What are allergies and hay fever?

Allergies refer to an abnormal immune response that can produce a wide range of symptoms (e.g., hives, asthma, anaphylactic shock and death). The most common allergic condition is hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) is an allergic reaction of the nasal passages and airways to wind-borne pollens. Ragweed pollen accounts for about 75% of the hayfever in the United States. Other significant pollens inducing hay fever include various grass and tree pollens. If the hay fever develops in the spring it is usually due to tree pollens, if it develops in the summer grass and weed pollens are usually the culprits. If hay fever symptoms persist year-round, this is known as perennial allergic rhinitis. This form of hay fever may, or may not, be due to pollens.

An estimated 50 million Americans have allergies to airborne triggers that cause symptoms of hay fever and another 17 million have asthma. While many American reach for prescription and OTC antihistamines, natural medicines can offer significant advantages. Keep in mind that popular antihistamine drugs whether they are prescription or over-the-counter offer only symptomatic relief – they do not solve the problem. The drug companies love these antihistamine drugs because they only suppress symptoms, they do not affect a cure, they create dependence, and, most importantly to the drug companies, they are expensive so they offer tremendous profits.

What causes allergies and hay fever?

Allergies and hay fever reflect an abnormal immune response to pollens and other antigens.

What dietary factors are important in allergies and hay fever?

An important step in dealing with allergies is to reduce the “allergic threshold” by eliminating any foods that may be contributing to the allergic aspect. Many studies have indicated that food allergies play an important role in asthma. An adverse reaction to a food may be immediate or delayed. Double-blind food challenges have shown that immediate-onset sensitivities are usually due to (in order of frequency) eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, and peanuts. Foods most commonly associated with delayed-onset sensitivities include (in order of frequency) milk, chocolate, wheat, citrus, and food colorings. My recommendation is to avoid all of these common allergens for a minimum of ten days to judge if an underlying food allergy is contributing to the respiratory allergy. If symptoms improve, foods can be reintroduced at the rate of one food every three days to identify which food(s) is the culprit. These sorts of elimination diets have been successful in identifying allergens and treating respiratory allergies.

During the elimination phase, it is best to use RevitalX from Natural Factors - a powdered drink mix that provides targeted nutritional support for the intestinal tract. The development of the product was spearheaded by Michael Lyon, MD. RevitalX is specifically designed to soothe the stomach, intestines and colon, and help to heal a “leaky gut.” The low allergy potential formula is designed specifically for people with food allergies, but is suitable for everyone. It provides balanced levels of vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals, and probiotics to support the body, while healing the gastrointestinal track. The RevitalX™ formula base is GoldPeptides™, a non-GMO protein source from golden peas. It is a superior source of protein to rice or soy in a hypoallergenic product because of its high protein, low sugar, and low glycemic profile.

What nutritional supplements should I take for allergies and hay fever?

Foundation Supplements. There are three products from Natural Factors that I think are critical in supporting good health:

• MultiStart (age and gender specific multiple vitamin and mineral formulas). Follow label instructions.
• Enriching Greens - a great tasting “greens drink” containing highly concentrated “greens” like chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass juice, barley grass juice, etc., and herbal extracts. Take one serving (one tablespoon) in 8 ounces of water daily.
• RxOmega-3 Factors – A true pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement. Take two capsules daily.

RevitalX can be continued as an “anti-allergy” medicinal food. Take one serving daily for maintenance.

Aller-7 is a unique blend of seven standardized herbal extracts clinically tested to promote a healthy immune system and normal breathing. Aller-7 has been shown to minimize the body’s response to seasonal as well as perennial airborne allergies. For example, an evaluation on the effects of Aller-7 was carried out in 14 test centers involving 545 patients with allergic rhinitis. An overall improvement in hay fever symptoms was seen in 78% of the subjects after 6 weeks and an incredible 94% after 12 weeks of use. The study also included a double-blind portion (see Table 1.)

Table 1 – Results from a double-blind study with Aller-7
% of patients reporting > 40% relief
Symptom Placebo Aller-7
6-weeks 12-weeks 6-weeks 12-weeks
Sneezing 19% -13% 61% 79%
Congestion 16% 20% 35% 65%
Runny nose 24% 19% 48% 67%

In another study, 48 patients with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) were randomly assigned to receive either Aller-7 or a placebo for 3 months. Results clearly demonstrated that Aller-7 from the study not only improved all of the major symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis, it also produced improvements in scores of general well-being including improvements in sleep quality and mood. Results also showed like many other natural the longer that Aller-7 is used, the more the apparent the benefits. In other words, while some people taking Aller-7 may experience rapid relief of symptoms, most will have to take it for at least one month to see meaningful benefit.

Aller-7 appears to work at every step of the process to block the allergic response. Specifically, Aller-7 and its components have shown the following effects:

• Promotes activities by white blood cells that leads to more efficient handling of allergens
• Stabilizes mast cells, thereby preventing the release of histamine
• Inhibits the activity of inflammatory enzymes such as trypsin and hyaluronidase that lead to tissue irritation
• Exerts effective antioxidant activity thereby arresting the allergic response

The recommended adult daily dosage is 660 mg twice daily with meals. For maintenance, 330 mg can be taken twice daily with meals.

How do I know if the program is working?

Again, due to the natural properties of Aller-7, results may not appear for 2-4 weeks.

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Condition Center Caution:

• Dr. Murray’s recommendations and protocols for nutritional support are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care.
• The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
• If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your doctor prior to using the recommendations given.
• Do not self-diagnose. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician, preferably a naturopathic doctor (N.D.), nutritionally oriented medical doctor (M.D. or (D.O.), or other health care specialist. Please go to www.naturopathic.org to find a qualified naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in your area to help you.
• Make your physician aware of all the nutritional supplements or herbal products you are currently taking to avoid any negative interactions with any drugs you are taking.
• If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you absolutely must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen.