Allergies: The Functional Medicine Approach
THE FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH TO ALLERGIES
By Scott Berliner, R.Ph.
April 6, 2003
It’s thirty degrees here on this early April Sunday morning. The forecast is four to six inches of snow tomorrow. In spite of these wintry weather warnings, the grass is greening and spring is definitely in the air, though nowhere else to be found.
With the greening, come the other signs of new growth in nature, and along with this beauty, we get the “Allergy Season”, a seemingly dismal attempt to dampen the feelings of coming alive that spring brings. Allergies may range from a simple eye irritation, to skin problems, respiratory issues, sinus congestion and infection, intestinal issues, and even asthma. The effects of allergies can reach every part of a person’s “being.” Billions of dollars are spent each year in an attempt to ease or prevent these symptoms, and because of this desperate market, many more dollars are spent promoting treatments to the consumer. It is now commonplace for patients to request specific prescription drugs from their doctors. Unfortunately, pharmaceutical companies have far more money to spend on actively promoting these pharmaceutical products than any herbal company might ever have. For this reason, standard “alternative” treatments have been based on mostly anecdotal information passed from generation to generation.
A new dawn is here, and we now have more support for the new field of “Phyto- nutraceutics”. Finally, we have nutritional supplements that are researched based.
These advancements are reaching into all areas of naturopathic medicine, and we now have the ability to create research-based protocols using multiple modalities.
For the many sinus sufferers out there, there are new and effective treatments that span the gamut from homeopathic to herbal, leaving no area untouched. “Euphorbium Nasal Spray” from the German homeopathic company Heel, was my friend during the heating season, when chronic rhinitis is common. Now their combination sublingual tablet called “Allergy,” will more than likely take its place. There is also an “Allergy” nasal spray. Allergies can weaken one’s system to the point that infection can set in. As anyone with sinus allergies can attest to, are the common occurrences of sinus and respiratory infections. Amino Acid and Botannical Supply’s “ Colloidal Silver,” in medically active concentrations of 500 parts per million or even 1100 parts per million, can be used effectively for many of these infections. This use is not limited to oral use. Many people have gotten tremendous results with nasal applications of colloidal silver. For details on this use, please call Life Science Pharmacy.
For those people out there suffering with the crippling effects of respiratory allergy, there is a particularly wonderful natural extract that research shows can profoundly influence the course of these allergies. Perilla extract by Metagenics can aid in the relief of allergies through it’s proposed blockage of histamine release. Metagenics, the wonderful research based supplement company, has accumulated much data supporting this product. At one tablet twice a day, this is an easy low-cost approach to affecting improvement. Give this little tablet thirty days, and then see if you haven’t seen substantial improvement.
The old standby, vitamin C, is still an effective way of increasing your body’s ability to fight off allergy. Natrol’s “Ester C with Bioflavonoids,” is a wonderful, high quality “C” that is available at a reasonable price.
