Managing Seasonal Allergies With Vitamins and Supplements
Seasonal allergy sufferers may find themselves taking antihistamines, using allergy nasal sprays and even asthma inhalers quite frequently. Many people have become concerned about taking so many medications during allergy season that they are starting to look for more natural alternatives.
This is especially true for allergy sufferers who are tired of the side effects of allergy medications. Many users experience dry mouth, fatigue, headaches and irritability. For someone that needs something every day, these bothersome side effects are just unacceptable. Some of the side effects can even be dangerous or life threatening. Dangerous side effects include high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms or palpitations, allergic reactions and disorders of the blood and liver.
There are a few natural antihistamines that are as effective as over the counter and prescription antihistamines, but have very few, if any, negative side effects. The main source of natural allergy relief is vitamin C. Supplements that are also very effective include green tea, grape seed extract, pycnogenol and pantothenic acid.
Pantothenic acid is vitamin B-5. It is especially effective for people who chronically suffer from nasal allergies, or allergic rhinitis. It can offer marked relief in as little as ten minutes and continue to suppress cough and mucus secretions for up to twelve hours.
Green Tea has compounds that block histamine receptors, acting much like an over the counter antihistamine. Green tea has many health benefits beyond easing allergies. The compounds in green tea are believed to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, lower total cholesterol levels and improve the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
Grape seed extract and pycnogenol have the similar compounds to green tea, called bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are plant-derived antioxidants that have many health benefits. Different bioflavonoids behave differently in the body. The green tea bioflavonoid has antihistamine properties because it blocks histamine receptors. Grape seed extract and pycnogenol do not block receptors, but inhibit the cell’s production of histamine by up to seventy percent. They are excellent sources of allergy symptom relief and also can help protect you from heart disease and high blood pressure.
Vitamin C has been the most respected illness prevention and treatment supplement for years. It is now making its way to the top of allergy treatment lists as well. Vitamin C greatly reduces the amount of histamine production in the body. So much so, that acute attacks, such as asthma, anaphylactic shock, allergic reactions to stings and bites, among other life threatening conditions, can be treated with vitamin C while you seek medical condition. Vitamin C slows down life threatening allergic reactions and can buy you valuable time when seeking help.
Vitamin C is also very helpful in treating seasonal allergies. Not only does it nearly stop histamine production, but it also helps to break down and get rid of histamines that are released, giving it the double-punch of allergy fighting power. It doesn’t stop there; vitamin C supplements reduce inflammation throughout your body. This is very beneficial, not only for your overall health, but for asthma or respiratory allergy sufferers. Keeping air passages open with daily doses of vitamin C have show to greatly reduce allergy and asthma attacks.
Using vitamins and supplements to treat your allergy symptoms can have many health benefits on top of relieving allergy symptoms. Plus, they are generally much less expensive than regular medications. Allergy symptoms can sometimes be indicative of other conditions, so make sure that you have an official allergy diagnosis and the advice of a physician before starting a vitamin and supplement regimen.