by Jim English
Allergies occur when the body overreacts
to substances that are normally harmless, such as
pollen. Some people inherit their allergies, while
others become sensitive to specific foods or chemicals
following repeated exposure. In either case, once
the body has mistakenly identified a substance as
foreign, or 'not self' it begins to set the stage
for future allergic reactions by producing antibodies
against the particular substance.
The next time the specific allergen
is detected by an antibody the immune system goes
into high gear, triggering the rapid release of histamine
and other inflammatory chemicals from mast cells,
a specialized class of immune cells found in connective
tissues throughout the body, especially in small blood
vessels, skin, and respiratory tract.
As
histamine is released into the tissues localized inflammation
occurs (Fig. 1), triggering allergic symptoms such
as itching eyes, nose and throat, watery eyes, sneezing,
stuffy or runny nose, nausea, headaches, and an impaired
sense of smell and hearing.
In
addition to attacking the sinuses and eyes, histamine
can also affect the throat, lungs, stomach, bladder,
vagina, muscles, joints, and central nervous system.
Histamine also affects brain tissues, causing sufferers
to feel "foggy," confused and unable to
concentrate. Left untreated, allergies can lead to
chronic swelling of the sinuses and increased risk
of infection.
Primary
Allergic Symptoms
Characterized by inflammation of the eyes, it is the
most common form of allergic eye disease. Symptoms
include itchy and watery eyes and eyelid distress
as the sclera and conjunctiva, which form the lining
of the eye, become red and swollen.
This allergic reaction is characterized by nasal stuffiness,
repeated sneezing, nasal itching, clear nasal discharge,
and itching of the throat and roof of the mouth. There
are two primary forms of allergic rhinitis —
seasonal and perennial. Allergic rhinitis triggered
by the seasonal release of tree, grass or weed pollens
is called seasonal allergic rhinitis. Symptoms
are most severe during the spring and summer months,
when pollen levels are high, and decrease with the
arrival of cold weather.
Hay fever, triggered by indoor irritants
such as feathers, mold, animal dander (hair and skin
shed by pets) or dust mites, is called perennial
allergic rhinitis. This type of allergic reaction
can result in year-round symptoms. Because different
types of pollen, dust and mold spores exist in various
geographic locations, some people may suddenly develop
allergic rhinitis after moving.
Characterized
by an inflammation of the sinuses, it frequently mimics
the common cold. The symptoms of sinusitis persist
for a longer period of time than a typical cold. Fever
may develop or persist. Symptoms of sinusitis include
frontal head discomfort, facial pain that often worsens
when patients are bending or straining, and yellow
or green nasal discharge. This type of sinusitis is
the result of an infection that secondary to allergic
rhinitis., occurring as a result of the nasal inflammation.
Characterized by
airway obstruction that is at least partially reversible
with medication and is always associated with allergy.
Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, especially on
exhalation, shortness of breath or rapid breathing,
bringing up mucus, chest tightness, and occasional
fatigue and slight chest pain.
Many people also suffer with
additional general symptoms, regardless of the location
of the primary problem. These general miseries can
include fatigue, malaise, irritability, headache,
foggy thinking, poor concentration, loss of sleep,
depression, and loss of appetite. The general symptoms
can be very disruptive of normal life, leading to
reduced work productivity and poor quality of life
for many allergy sufferers.
The best treatment for allergies is to avoid the substances
triggering symptoms. Since this is not always possible,
many allergy sufferers turn to prescription and over
the counter medications for relief. Over-the-counter
medicines line the shelves of pharmacies, calling
out to unfortunate victims of these seasonal or chronic
problems. While antihistamines and other drugs may
help some patients, they also cause serious problems
for others. Typical antihistamines may make even the
simplest of tasks, such as driving an automobile or
operating heavy machinery, difficult, or even dangerous.
Antihistamines block the effects of histamine after
it has been released. Unfortunately, many antihistamines
produce side effects, such as dry mouth, nausea, and
drowsiness. Other side effects include dizziness,
blurred vision, insomnia, and tremors.
Decongestants are often used for short-term relief
from nasal stuffiness. Ironically, many decongestants
can cause a "rebound" effect that actually
promotes the release of histamine release, leading
users to ultimately feel even more congested than
before.
Corticosteroids can reduce allergic reaction by preventing
body cells from responding to histamine. These compounds
are administered via a nasal spray. For profound allergy
symptoms, a one-time, very short course of systemic
corticosteroids may be a last resort treatment.
Allergy shots may be effective against specific, identifiable
allergens, such as ragweed and pollen. Immunotherapy
may take six months before any benefit is noted.
AllerPhase™
Inhibits Allergic Reactions
Allergic symptoms are highly varied,
because different allergens stimulate the immune system
at different sites in the body. Diverse symptoms and
locations require a multiple herbal formula to reduces
tissue inflammation while correcting the immune response.
AllerPhase is the first herbal formula to provide
quick-acting symptom relief for upper and lower respiratory
allergies while strengthening the immune system to
shorten the allergy season.
AllerPhase proprietary allergy formula
relieves allergic inflammation while correcting the
faulty immune response with a unique blend of herbs
that address the various stages of allergic reaction.
While each herb addresses immune response and inflammation
in some way, various combinations of the herbs attack
specific tissue irritations:
Centipeda, Xanthium,
and Angelica are well known for their
abilities to clear nasal and sinus congestion.
Centipeda and Schizonepeta
reduce inflammatory processes that cause itching in
the eyes and respiratory tissues.
Fritillaria, Angelica,
Paeonia, and Platycodon
reduce tissue swelling, the source of much of the
misery of allergies.
Centipeda, Fritillaria,
Platycodon, and Licorice
work together as expectorants to reduce accumulating
fluids.
Gastrodia promotes
blood flow to the brain to relieve “brain fog”
while helping other herbs reduce inflammation.
Paeonia sufruticosa
and Pseudostellaria work to dampen
the immune response to allergens and provide a corrective
effect on the immune system. These two herbs account
for the long-term benefits of the formula by helping
to desensitize allergy sufferers to various allergens.
