutritional and herbal regimens can provide relief and support the immune system without the toxic side effects of many prescription medications.
Melatonin produced by the pineal gland regulates the circadian rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle. When there is no sunlight, melatonin is secreted. Increased melatonin levels in the body have been associated with increased drowsiness. This sets up a corresponding feedback loop since sleep can induce or reverse many of the functions of the hypothalamus.
In addition to melatonin, the pineal gland also produces the neurotransmitter serotonin, which produces a heightened sense of calm, lowering stress and anx-iety and inducing sleepiness. Serotonin is a derivative of tryptophan, an amino acid that is present at low levels in the bloodstream. During the short days of winter, this neurotransmitter reaches its lowest concentrations in key parts of the brain. The body produces less serotonin in winter, and low serotonin levels are believed to be one of the primary causes of clinical depression. Serotonin also inhibits the stress-induced increase of cortisol secretion and "stress" hormones. Cortisol has an inhibitory effect on the immune system, which could explain some of the physiological changes in depression.
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