Nature's Natural Antihistamine

The early spring sweeping across the United States means that flowers are in full bloom – and allergy sufferers are battling hay fever earlier than ever before. There’s nothing worse than the rollercoaster ride of seasonal allergies. One minute you’re sneezing and sniffling up a storm, the next your head is so clogged with allergy medication that you can’t even think straight. Ready to get off the allergy rollercoaster? Mother Nature’s anti-histamines, like stinging nettle, may help.

Popular among Western herbalists for centuries, stinging nettle extract contains natural antihistamines that block the body’s response to allergens, like pollen. A double-blind study conducted by National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon found that nearly half the participants reported a freeze-dried preparation of stinging nettle was more effective or as effective as pharmaceuticalallergy remedies.

That’s good news for folks who are tired of popping daily allergy pills. In fact, pharmaceutical antihistamines may actually be part of the problem. New research suggests that regular synthetic antihistamine may not as effective as natural plant derivatives, like stinging nettle. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, natural plant treatments, like stinging nettle, help calm overactive immune systems, teaching the body that it can live in harmony with the allergen. Dr. Weil argues that, “The goal of (allergy) treatment should be to convince the immune system that it can coexist peacefully with these substances. Conventional medicine does not achieve this goal.”

Conventional treatments work by blocking the action of histamine at receptor sites. Unfortunately, many over-the-counter antihistamines are only able to relieve allergy symptoms, rather than addressing the underlying cause. Additionally, daily antihistamine use can sometimes backfire. In fact, blocking the action of histamines at receptor sites can actually lead to an immune system overreaction. As the initial response is blocked, the immune system works harder than ever to respond to the perceived “threat” of pollen and allergens. This means that allergy sufferers must take increasingly greater quantities of anti-histamines for similar benefits. Heavy use can lead to unpleasant and potentially harmful side effects including grogginess, heart palpitations and even mild depression.

Herbalists have used long prescribed stinging nettle extract as a histamine blocker without the side effects of conventional medication. Stinging nettle helps block histamine production, correcting the problem before the body experiences side effects. As demonstrated by the double-blind study, daily use of stinging nettle is rated higher at relieving allergy symptoms when compared with conventional medication or the study’s placebo. That’s good news for folks struggling with the seasonal allergy rollercoaster.

Stinging nettle can be dissolved into a tea or taken in capsule form. Some herbalists recommend preparing a hot tea using one to two grams of the dried root. In place of the root, ¼ to ½ teaspoon of liquid extract may also be dissolved into one cup of water. In capsule form, herbalists recommend 250 to 500mg.