Herbs for Allergies and Sinus Problems
Herbal Cures can Naturally Relieve Many Sinus and Allergy Symptoms
Sep 26, 2009
With another fall allergy season fast approaching, millions of people are stocking up on tissues, inhalers and various medications and preparing to suffer. An estimated one in five Americans struggles with some form of respiratory allergies - either due to seasonal allergens such as ragweed pollen, or other substances like pet dander and dust mites. While help is available from a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications, herbal medicine also has much to offer the allergy sufferer.
Target your symptoms
One big advantage of herbs is that they allow you to target your individual symptoms. Each person's reaction to allergens is unique, and symptoms are highly variable. For example, one person highly allergic to ragweed might experience severe sinus headaches, while another may be troubled mostly by sinus congestion and drainage. Most medications are designed to target multiple symptoms, whether you have them or not. Herbs, on the other hand, are highly specific, and with some experimentation, you should be able to discover which ones relieve the symptoms that you have, without many of the undesired side effects of medication.
How do they work?
Most herbal allergy and sinus remedies work because they are natural antibiotics. Of these, goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) and garlic (Allium Sativum) are standouts. These herbs help drain the congestion that so often causes headache, stuffy nose and stuffy ears, and works to stave off secondary infections in the sinuses, throat or lungs that can result when congestion sets in.
Other potent herbs, such as echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) and elderberry (Sambucus nigra) strengthen the body's natural immunities, helping stave off allergic responses, and minimizing their severity. This class of herbs is widely believed to increase resistance to cold and flu viruses, and as potent antioxidants, may have even more health benefits.
Natural care for asthma
Herbs can also be effective in treating asthma and respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis. The most well-known of these come from Indian, or Ayurvedic medicine. Tylophora asthmatica has been used in India for centuries to relieve childhood asthma and other bronchial conditions. In other traditional medical traditions, chamomile flowers, echinacea root, mullein leaves and passionflower leaves are used to ease the symptoms of asthma.
In addition, herbalists througout the centuries in many parts of the world have used eucalyptus, melissa, oil of oregano, myrrh, green tea, andrographis, meadowsweet, purple willow, and astralagus to help relieve and eliminate common allergy symptoms. Herbs like these may provide welcome relief and allow sufferers to make it through allergy season with less medication.
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