Pollen allergies

Something on the Breeze

There’s something on the breeze these days; something most of us probably never even notice. But if you’re allergic to pollen I’m sure you’re all too aware of the powdery, microscopic grains that drift on air currents.

This week marks the beginning of summer hay fever season and that’s NOT welcome news for those with pollen allergies (about 20 percent or more of the population).

But if you are among those who suffer the nasal congestion and itchy eyes triggered by airborne pollen, there’s some good news in a recent study that shows how a treatment made of natural ingredients may significantly reduce the need to keep reaching for medications that deliver symptom relief.

A little background

In the e-Alert “Gesundheit!” (8/14/03), I told you about SneezEze, an all-natural allergy treatment developed in Britain by Paul Duxbury and Mike James.

SneezeEze was originally formulated by Mike to help his son find relief from chronic sneezing attacks. After much trial and error, Mike came up with a completely organic powdered plant extract, which created a gel when it came into contact with moisture. Observing that the gel was very similar to mucus, he had his son sniff the powder into his nose and the sneezing stopped immediately.

When I first started corresponding with Mike he explained that when people are allergic to pollen and other airborne pollutants, their bodies aren’t supplying enough mucus to properly filter air as it goes through the nasal passages. As a result, allergens make contact with the sinuses and lungs, triggering wheezing, sneezing, and other unpleasant reactions. SneezEze simply and naturally generates a substitute for the missing mucous, which protects sensitive areas.

Reducing rescue

In a 2003 study, SneezEze effectively helped hay fever patients cope with their worst symptoms at the peak of the hay fever season. And in the e-Alert “What the Nose Knows” (7/28/04), I told you about a Greek study that tested 40 subjects who were diagnosed with perennial allergic rhinitis (which means their allergies can occur at any time, and may be triggered by a variety of factors). Among these patients, more than 75 percent reported either complete or major relief while using SneezEze, and an additional 15 percent reported noticeable relief of allergy symptoms.

The most recent SneezEze study comes from the National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit at University College in Worcester, England,where researchers recruited more than 100 adults with pollen allergies.

During the grass pollen season of 2004, each subject was given a supply of either SneezEze or a placebo to use as needed. In addition, subjects were allowed to use any “rescue medication” they pleased to help reduce symptoms. Rescue medications include antihistamines, nasal sprays and eye drops.

When data was compiled at the end of the hay fever season, researchers found that the amounts of rescue medications taken by SneezEze subjects were significantly less than the medications taken by those in the placebo group.

In their conclusions the Worcester team wrote: “These results provide strong evidence that SneezEze reduces the need to take rescue medication for the symptoms of hay fever.”

Counting on it

If you suffer from allergies and would like to try SneezEze for yourself, use this web site for more information: sneezeze.com. Outside the U.S., the product is sold under the name Nasaleze, which can be found at nasaleze.com. Both Nasaleze and SneezEze offer money-back guarantees if you’re not completely satisfied, so both products are risk-free. And if you place an order please mention that you’re an HSI member.

The sneezeze.com site also has a helpful feature for those who are allergic to pollen: By just entering your zip code, you can find out the pollen count in your area today, as well as a four-day forecast of the pollen count.

Source:
“A Double Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of Inert Cellulose Powder for the Relief of Symptoms of Hayfever in Adults” Emberlin and Lewis,National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit at University College at Worcester, England (Not yet published)