Allergies

Every spring we see many people enduring weeks of sneezing and sniffing as the hay fever season sets in.

What’s more, more and more people seem to be falling prey to hay fever. It seems that up to 12% of the population now gets hay fever here in Ireland. The hay fever season is also getting longer too.

Sniffing and sneezing are the most common symptoms, but for some the problem can be worse – itching eyes, nose and throat are often experienced, while chronic tiredness, poor appetite, nausea and headaches are also reported by hay fever sufferers.

Hay fever is an allergy, an overreaction of an immune system to a particular substance in the environment. It is not known exactly what causes the immune system to react so strongly, but the number of allergic responses is definitely on the rise, indicating environmental and lifestyle causes. There is now a theory that our over – clean lifestyle may be a cause to the increased allergy in children. Studies which follow children’s health and the environment that they live in, have found that children that live on farms are less likely to suffer hay fever than children from cities with little or no contact with animals.

Hay fever is arguably the most common allergy in Ireland, with up to one in four 11-21 year olds experiencing symptoms. Pollinating trees and flowers irritate the mucus membranes in early spring, and freshly cut grasses and weeds tend to be more of a summer problem.

Symptoms can be worse when our immune system is not working well. Eating a diet of refined carbohydrates (white bread, cakes, biscuits and sugar), saturated fats (animal fats), transfatty acids, artificial flavorings  and colorants, with little or no fruit and vegetables – a common diet of to-days children will simply not supply the nutrients that our body and immune system needs to work optimally. Also today, we are exposed to a host of environmental toxins, pollutants, irritants and potential allergens that were not in existence even 20 years ago.

This combination of poor diet and continual onslaught to our immune systems from today’s environment is laying the basis for weakened immunity.

So what can be done? If you suffer from hay fever its best to start treatment early in the season, so that your immune system is working well before the allergens start flying.

Begin treatment with a short, cleansing juice fast, with drinks made from chlorophyll – rich green and leafy vegetables to help purify the blood. Avoid fatty meats and processed dairy products which are mucus forming. Stop sugar if possible, eliminating sugar from the diet, including natural sugar from concentrated fruit juices goes a long way towards helping normalize the immune system.

Herbs that can normalize, or strengthen our immune systems should be taken before the hay fever season starts for best results, but if it’s already started they will give excellent results.

Two herbs which I have found very useful in treating allergies are Reishi mushrooms and Astragalus.

Astragalus has been used by the Chinese for thousands of years to treat allergies and weakened immunity. It can be taken by anyone, it has very few side – effects and can be taken over a very long time without any side – effects. It is very useful for children with allergies.

Reishi mushrooms also have a long history of use by both the Chinese and Japanese. It has a great reputation for preventing cancer and normalizing ones immune system. It is very effective in preventing allergies such as hay fever or chronic sinusitis.

David Foley

MNIMH, MRCHM

Medical Herbalist

Valerian

Arch-enemies though they are, cats and rats reportedly share at least one passion; they both like the root of Valeriana officiualis. According to popular belief the herb drives cats into frenzy, and rat exterminators of long ago believed it made foolproof bait for their traps.

People have used Valerian since ancient times. In German speaking countries Valerian has significantly been given well over 500 distinct names. The Romans already graced the plant with a string of feminine names. This may reflect how much Valerian has always been talked about.

Valerian is a perennial plant native to Europe. Infact you can find it growing in damp woods, ditches and the sides of streams here in Donegal. It likes rich, heavy, moist loam. It has small rose-colored flowers which bloom from June to September. It’s a tall plant 2-4 feet high.

Valerian has demonstrated a number of pharmacologic effects, such as the following:

• Normalizing of the central nervous system
• Lowering of blood pressure
• Enhancement of the flow of bile
• Relaxing intestinal muscles
• Antitumor and antibiotic activity

Its prime pharmacologic effect however is consistent with its historical use as a sedative.

Pharmacologic studies indicated that the active compounds in Valerian, bind to GABA receptors much like the benzodiazepines. However, Valerian does not appear to act in a similar fashion, in that side effects such as impaired mental function, morning hangovers, and dependency have not been reported with Valerian. In addition Valerian compounds which do not bind to GABA receptors have also been shown to produce sedative effects. The main use of Valerian is in the treatment of insomnia, stress and anxiety.

More than 20 double blind clinical studies have now substantiated valerians ability to improve sleep quality and relieve insomnia. These studies showed quite clearly that extracts of Valerian root improved subjective rating for sleep, but left no ‘hangover’ the next morning. Infact, it was found that Valerian was as effective as a sleeping pill without the side-effects. Valerian has also been shown to help improve sleep and relieve insomnia in people with drawing from chronic benzodiazepine use.

Valerian extract also appears to be quite effective in children. Serious sleep disturbances are particularly problematic for children with an intellectual deficit and are often the source of much distress for both the child and care givers. Conventional drugs are not suitable for long – term treatment, making Valerian an attractive alternative.

One of the major advantages of Valerian extract is that it rarely has a negative affect or reaction time, alertness, or concentration the morning after intake.

            Valerian extract are also proving to be quite helpful in treatment of generalized anxiety.

As a mild sedative, Valerian may be taken 30-45 minutes before bedtime. It also can be taken during the night if one wakes up, a 5ml (one teaspoon) in a little water of a 1:5 tincture. Higher doses can also be taken up to 10ml twice a night if needed.

David Foley

MRCHM, MNIMH

Medical Herbalist