Seasonal Allergies and Your Liver

altIt’s Nothing to Sneeze At!

Bulletin: Unusually high pollen counts are expected this spring. What does this mean for many of you? A miserable spring!

altSpring time is a time of change…..a time to purchase a new wardrobe, plan a vacation, plant a garden or just get out of the house to enjoy the magnificent weather. Most of us love spring and summer. The sweet scents and sights of colorful blossoms, the sounds of chirping birds and the aroma of fresh-mown grass are refreshing and welcome especially after the cold, harsh winter. For others, though, it is not so pleasant a time; the beginning of spring signals the start of seasonal allergies.

Airborne allergies are caused when pollen, a foreign protein, enters the body and causes the IgA antibody of the immune system to over-react. This reaction causes itching, inflammation, and a mucus discharge from the respiratory system, skin and eyes. The number of allergy sufferers is on the increase because the immune system has been compromised. It has been injected with damaging chemicals through vaccinations and taking pharmaceuticals. It deals with the everyday presence of allergens like dust, pet danders, metals, cosmetic ingredients, and food allergies. As a result, the body has become a very toxic environment. In addition, lifestyle then adds “insult to injury” with poor nutrition, high stress levels and lack of exercise.

In simple terms, an allergy is a hyperactive response of the immune system to certain substances that are ‘foreign’ to our bodies. These substances are called allergens, and they can range from food and pollen to drugs and dust.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies, i.e., Hay Fever (Allergic Rhinitis):

Repeated sneezing attacks Sleep Troubles
Runny or itchy nose Itchy or sore throat, palate and ear
Nasal congestion/congestion Loss of concentration / memory lapes
Impaired sense of smell and taste General feeling of being unwell (Similar to a cold but without the fever)
Eye irritation… itch, red, watery eyes Respiratory problems
Cough / chronic coughs Dizziness
Fatigue Depression
Facial pressure or pain Anxiety
Wheezing (If the pollen count is very high) Muscle aches and pains
Headaches Lethargy

Most allergy sufferers will follow the conventional treatment of antihistamines, decongestants, and inhaled steroids and suffer through their side effects. These treatments are called Suppressive Therapy; to decrease the symptoms of the patient while not addressing the true cause of the problem. This therapy will result in short term relief only. European studies have shown this approach leads to more chronic, long term illnesses which develop later in life such as asthma, skin rashes, arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

Dr. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg, M. D. (1905-1985) studied this phenomenon his entire professional career. In his book “Homotoxicology” he explains how an allergy is an early sign that the patient is not at a level of optimum health. Dr. Reckeweg explained that if the allergy is treated with the use of Suppressive Therapy instead of with natural medicine to improve the health of the patient, it will lead to a decline in the individual’s health. This will cause the development of more chronic, degenerative diseases over time.

The Liver’s Role in Allergies

AllergieThe livers are often the result of an overloaded toxic state within the liver. As the primary human organ responsible for processing everything we come in contact with, the liver filters out any toxic components introduced into the body. If the quantity of a substance entering the bloodstream is too great for the liver to process quickly, the immune system recognizes the molecules as being an allergen and produces antibodies against them. Through the filtering process, the liver plays a substantial role in reducing the effect an established or potential allergen will have on the body.



The liver is the primary organ for cleansing and detoxifying the body. This large organ performs up to 500 functions. What happens when the liver is sick or tired?



The liver works tirelessly to detoxify, inactivate and excrete toxic substances, drugs, hormones as well as dead and damaged cells from the body. But an overload of toxins can leave the liver overworked and exhausted, allowing toxic and waste material to enter the blood and body. This causes symptoms such as hormone imbalances, fatigue and weakens the immune system.  Physical symptoms such as allergies, indigestion, bloating, eye problems (spots, red or watery ealtyes), headaches, hot flushes, insomnia, PMS, muscular pain, head pain and neck tension can occur.

What happens when the liver has more toxins than it can handle? It stores them! If it stores them, it also produces additional histamines to protect itself. If an allergen is present, the brain sends a message: “Send out a few histamines! I think there’s an invader!” The liver responds and releases too many histamines, resulting in an allergic response – hives, asthma, sneezing, runny nose, etc.

