Rock your Health – The Neti-Pot

 By Brandy Cordova

Oh allergies. Anyone who suffers from them, whether they are seasonal, year round, food, etc., just wants relief from the many symptoms that arise. Symptoms of allergies can include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, itchy eyes, nose or throat, coughing, postnasal drip, fatigue, facial pressure or pain, and in extreme circumstances, hives and throat swelling.

Allergy to plant pollen is commonly called hay fever, or seasonal rhinitis, and affects approximately 40 million people each year in theUnited States. Allergic Rhinitis occurs when the body’s immune system over-responds to specific, non-infectious particles found in the air. During an allergic attack, antibodies, primarily immunoglobin E (IgE), attach to mast cells, which release histamine, into the lungs, skin, and mucous membranes. This causes a number of chemicals to be released, histamine being one of the principle chemicals, which causes the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

So what is an allergy sufferer to do? For sufferers of food allergies, well your best bet is to NOT ingest what you are allergic to! For other allergy sufferers, it’s usually an allergy to some sort of airborne particle, which can be remedied by an over the counter medication. But for those who have taken over the counter medication know all too well you are either going to feel over-stimulated or pass out! My answer to my horrendous allergies has been a quercetin combination and a Neti pot. Unlike many over the counter medications, which suppress symptoms, natural treatments bring the body into balance as they quench allergic reactions.

Quercetin is a phytochemical, known as a flavonoid (or bioflavonoid), which is a common chemical pigment in the rinds and barks of a wide variety of plants. It is found in large amounts in apple skins, onions, tea, and red wine. It is also found in leafy green vegetables, berries, and in herbs such as ginkgo andSt. John’sWort. How does it work you ask? It basically reduces the release of histamine!

 Unfortunately, quercetin is barely water soluble, so if your diet is not the best, (lacking vegetables/fruits, and too much junk/fast food), absorption will be limited. If this is the case, you will want to take it in combination with bromelain, a natural, protein-digesting enzyme derived from pineapples, which helps to increase absorption of compounds and also has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine as well. It prevents histamine release and increases the detoxification of histamine, so adding that with quercetin and bromelain will really reduce your allergy symptoms.

 So what’s a Neti pot? It’s a ceramic, or plastic, pot that looks like a cross between a small teapot and Aladdin’s magic lamp. What does it do? A saline solution is poured into the pot. You then place the spout into a nostril, tilt your head, and allow the saline solution to run through the nasal passage. This thins mucus and helps flush it, and irritants, out of the nasal passages.

 So nix the over the counter medications and opt for some natural relief!

Category: The Future