There is a high incidence of allergic rhinitis in this country.  10-15% of the population suffers from it and it is especially common in children and young adults.  Allergic rhinits is not fatal but it can be annoying.  The usual symptoms are stuffy nose, runny nose, sniffing, nasal itching, sneezing, itchy eyes and itchy throat.  It can be a seasonal disease or perennial and the diagnosis can be made through either a careful history or RAST test and skin test. 

Traditional Treatments

The Western therapy is mainly allergy medications -

(1) Antihistamine such as Benadryl, Dimetabp, Phenergan, Rynatan. 

(2) Newer medicines, non-sedative type antihistamine, like Claritin, Zyrtec, Alegra and Hismanal.  They are all effective in easing symptoms but don’t cure the problem at the source. 

(3) If necessary, modern medicine can search for the cause of allergy, produce vaccine and do the immunotherapy.  But this takes from three to five years and involves continued injections and testing.  Only 85% of people have a proper result. 

(4) Another kind of treatment is intra-nasal steroid such as Flonase, Rhinocort and Nasacort, which is very popular nowadays.

Side Effects of Traditional Treatments

Usually the antihistamines has many side effects such as headache, fatigue, nervousness, abdominal pain, back pain, liver enzyme increase, hypertension, and depression.

Imminotherapy is expensive and time consuming, and has potential for severe reactions.

Intra-nasal steroid treatment also has side effects include headache, pharyngitis, cough, nausea, dyspepsia and epistaxis.

Side-Effect Free Nutritional Treatment

• Antioxidants:
Allergies are usually caused by allergens inhaled into the system and antioxidants such as Vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, zinc, green tea extract, grape seed extract, and pycnogenol can clear allergens.  They can neutralize free radicals induced by allergens, stabilize chemical mediator surrounding allergy cells and balance immune system function.

• Green Barley:
Green Barley contains 500 to 700 kinds of enzymes such as SOD, which can moderate allergy system.  It is also a very strong antioxidant to clear allergens.  It removes toxins from the body system.

• Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba can ease allergic symptoms.  It is the natural antihistamine without side effects.  It  balances temperature control center in the brain and is especially good for allergy patients who are sensitive to temperature change.

Daily Suggested Regimen
 Green Barley       4 teaspoons
 Antioxidant         4 tabs (Vitamin A, C, E, Selenium, Grape Seeds, Zinc,  & Green Tea )
 Ginkgo Biloba      240mg ~ 360mg
 Multi Vitamin        4 tabs