A testimony: Miss X was allergic and asthmatic and had undergone allergy treatments all her life. Inhalers and medications were a part of everyday life with her asthma being life-threatening at times. She consulted with an herbalist who told her there were three causes of her allergies: 1) Her liver was overproducing histamines because of the toxic overload; 2) Her thyroid was low (sets the rate of the liver); 3) Her adrenal glands and lungs were weak. Within three months of being treated with herbs to detox the liver, build up her lungs, and support her adrenals and thyroid, she was allergy and asthma free! Her advice to anyone suffering from allergies: “Cleanse the liver, and maybe like me, you’ll become allergy/asthma free!”

altLiver Support to Target the Systemic Problem

There are certain foods that help to protect and detoxify the liver:
  • Apples contain pectin which helps to bind and excrete heavy metals right off the intestines. This directly helps to reduce the load of filtration on the liver.
  • Beets, carrots, red onions, and aubergine contain flavonoids and beta-carotene which are potent antioxidants.
  • Garlic contains allicin, an antioxidant, and the mineral selenium.  It assists the removal of heavy metals from the liver.
  • Eggs, brown rice and whole grains, broccoli, and spinach contain B-complex vitamins which improve liver function and promote liver decongestion.  Vitamin B12 helps to metabolize fats and improves liver health.
  • Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and lettuce contain glucosinolates which help the liver produce enzymes for detoxification.
  • Grapefruits are rich in antioxidants and help in natural detoxification of liver.
  • Bitter vegetables such as bitter gourd, dandelion greens, mustard greens, and chicory promote the production and flow of baltile.

Physical activity helps cleansing – it brings balance and relieves stress. Psyco-physical activities are the most helpful including rebounding, meditation, walking in nature, dancing, weight lifting, yoga and related relaxing or stretching movements. Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes that when the liver is stressed, anger, depression and irritability are more likely to arise. Other alternative health experts consider the liver the organ most strongly affected by emotions and stress.

Sweating is a powerful way to cleanse your body from accumulated toxins!

Far-infrared waves provide rejuvenating radiant energy in the form of heat, similar to that of the sun which all life depends on. FIR heat stimulates the sweat glands that cleanse and detoxify the skin.

Two of the most popular ways to support liver health are:

  • Detoxification – A liver detoxification program can greatly reduces allergies.  Liver clalteansing removes built up sludge responsible for slowing the liver’s processing and filtering duties.
  • Preservation – Preserving the integrity of healthy liver cells assures optimal liver functioning, which reduces allergies. Providing liver support through supplementation helps to provide this assurance.

As you now know, there is a HUGE relationship between the liver and allergies. The liver is a vital part of the human body, and it is the most powerful organ of the body’s defense system. This is not because the liver fights off invaders, but because it detoxifies our body in our defense and immune system.  If the liver fails (e.g. the person suffers from hepatitis or liver cancer), the body accumulates such profound toxicity that if the problem is not solved, death follows.  Hundreds of thousands of chemicals foreign to the body – xenobiotics – are disarmed and disposed of via the liver. This major organ is our speedy toxic disposal system and our immune system would be dysfunctional without it.

Understanding how the liver & allergies tie together

is crucial in leading a healthy life for those suffering from allergies.

There is no need to dread the coming of spring! You, too, can take pleasure in the sweet scents and sights of colorful blossoms and the sounds of chirping birds; or enjoy the simple pleasure of planting a flower garden. We are here to assist you! BE PREPARED!


Wishing you the best in health,
The Wolfe Clinic



  1. Thanks so much for this article. After trying everything else to get rid of allergies, maybe this is one thing that will work. I never got the connection between the liver and allergies.

  2. Amanda

    I’m curious if anyone has managed to be cured of oral allergies? My hay fever has gotten worse over the years and I’m now to the point that I can hardly eat and raw fruits and vegetables. It’s very discouraging and it makes it harder to eat healthy. What would my best option be to cleanse my liver since it can’t be through fruit and veggies??

  3. Christina

    Hello, Thank you for this article. What herbs did the patient use to help rid her of her allergies in 3 months? Thank you. I hppe someone answers. I’ve got high histamine production, at the moment.

  4. alex

    In traditional chinese medicine, liver imbalances can be treated with herbs such as mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum flower, honeysuckle flower. For allergy sufferers here, please try to drink these as tea on a daily basis to see if that helps. In the longer term, you need to find out what causes your liver to be imbalance. For that, you need to consult a very good chinese physician (*not all chinese physicians are good, lots of lousy ones out there – u have to try and error unfortunately). God bless.

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