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From the Townsend Letter
May 2014

Seasonal Allergies and Asthma: Removing Total Burden For Powerful Symptom Relief and Whole Body Wellness
by Chris D. Meletis, ND, and Kimberly Wilkes
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Natural Support for Allergies and Asthma
One modality emerging as an effective treatment for allergies and asthma is acupuncture. A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the efficacy of acupuncture for treating asthma in children aged 6 months to 6 years.
   
The researchers randomly selected preschool children with medically diagnosed asthma and assigned them to an intervention or control group. Fifty-two children (26 intervention, 26 controls) were available for evaluation at 12 months. Although there were significant reductions in subjective asthma symptoms and in use of inhaled steroids in both groups at 3 months, the reduction in asthma symptoms and the reduction in use of inhaled steroids were significantly larger in the group being treated with acupuncture compared with the control group.44
   
Furthermore, in a randomized trial of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, acupuncture treatment resulted in an improved quality of life.45

Breaking The Inflammatory Cycle
Each factor that increases total burden in the body also increases inflammation. The inflammation that occurs in people who have asthma and allergic rhinitis creates a vicious cycle: the inflammation weakens the body, causing it to become less able to fight the inflammation, weakening the body even more.
   
The inflammation that results from chronic allergies triggers long-term changes in the structure of the affected organs and causes them to function abnormally.3
   
Participating in an anti-inflammatory lifestyle that includes 8 hours of restorative sleep and going to bed before 11 p.m. as well as minimizing sugar intake and participating in stress-reduction techniques and exercise is foundational to reducing inflammation.
   
Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) also is an excellent choice for reducing inflammation in people suffering from allergic rhinitis. In vitro, a nettle extract inhibited several key inflammatory events responsible for seasonal allergy symptoms.46 In one double-blind randomized study of 98 subjects with seasonal allergies, 58% of the subjects reported relief of most of their symptoms and 48% rated nettle leaf as being more effective than other over-the-counter medications.47

Protecting the Mucous Membranes
A dried yeast fermentate known as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (EpiCor) also has been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory while at the same time protecting the mucous membranes.48

The mucous membranes serve as the passageway through which allergens can gain entrance to the body. Saccharomyces cerevisiae can help protect the mucous membranes by increasing levels of salivary IgA, which creates a protective coating that keeps out allergens.49,50 EpiCor also has reduced nasal congestion and rhinorrhea in subjects with allergic rhinitis during the 12-week period of the highest recorded concentrations of total pollen counts for a Midwest geographic area.49

Natural Antihistamines
Controlling histamine is another critical approach to battling the inflammation associated with seasonal allergies. Petasites hybridus (butterbur extract) has been shown in numerous randomized, controlled trials to act as an antihistamine and to reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
   
One review of the medical literature found that in six randomized, controlled studies of subjects with allergic rhinitis, butterbur extract was superior to placebo or equally effective as nonsedative antihistamines.51 More independent studies are needed, since a manufacturer of butterbur extract provided financial support to three of the largest trials.
   
Another frequently effective approach is supplementation with vitamin C and quercetin.
   
In one study, children aged 6 to 12 years old who had increased vitamin C consumption had fewer allergic rhinitis symptoms, despite the lack of a difference in total serum IgE level or allergen sensitization.53 Vitamin C also has acted as a powerful antihistamine.52
   
Quercetin not only inhibits histamine, which is responsible for the early phase of the allergic reaction, it also suppresses activation of eosinophils, the main type of cells called into action during the late phase of an allergic reaction.54-56 Eosinophils play an important part in the development of persistent inflammation and tissue damage.56 Quercetin also reduces clinical symptoms in animal models of asthma.57

Boosting Glutathione
Another important supplement to add to an antiallergy/antiasthma regimen is N-acetylcysteine (NAC).
   
Environmental chemicals can produce immune-system imbalances. Many of the environmental chemicals and pollutants associated with increased allergic tendency have been shown to enhance type 2 helper T cell (Th2) dominance, the T-helper cell pattern found in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and other type 1 hypersensitivity disorders.
   
Researchers have shown that glutathione depletion may be one possible reason for this T-helper cell imbalance. Preliminary evidence indicates that restoring glutathione levels with oral supplementation of NAC might be an effective option for reducing allergic rhinitis and asthma caused by environmental toxins.58
   
Additionally, in a rat model of allergic rhinitis, NAC - through its role as an antioxidant - suppressed the allergen-induced nasal inflammatory cascade.59
   
NAC also reduces the viscosity of mucus, so that the mucus is more easily expelled.60

Conclusion
The most effective way to heal the body of allergies and asthma is to reduce the total burden while at the same time supplementing with key nutraceuticals and engaging in lifestyle support measures. Addressing the total burden will make any supplement regimen or lifestyle approach more effective.

