Treatment of allergic rhinitis, old and new ways

The allergy season is almost here in large parts of the world. And in much of the world, millions of people with allergies and allergic rhinitis will go to the doctor or pharmacy to get prescription or over-the-counter medications. But if you knew how allergy medications work, you would probably be much more interested in alternatives.

How old allergy medications work If you get something to sniff, sneeze, tears in your eyes and sniff over the counter, it's probably a product that contains diphenhydramine. It is the main active ingredient in Benadryl. A closely related chemical, brompheniramine, is the active ingredient in Dimetapp, Dimetane, Nasahist, ND-Stat and Oraminic. Another closely related chemical, chlorpheniramine, is the active ingredient in aller-chlorine, chloro-trimetone and teldrin.

The way all of these drugs work is to bind to the nerve cells that line the cholesterol. They slow down the transmission of the nerve signal to your nose, which triggers the release of histamine, which leads to sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, and tears. The problem is that products, as all users know, are not only less effective on the nerves of the nose. They cause slowness all over the body and can make you sleepy all day.

How New Allergy Drugs Work About twenty years ago, pharmaceutical companies started offering antihistamines that don't cause sleepiness. Some of them, such as Certirizin, which is sold under the name Zyrtec, and Fexofenadin, which is sold under the name Allegra, are still on the market. Two of the drugs in this class, astemizole (Hismanal) and terfenadine (Seldane), were withdrawn from the market when they were associated with dozens of cases of sudden cardiac death.

If you do not take prescription medication, there is no additional risk of heart complications from Allegra or Zyrtec. However, in this case you need to talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking the medicine.

How herbs work in allergic rhinitis Most herbs are milder and milder treatments that work in a similar way to medication. Feverfew, for example, is a good treatment for people with allergies and migraines. But it works just like older antihistamines and can cause drowsiness during the day. Some European anti-allergic blends contain comfrey, which works like Zyrtec and Allegra and should be taken with the same precautions.

The best herbal medicine for allergies is the phytochemical quercetin, which is particularly common in grapefruit, onions and apples. It is true that one apple a day can ward off your allergies, but not everyone should eat a lot of plant foods to combat the symptoms of seasonal allergies. This is because quercetin has to be excreted from your body through the liver and the enzymes the body uses to process quercetin are the same enzymes it uses to detoxify many common medicines.

So what's the best way to treat the symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis? The best approach is something you do, not something you take. And that's an acupressure facial.

Australian scientists, who went through 92 studies of allergy treatments in the medical literature, found that the best long-term treatment for hay fever and asthma was not a herb or medication, but a facial acupressure massage. Due to the increased blood flow to the nose and sinuses, your body can treat allergies independently.

Treatment of non-allergic rhinitis

Non-allergic rhinitis can be a frustrating condition. It can have the same symptoms as hay fever (allergic rhinitis), but the cause is more difficult to determine. Non-allergic rhinitis is also different from sinusitis. Some of the symptoms are the same, but the mucus produced is clear or slightly cloudy and does not have the green or brownish color of the mucus that is usually caused by sinusitis. Once you've identified the cause, you've taken the first step in treating non-allergic rhinitis, but you have other options available.

Diagnosing non-allergic rhinitis goes beyond examining symptoms and examining a person's history. Who are you exposed to How often does this happen when you eat a certain food or drink a certain drink? Does that happen when the weather changes? Does this happen if you go in after the cold? In my case, for example, I get a stuffy nose when I only drink a sip or two or when I'm exposed to some (but not all) flavors.

Causes of non-allergic rhinitis

Professional (also known as a vasomotor) - smog, workplace odors from solvents, perfumes, smoke or other sources

Infectious - The cold is caused by a virus. You usually get cold within a week, but sinus problems can last longer. The blocked sinuses that do not flow create a perfect environment for a bacterial infection that gets stuck in your sinuses and causes sinus infection.

Weather Conditions - Weather changes can cause symptoms of rhinitis. There is an incredible variation in the type of weather that leads to which problems. For example, some people do much better in a hot, dry environment, while the same environment causes significant sinus congestion for me.

Eating and drinking - Spicy food can cause a runny nose. This is a good change if you are chronically constipated. Beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages can cause significant constipation for some people, as can wheat products.

Hormonal causes - hypothyroidism, hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy can trigger symptoms of rhinitis.

There is also a condition known as medical rhinitis that is caused by overuse of over-the-counter nasal sprays. These sprays are only intended for two or three consecutive days. If you use them all the time, your overload will get worse if you try to break away from them. I think you could call it a "nasal addiction" for these sprays.

Here are some of the most common non-allergic rhinitis treatments prescribed by traditional medicine:

Eliminate the cause. Avoiding triggers is the most effective treatment for non-allergic rhinitis, but is not always possible.

Antihistamines and steroidal nasal sprays can be prescribed by a doctor and are effective for most people.

Anti-cholinergic nasal sprays such as AtroventA® are suitable for patients with chronic cold and / or post-nasal cold.

Oral decongestants can also be effective in treating congestion, but in my experience, their effectiveness decreases with long-term use.