In allergic persons, exposure to certain substances can cause allergic reactions. A large area of allergic swelling in the skin is called angioedema. Common substances that trigger this reaction in susceptible people include certain drugs, bites from insects, and various types of foods. One potential remedy for angioedema is quercetin, which belongs to a class of molecules called flavonoids.
Characteristics
The flavonoid quercetin acts as an antioxidant, meaning that it destroys free radicals in the body. Because free radicals can damage tissue directly, quercetin may help prevent free-radical-mediated tissue damage. Natural dietary sources of quercetin include onions, citrius fruits, tea, red wine, parsley, apples and dark-colored berries. You can also get quercetin in pill form to be taken as a supplement.
How It Works
Inflammation causes the release of free radicals, so angioedema causes the accumulation of tissue-damaging free radicals beneath the skin in the areas of swelling. Because quercetin has antioxidant properties, the mechanism by which quercetin acts may be through its ability to combat the free radicals released as a result of angioedema. in addition, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes that quercetin may help prevent allergic angioedema from occurring in the first place.
Recommended Dose
To treat allergy symptoms, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends taking quercetin at doses between 600 and 250 mg each day. However, they also recommend taking this daily dose in several smaller doses. There is a possibility that swelling due to angioedema may affect your mouth, tongue and throat, and therefore make it very difficult to breathe. If you are experiencing these symptoms, taking quercetin may not be the appropriate immediate treatment, and Merck Manuals recommends seeking emergency medical treatment.
Considerations
As with any potential treatment, taking quercetin does come with potential side effects that you should consider. These include an upset stomach and headache. Taking a dose of quercetin higher than 1 mg each day may cause kidney damage. Quercetin may interact with other medications you are taking, such as blood-thinning medications, chemotherapy medications, cyclosporin and corticosteroids. If you are considering taking quercetin to treat or prevent angioedema, make sure to check with your doctor first.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Angioedema; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; June 2010
- Merck Manuals: Hives and Angioedema
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University; Flavonoids; Jane Higdon, Ph.D., et al.; June 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Quercetin; Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD; May 2009
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