Notes
1.   Busse PJ et al. Characteristics of allergic sensitization among asthmatic adults older than 55 years: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2006. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;110(4):247.
2.   Bielory L et al. Presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology's (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting. Baltimore; November 7-11, 2013.
3.   Galli SJ et al. The development of allergic inflammation. Nature. 2008 July 24;454(7203):445-454.
4.   Czerwinski S et al. Migraine-asthma comorbidity and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. J Pregnancy. 2012;2012:858097. Epub 2012 Aug 13.
5.   What is asthma? [Web page]. National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma. Accessed December 20, 2013.
6.   National surveillance for asthma - United States, 1980-2004 [Web page]. CDC. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5608a1.htm. Accessed December 20, 2013.
7.   Postolache TT et al. Allergy: a risk factor for suicide? Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2008 Sep;10(5):363-376.
8.   Messias E et al. Seasonal allergies and suicidality: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Acta Psychiatr Sc and. 2010 Aug;122(2):139-142.
9.   Young SN et al. Elevated incidence of suicide in people living at altitude, smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: possible role of hypoxia causing decreased serotonin synthesis. J Psychiatry Neurosci. 2013 November;38(6): 423-426.
10. Aung T et al. Allergic respiratory disease as a potential co-morbidity for hypertension. Cardiol J. 2010;17(5):443-447.
11. Teodorescu M. Presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. Philadelphia; May 17-22, 2013.
12. Tucker GF Jr. Pulmonary migraine. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 1977;86:671-676.
13. Martin VT et al. Chronic rhinitis and its association with headache frequency and disability in persons with migraine: Results of the American Migraine Prevalence and Prevention (AMPP) Study. Cephalalgia. 2013. doi:10.1177/0333102413512031.
14. Got the sniffles? Migraines spike with allergies and hay fever, researchers find [online press release.]. University of Cincinnati. Nov. 25, 2013. http://healthnews.uc.edu/news/?/23502. Accessed on December 20, 2013.
15. Majoor C et al. Risk of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in asthma. Eur Respir J. 2012. doi:10.1183/09031936.00150312.
16. Gade EJ et al. Asthma affects time to pregnancy and fertility: a register-based twin study. Eur Respir J. November 2013.
17. Hak E et al. Association of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with atopic diseases and skin infections? A matched case-control study using the General Practice Research Database. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013;111(2):102.
18. Zhu HM et al. Analysis of allergens characteristic in 4637 patients with allergic rhinitis. [In Chinese.] Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2011 Nov;46(11):933-936.
19. Ballmer-Weber BK. Allergic reactions to food proteins. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2011 Mar;81(2-3):173-180.
20. Sánchez-López J et al. Cupressus arizonica pollen: a new pollen involved in the lipid transfer protein syndrome? J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol. 2011;21(7):522-526.
21. Caballero T and Martin-Esteban M. J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol. 1998 Jan-Feb;8(1):6-16.
22. Hoflehner E et al. Prevention of birch pollen-related food allergy by mucosal treatment with multi-allergen-chimers in mice. PLoS One. 2012;7(6):e39409. Epub 2012 Jun 29.
23. De Swert LF et al. Secondary soy allergy in children with birch pollen allergy may cause both chronic and acute symptoms. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2012 Mar;23(2):117-123.
24. Barral P et al. A major allergen from pollen defines a novel family of plant proteins and shows intra- and interspecies [correction of interspecie] cross-reactivity. J Immunol. 2004 Mar 15;172(6):3644-3651.
25. Boccafogli A et al. Adverse food reactions in patients with grass pollen allergic respiratory disease. Ann Allergy. 1994 Oct;73(4):301-308.
26. Vally H, Thompson P. Role of sulfite additives in wine induced asthma: single dose and cumulative dose studies. Thorax. 2001 October;56(10):763-769.
27. Knufken D. Hidden additives in beer and wine. Living Without. June-July 2008.  Available at http://www.livingwithout.com/issues/2_2/hidden_additives-1318-1.html. Accessed December 20, 2013.
28. Maintz L, Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 May;85(5):1185-1196.
29. Rapin JR, Wiernsperger N. Possible links between intestinal permeability and food processing: A potential therapeutic niche for glutamine. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2010 Jun;65(6):635-643.
30. Drago L et al. Probiotics: immunomodulatory properties in allergy and eczema. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Oct;148(5):505-514.
31. Singh A et al. Immune-modulatory effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 in individuals suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen: an exploratory, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Feb;67(2):161-167.
32. Childcrout JS et al. Ambient air pollution and asthma exacerbations in children: an eight-city analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 2006;164:505-517.
33. Samoli E et al. Acute effects of air pollution on pediatric asthma exacerbation: evidence of association and effect modification. Environ Res. 2011;111:418-424.
