PRESCOTT ALLERGY TREATMENT

Prescott has the dubious honor of having the highest number of allergic substances in springtime than anywhere else in the entire country, though right now we’re in fifth place rather than our usual first.

Since everyone moved here from somewhere else (and seems to have brought their trees with them), we have hundreds of trees, bushes and pollinating plants (including the infamous juniper pollen season in Arizona) that are not indigenous to the area. This causes high levels of different kinds of pollen that aren’t normally seen together, combined with the normal mold and fungus that like to grow in the soil here (and love to live in the respiratory system). This creates the perfect combination to aggravate the sinus cavities and lungs; cause itchy, watery eyes; nasal discharge; spasmodic cough; and the general irritation that comes along with allergy season.

When high levels of pollen, mold and fungus surround us, the cells that carry histamine (called Mast cells) become destabilized, and instead of dropping off small amounts of histamine to certain areas, they begin to dump huge quantities of histamine inappropriately. This starts a long chain reaction which leads to the swelling and itching of mucous membranes–aka allergic reactions.

Some people have this response so severely and for so long that bacteria and viruses can hop on board and join the party, causing actual infections along with the allergies. Many natural things can help with these symptoms and help to stabilize the Mast cells, so they don’t release too much histamine.

• A teaspoon a day of local honey (it needs to be from the Prescott area, and the Honey Man carries it) primes the body to deal with what is floating around in the air and arms the immune system more quickly and effectively against it.

• Mast cell stabilizers like Quercetin, Vitamin C and Bromelian(500mg of each, taken together 3 times a day) can help. These take time to work if the allergic reaction has already started, but if you can take it regularly before the allergies take hold, you can stop the reaction from happening all together.

• One of the most effective formulas I’ve seen is a product called Sinatrol. It’s a combination of plants that stabilizes the Mast cells and also helps with the specific molds and fungi that grow in Prescott soil. You need to take at least 3 caps twice a day for good effect. If you catch the allergies before you have symptoms, often you can avoid them altogether, but once they’re in full swing you’ll need to take it for several weeks before you might feel relief.

• If you are experiencing severe, thick mucus that’s getting caught in your throat and is hard to cough up, you might have come in contact with one of the molds or fungus that live in the soil here. These are very susceptible to a common chemical constituent in plants called Berberine. I have put together a combination of Oregon Grape Root, Barberry and Jackass Bitters (which are all very high in Berberines), and lovingly named it Prescott Seasonal Allergy Formula. It’s available at Nature’s Medicinary.

• A common GI flora that is a good Mast cell stabilizer is bifidobacteria. It is best to take a well-rounded, human form of probiotics, which matches our intestinal flora most appropriately. I have seen the best results with HMF products we carry.

You will have less of an issue in upcoming years if you start preparing for allergy season early, like in mid-February. Come see our expert allergists in Prescott, AZ and take a proactive approach to seasonal allergies.