Allergies and Hay Fever

Written by Thomas Cowan, MD

January 1 2000

Question: I am a 34-year-old male and basically in excellent health. However, ever since I was about ten years old, I have had hay fever so bad that I feel like I almost miss Spring. From early May to mid June my eyes water, my nose runs and my throat itches. I get short of breath and every year I end up with a sinus infection. I have been treated with allergy shots which helped for a while, decongestants which made me drowsy, the new allergy medicines which just made me feel funny and homeopathic medicines which only gave very temporary relief. Do you have any advice for me?

Answer: Allergies and hay fever are among the most common maladies suffered by modern Americans. Allergy medication every year is among the top five best selling drugs and if you count asthma, eczema and food allergies, almost one out of three Americans has some sort of allergy. Surprisingly, this condition is of relatively recent origin as even the homeopathic doctors in the early part of the century rarely described allergic diseases or hay fever. As I have discussed in this column, many changes in our life-styles and habits have occurred this century which probably account for this rising incidence.

Specifically, the best theory on the etiology of allergies is that they are related to an imbalance in the functioning of our adrenal gland. More exactly, when the adrenal cortex – that part of our adrenal gland that makes various hormones (such as cortisone) that mediate the inflammatory response – is weak or underactive, then a variety of symptoms occur. Besides inflammation, which can manifest as asthma, weeping skin or hay fever, depending on the site of the inflammation, these adrenal hormones also regulate such functions as sugar balance (via glucocorticoids), mineral balance (via mineralocorticoids) and sexual development (via the sex hormones.) A key point in understanding the therapy for supporting adrenal function is that all of these hormones are synthesized from cholesterol, and that the adrenal cortex is the organ in our bodies with the most need for the vitamin C complex to maintain its function. Also, it seems as if the adrenal cortex is very sensitive to blood sugar levels and that consumption of refined carbohydrates is at the bottom of many cases of allergies for both humans and in animal studies. The natural therapy for all allergies, therefore, is not cortisone – the conventional therapy for allergic disease but which suppresses and eventually weakens our adrenal glands – but a nutritional and supplemental program which actually rebuilds and rebalances our adrenal cortex.

The first step in this therapy is to absolutely avoid all refined carbohydrates including bread, pasta and sugar, as well as most sweet foods such as maple syrup and fruit juices, while any allergic symptoms are present. The diet should be rhythmical, that is you should eat three meals a day with no snacks in between. At each meal eat about 1/3 animal food, 1/3 properly prepared whole grains and 1/3 vegetables in a variety of ways, and with plenty of good quality butter. To aid in mineral balance, use only Celtic sea salt. I also suggest people include zucchini daily in their diet and to make liberal use of bone broths as the minerals in these foods seems to lessen allergic symptoms.

To help "immunize" yourself against pollen, eat 1 tablespoon of really raw honey (locally produced if possible) with the addition of about 1/2 tablespoon of fresh bee pollen. With the bee pollen, start with a few granules and gradually increase to the full dose. Eat foods high in the full vitamin C complex such as sprouts, sauerkraut, raw milk and fresh berries. Also, take a supplement with these components such as Cataplex C or Collagen C from Standard Process, or acerola berries, about 250 mg. three times a day, from Schiff, or from Springreen (816-221-3298).

Often with my patients I add either sublingual or intravenous adrenal cortical extract to augment adrenal function. Your physician can obtain the adrenal cortex preparations from Apothecure (800) 545-9960. They also make a product called Adrenal Cortex Support which is a combination of desiccated adrenal gland, vitamin C, magnesium and licorice root, an herbal medicine well known for its ability to strengthen adrenal function.

Most people get significant relief from this regimen after about three to four weeks, so don't forget to start early next year!

About the Author

Thomas Cowan, MD, discovered the work of the two men who would have the most influence on his career while teaching gardening as a Peace Corps volunteer in Swaziland, South Africa. He read Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston Price and a fellow volunteer explained the arcane principles of Rudolf Steiner's biodynamic agriculture. These events inspired him to pursue a medical degree. Cowan graduated from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in 1984. After his residency in Family Practice at Johnson City Hospital in Johnson City, New York, he set up an anthroposophical medical practice in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Dr. Cowan has served as vice president of the Physicians Association for Anthroposophical Medicine and is a founding board member of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

Dr. Cowan is the author of The Fourfold Path to Healing (New Trends Publishing), a companion book to Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. He a board member of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a regular contributor to our "Ask the Doctor" column and the Foundation's quarterly journal, and has lectured throughout the US and Canada. He has three grown children and currently practices medicine in San Francisco where he resides with his wife Lynda Smith Cowan.

His book The Fourfold Path to Healing is now available from Amazon.com and NewTrends Publishing. Visit Dr. Cowan's website at fourfoldhealing.com.

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written by rjg, Dec 19 2011

My allergies were greatly controlled with raw milk. However, I have had to cut way back on dairy because my gut has become increasingly intolerant of it--pain, pressure, gas, just feeling bad. (I have tested high for milk intolerance on blood tests). Ever since then, my allergies have come back each spring and fall with a vengeance, plus I have more asthma, and I don't know what to do.

Raw milk
written by Gokhals, Jul 26 2011

Drinking raw milk [Claravale Dairy] fixed ALL my spring/summer allergies, rhinitis, asthma and wheezing due to various allergens. Its been a miracle medicine for me. I cannot describe the happiness that the elimination of respiratory suffering brings to a human being. I have been drinking raw milk since the end of January 2011, that is, for approximately five months now. I tried Claritin, Steroids, Albutrol, Nor-Epinephrine. All of these drugs had terrible side effects on me, ranging from dry mouth, to sleepiness, to racing heart to feeling mentally fogged up, to stomach upsets with little short or long term efficacy. Raw milk is a delicious way to feel better. I wanted to thank Weston A Price foundation and particularly the excellent writings of Sally Fallon and Mary Enig. You have saved my health.

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written by Annais , Jul 20 2011

Hey, I have a 6 month old son and he has allergies that I just can't figure out. He won't break out to the same foods twice, and it can be 5min-2hours after he eats before he breaks out. And he doesn't break out every time, just maybe once a week. I can't figure it out but the allergy doctor suggested that we take him off of all milk formula completely which I do not believe in because that is mostly what he eats all day and I would be taking away from his main nutritions. I'm a new mom and this is freaking me out! HELP!

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written by Anna, May 04 2011

I have found that metal detox has helped my allergies tremendously. I can recommend a product called HMD on www.detoxmetals.com.

Hope this helps other people too!

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written by nathan, May 12 2010

My wife suffers from terrible allergies, some food, some seasonal. We have not gotten into the diet described here, but we have tried just about everything else. She has many food allergies which make this type of diet difficult. She also has Hashimoto's disease, which causes her to have hypothyroidism. I'm at a loss as to how to help her. We consume raw dairy products from Org. Pastures, but that hasn't made a significant difference either. She also has mercury poisoning from an amalgam filling that broke open. It's my understanding that mercury can cause allergies as well. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Vitamin B 5 and hayfever
written by Alison, Apr 19 2010

I have also been a chronic hay fever sufferer every spring since I was also about 10 years old. I second the dietary changes described by Dr Cowan (I was also careful to omit conventional dairy products), plus the vitamin C recommendation. I'd like to add that Vitamin B5 also known as Pantothenic Acid or sold as Calcium Pantothenate has been especially helpful in my case, and added to my regimen, makes the hayfever tolerable to the point of very rarely having to take antihistamines!

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Last Updated on Monday, April 27 2009 15:16