34. Chauhan AJ, Johnston SL. Air pollution and infection in respiratory illness. Br Med Bull. 2003;68:95-112.
35. Goings SA et al. Effect of nitrogen dioxide exposure on susceptibility to influenza A virus infection in healthy adults. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1989;139:1075-1081.
36. Lee SY et al. Allergic diseases and air pollution. Asia Pac Allergy. 2013 Jul;3(3):145-154.
37. Glasgow NJ et al. Feather bedding and childhood asthma associated with house dust mite sensitisation: a randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child. 2011 Jun;96(6):541-547.
38. Rains N et al. House dust mite allergen (Der p 1) accumulation on new synthetic and feather pillows. Clin Exp Allergy. 1999 Feb;29(2):182-185
39. Ponsonby AL et al. Feather bedding and house dust mite sensitization and airway disease in childhood. J Clin Epidemiol. 2002 Jun;55(6):556-562.
40. Nafstad P et al. The use of a feather quilt, childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis: a prospective cohort study. Clin Exp Allergy. 2002 Aug;32(8):1150-1154.
41. Carey SA et al. Satratoxin-G from the black mold Stachybotrys chartarum induces rhinitis and apoptosis of olfactory sensory neurons in the nasal airways of rhesus monkeys. Toxicol Pathol. 2012 Aug;40(6):887-898.
42. Nagayoshi M et al. Inhalation of Stachybotrys chartarum evokes pulmonary arterial remodeling in mice, attenuated by Rho-kinase inhibitor. Mycopathologia. 2011 Jul;172(1):5-15.
43. Shi C et al. Characterization of human antigenic proteins SchS21 and SchS34 from Stachybotrys chartarum. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2011;155(1):74-85.
44. Karlson G, Bennicke P. Acupuncture in asthmatic children: a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial of efficacy. Altern Ther Health Med. 2013 Jul-Aug;19(4):13-19.
45. Reinhold T et al. Cost-effectiveness for acupuncture in seasonal allergic rhinitis: economic results of the ACUSAR trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2013 Jul;111(1):56-63.
46. Roschek B Jr et al. Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis. Phytother Res. 2009 Jul;23(7):920-926.
47. Mittman P. Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med. 1990 Feb;56(1):44-47.
48. Evans M et al. A dried yeast fermentate prevents and reduces inflammation in two separate experimental immune models. Evid Based Comp Altern Med. 2012;2012:973041. Epub 2012 Apr 5.
49. Moyad MA et al. Immunogenic yeast-based fermentation product reduces allergic rhinitis-induced nasal congestion: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Adv Ther. 2009;26(8):795-804.
50. Jensen GS et al. A double-blind placebo-controlled, randomized pilot study: a consumption of a high-metabolite immunogen from yeast culture has beneficial effects on erythrocyte health and mucosal immune protection in healthy subjects. Open Nutr J. 2008;2:68-75.
51. Guo R et al. Herbal medicines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007 Dec;99(6):483-495.
52. Seo JH et al. Association of antioxidants with allergic rhinitis in children from Seoul. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2013 Mar;5(2):81-87.
53. Hagel AF et al. Intravenous infusion of ascorbic acid decreases serum histamine concentrations in patients with allergic and non-allergic diseases. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2013 Sep;386(9):789-793.
54. Middleton E, Jr. Effect of plant flavonoids on immune and inflammatory cell function. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1998;439:175-182.
55. Min YD et al. Quercetin inhibits expression of inflammatory cytokines through attenuation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK in HMC-1 human mast cell line. Inflam Res. 2007;56(5):210-215.
56. Sakai-Kashiwabara M, Asano K. Inhibitory action of quercetin on eosinophil activation in vitro. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:127105.
57. Dorsch W et al. Antiasthmatic effects of Galphimia glauca, gallic acid, and related compounds prevent allergen- and platelet-activating factor-induced bronchial obstruction as well as bronchial hyperreactivity in guinea pigs. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1992;97(1):1-7.
58. Crinnion WJ. Do environmental toxicants contribute to allergy and asthma? Altern Med Rev. 2012 Mar;17(1):6-18.
59. Guibas GV et al. N-acetylcysteine exerts therapeutic action in a rat model of allergic rhinitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013 Jul;3(7):543-549.
60. Sheffner A. The reduction in vitro in viscosity of mucoprotein solution by a new mucolytic agent, N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1963;106:298-310.

Dr. Chris MeletisDr. Chris D. Meletis is an educator, international author, and lecturer. His personal mission is "Changing America's Health One Person at a Time." He believes that when people become educated about their bodies, that is the moment when true change and wellness begins. Dr. Meletis served as dean of naturopathic medicine and chief medical officer for 7 years at National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM) and was awarded the 2003 Physician of the Year award by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
www.DrMeletis.com

 

Kimberly Wilkes is a freelance writer specializing in health, science, nutrition, and complementary medicine. She has written more than 300 articles covering a variety of topics from the dangers of homocysteine to sugar's damaging effects on the heart. She is the editor of Complementary Prescriptions Journal and enjoys scouring the medical literature to find the latest health-related science. 

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