Are There Really Cures for Allergic Rhinitis?

Cures for Allergic Rhinitis

The majority of the medical community believes that there are no cures for allergic rhinitis, a condition characterized by sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and commonly referred to as “hay fever”.

Authorities on allergic rhinitis state that the only treatment includes avoiding allergens, taking antihistamines and possibly allergy “shots” when symptoms are severe or difficult to live with. However, some medical professionals and former sufferers of allergic rhinitis state that there are possible cures for allergic rhinitis, that they themselves have been cured and are free of symptoms.

But take these comments for what they are — anecdotal, not scientific, evidence.

Allergic rhinitis can lead to sinusitis, which is a chronic inflammation of the sinuses. Frequent sinus infections may occur in those who suffer from allergic rhinitis. In some cases, surgery is necessary. So, looking for cures for allergic rhinitis is important for those who wish to avoid complications or chronic conditions.

While some may think of “hay fever” as only moderately serious, the symptoms can negatively impact the quality of a person’s life and the common treatments for allergic rhinitis do not always improve that quality.

Although antihistamines are not cures for allergic rhinitis, their use for treating the condition is widespread. Antihistamines are not cures for allergic rhinitis because they do not stop the allergic reaction. They may relieve some of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis temporarily. However, there are potential side effects of synthetic antihistamines, which include: dry mouth, throat, eyes and drowsiness.

Natural antihistamines do not cause these side effects.

In order to find natural antihistamines (which again are not cures for allergic rhinitis, but may relieve symptoms), we must look to the traditional use of plants and botanicals. More and more scientists, researchers and medical doctors are looking to the natural world for treatments and cures for allergic rhinitis and all diseases.

The medical world is only just beginning to understand the role that inflammation plays in the vast majority of diseases and conditions; allergic rhinitis is no exception. An allergy is an inflammatory response of the immune system to substances that would not cause activation of the immune system in persons who are not allergic.

Synthetic anti-inflammatory medications cause a wide array of unwanted side effects and usually block only a single inflammatory molecule. Natural anti-inflammatory substances target a much broader range of inflammatory compounds, leading to greater safety and effectiveness. Were it possible to locate natural botanical products that had both anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties, then one might find natural cures for allergic rhinitis.

In 2002, a team of scientists at the Tohoku University in Japan compared the antihistamine effects of the mangosteen to a drug used to treat allergic rhinitis and found that mangosteen extracts were potent natural antihistamines and were just as effective as the prescription drug. So, mangosteen could be one of the possible remedies for allergic rhinitis, because it blocks histamine production, but what about inflammation?

Another team of scientists at the same University found that a component of the hull of the mangosteen was a COX-2 inhibitor. They were not looking for alternative treatments or cures for allergic rhinitis, but simply studying the components of this fruit that was used in traditional Asian medicine.

COX-2 inhibitors are powerful anti-inflammatories, but synthetic forms of COX-2 inhibitors have caused numerous side effects. They relieve pain, but hamper a compound that helps prevent dangerous blood clots from forming in the arteries.

As previously mentioned, scientists believe that natural anti-inflammatories or COX-2 inhibitors are safer to the human body than synthetic anti-inflammatories. So, the mangosteen is a natural antihistamine and a natural anti-inflammatory.

Now you may be wondering if anyone has used it for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and if it could be one of the natural cures for allergic rhinitis. What follows is a brief synopsis of one testimonial relating to allergic rhinitis and mangosteen use.

A medical doctor holding a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University reports that he, himself, suffered from allergic rhinitis for a number of years. His symptoms were pounding headaches, nasal congestion and sneezing. Over the years, the allergic rhinitis led to repeated sinus infections requiring treatment with antibiotics.

A variety of synthetic antihistamines provided only “marginal relief”. After using one ounce of mangosteen juice, twice a day for two days his allergic symptoms were gone and he was able to stop using his prescription antihistamines.

Being somewhat skeptical in nature, he decided to stop using the mangosteen juice as a treatment for his allergic rhinitis for one day. The following day all of his symptoms returned and were once again relieved by mangosteen juice.

In conclusion, it may be that there are a number of natural cures for allergic rhinitis just waiting to be discovered, but for those who currently suffer from allergic rhinitis, mangosteen juice may offer a possible solution.