or three times a day. Rarely, side effects of headache are seen.
. .. A newer supplement for allergic rhinitis is butterbur (Petasites hybridus). In one study, a special extract of butterbur was as effective as over the counter anti-histamines in treating seasonal allergies. This supplement has also been found to be helpful in preventing migraine headaches. If you are thinking about trying butterbur, you must find a particular formulation. These extracts have been processed to remove all the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) that are naturally present in butterbur. The most common trade name product is called Petadolex. Talk to your Peoples Pharmacist or Naturopath for more information about Butterbur. Butterbur is thought to work by preventing the |
formation of compounds called leukotrienes. Leukotrienes are inflammatory substances produced by the body in response to allergic reactions.
. .. I like vitamin C; whenever I read about it, I learn something new. Did you know that humans are one of the few animals that don’t produce their own supply of this important vitamin? If you ever want to learn more about vitamin C, or any vitamin, visit the website for the Linus Pauling Institute (lpi.oregonstate.edu). It is thought that vitamin C can act as a mild antihistamine. I recommend that people take about 2 grams of extra vitamin C if they suffer from seasonal allergies. Some people find that it helps with the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Higher doses of vitamin C might cause |
stomach upset and diarrhea.
. .. Whenever people ask me about vitamin C, they sometimes ask which form is best. There are several ‘flavours’ of vitamin C: ascorbic acid, Ester-C and various mineral ascorbates. There is little difference between the forms of vitamin C in terms of absorption and usefulness in the body. Although, it is true that the mineral ascorbate forms might be less irritating to the stomach because they are not as acidic.
. .. Acidophilus and other probiotics are often overlooked when it comes to seasonal allergies. There are several ways that these ‘friendly’ intestinal bacteria can help reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies. The first is that these bacteria have been shown
Ian Lloyd...Continued On Page 6 |
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