The allergy antidote: forty million Americans suffer from seasonal rhinitis. Learn to avoid the triggers, treat your symptoms, and enjoy a sneeze-free spring

Natural Health, April, 2005 by Kathleen Doheny

Nutrition may affect how you breathe. A diet low in sodium but high in omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, flaxseed, and cold-water fish can reduce symptoms of rhinitis, concludes an analysis in the journal Primary Care. And maintaining a healthy level of bacteria in the gut through a diet rich in vegetables and fruits may help the immune system's resistance to allergens, according to a report in Infection and Immunity. When symptoms do hit, eliminating fatty foods, dairy products, sugar, and alcohol will reduce phlegm.

Relaxation is important because stress makes allergy symptoms worse in many people, says Marshall. Meditating, practicing yoga, and listening to pleasant music have been shown to be beneficial.

For updates on allergy management, contact the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (aaaai.org; 800-822-2762) or the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American (aafa.org; 800-7-ASTHMA). TO determine the National Allergy Bureau's pollen count for your home area or travel destination, visit aaaai.org/nab.

TALK TO YOUR DOC

Some allergy treatments require professional guidance, including these medications and procedures.

Nasal corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory drugs that treat all symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Newer versions, such as Elonase (fluticasone), Nasonex (mometasone), and especially Nasacort (triamcinolone), are faster-acting and better tolerated.

Leukotriene modifiers block the action of substances that lead to inflammation and symptoms like congestion. Depending on the patient, "they're either magic or worthless," says Gailen D. Marshall, M.D. Singulair (montelukast sodium) was first used for the treatment of asthma, but now has the official FDA OK for allergic rhinitis. Other leukotriene modifiers are prescribed "off label" for rhinitis.

Anti-IgE antibody is the latest form of treatment intended to disrupt the allergic chain reaction, sometimes called the allergic cascade. It is expensive, continues to be researched, and is used in moderate to severe cases to reduce asthma symptoms caused by allergies, and only when corticosteroids have proved insufficient.

Immunotherapy isn't new but it can be effective, says Marianne Frieri, M.D., director of allergy immunology training at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y. Over time, tiny amounts of an allergen are injected to make the patient less sensitive. "What we call allergy shots work to control allergic rhinitis and can help asthma as well," Frieri notes. "It actually alters the immune-cell response to allergens." in sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, the allergens are placed under the tongue. The technique is used in other countries, including England. In a 2004 review in the journal Allergy, researchers concluded that SLIT and the injection technique are almost equivalent.

Acupuncture can relieve allergies, says Michael Spano, L.Ac., a licensed acupuncturist and a clinical resident at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. Combining acupuncture with certain Chinese herbal formulas (such as Pe Min Kan Wan) seems to have some benefit, too, he says.