The Downside of Allergy Medication and Healthy Alternatives

Beware: Allergies Ahead

If you live in Michigan there is a great possibility that you deal with seasonal allergies to the point that you use over-the-counter allergy medication. These medications come with a handful of side effects. One adverse effect may surprise you.

There are many names and forms of over-the-counter seasonal allergy medication

 

A Patient’s Experience

A patient brought to my attention a condition that, although not overly common, was concerning enough that I felt you all needed to be aware of it. Aside from the more common and less worrisome symptoms of drowsiness, headache, dry mouth, and constipation, users of these medications can have an inability to urinate called urinary retention. This is due to the drying effect of allergy medication.

Imagine you go to the bathroom after a few too many glasses of tea and…nothing! You can’t go. For most people that would be an alarming situation. If you didn’t know that your allergy medicine could cause this you would be racing to your urologist. It is particularly relevant for men who experience prostate problems. If you have prostate problems, a family history of this issue or have experienced it in the past, avoid these medications and use our natural alternatives instead.

Watch For…

As an antihistamine, these medications block the binding of histamine. There are some natural antihistamines that are less likely to cause these adverse reactions.

Natural Alternatives that Do Not cause Urinary Retention

Stinging Nettle- Shown to help with allergy relief and breathing-related problems including hay fever.

Quercitin- Can diminish the release of histamine. It is a strong antioxidant and can increase immune health by decreasing inflammation.

Bromelain- From pineapples, Bromelain is an enzyme that breaks down proteins including proteins from allergens.

Proteolytic Enzymes- Your immune system cells, called antibodies, attach to an allergic substance, called an antigen. This creates an antigen-antibody complex called a circulating immune complex. Proteolytic enzymes break up these complexes allowing for the kidneys to remove them from the body.

Neti Wash- A little pot that looks like Alladin’s Lamp You fill it with salt water to rinse the sinuses and nasal cavity of any allergens, bacteria, viruses, and fungi that may be on the surface of the mucous membranes. It also hydrates the tissues to make them less susceptible to allergens and such attaching.

Colloidal Silver- A wonderful antimicrobial, colloidal silver nasal spray can combat allergy related bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa which can cause lung related issues like asthma. Since many sinus infections are not only from bacteria and viruses but from fungal infections, colloidal silver is my go-to to resolve chronic sinusitis.

Xylitol Spray- Rinses the nasal cavity and sinuses and has antimicrobial properties. Keep away from dogs since it is poisonous to them.

Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Technique- A technique I have used for over 25 years. This procedure, which uses acupuncture point stimulation in the presence of an allergen, has allowed many of my patients to be in the presence of their allergens (like grass, pollen, dogs, and food) without the reactions that caused them trouble.

 

Enjoy the outdoors!