Allergies affect between 40 and 50 million Americans and according to the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, and over 50 percent of U.S. citizens test positive to one or more allergens. Allergy treatments usually fall into the class of drugs known as antihistamines. Antihistamines inhibit the production of histamines, the chemicals responsible sneezing, itch and watery eyes. Alternatives based on herbal ingredients may be associated with a number of adverse effects, according to a 2004 article in published in "Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology."
Chamomile
Varieties of chamomile include german chamomile, common camomile and stinking chamomile. Although both single and double flowers are used in medicine single flowered chamomile has he most powerful healing properties. Chamomile has an anti-allergenic properties but it may also induce an allergic reaction and there has been at least one reported case of anaphylactic shock due to chamomile ingestion.
Stinging Nettle
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), taking nettle capsules can help to reduce sneezing and itch in people suffering from hay fever to the extent that some doctors may well recommend taking a freeze-dried preparation of stinging nettle before hay fever season commences. It is thought that stinging nettle exerts its anti-allergenic effects by reducing the amount of histamine the body produces when exposed to an allergen. However UMMC believes more studies are needed before nettle's antihistamine properties can be confirmed.
Butterbur
There are two forms of butterbur, which although identical in appearance, have different proprieties. The type used in the tretamemt of allergies such as hay fever is known as butterbur petasin. Butterbur's efficacy has been evaluated in clinical trials. In 2002, the results of a two-week, randomised double-blind study, comparing Butterbur petasin extract and the antihistamines, cetirizine, in the treatment of hay fever was published in the "British Medical Journal." According to the study's lead scientist, A. Schapowal, "The effects of butterbur are similar to those of cetirizine in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis when evaluated blindly by patients and doctors. Butterbur should be considered for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis when the sedative effects of antihistamines need to be avoided."
