Herbal supplements can offer hope

Many allergy sufferers find relief from natural alternative medicines.

Several herbal supplements have shown promise for treating allergies, said Kim DeRhodes, a pharmacist at Carolinas HealthCare System and Whole Health Nutrition and Wellness in Charlotte.

For symptom relief, she suggests butterbur, a flowering shrub, or stinging nettle leaves. Both are available in health food stores.

Two small studies in Scotland and Switzerland have found butterbur to have the same allergy-fighting effects as Allegra and Zyrtec, two prescription antihistamines.

For prevention of allergic reactions, DeRhodes suggested quercetin, a bioflavonoid that comes from the white pulp in citrus fruit. "It's a natural antihistamine," she said.

Those treatments are also recommended by Dr. Andrew Weil, the nationally known integrative medicine expert. His popular Web site, www.drweil.com, also mentions acupuncture for prevention and treatment of allergy symptoms.

Both Weil and DeRhodes suggest flushing nasal passages with a warm saline solution to prevent or treat sinus infections.

The treatment is called a neti pot, for the traditional Indian nasal-irrigation device shaped like Aladdin's lamp.

"You have to get used to the sensation of water in your nose," DeRhodes said.

"For people that have chronic allergies or sinus infections, that helps a lot."

From Charlotte.com