Kim HM et al found in a study that spirulina also inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells (4).
A double-blind placebo controlled trial found that Spirulina at a dose of 2000 mg per day was taken by 150 patients between 19 and 49 years old for 6 months. Spirulina consumption significantly improved the symptoms and physical findings compared with placebo (P < .001), including nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion and itching. (5)
Cautions for Spirulina in Chronic Allergic Rhinitis
The recent increase in popularity of food supplements containing blue-green algae such as Spirulina or scientific names Arthrospira and Aphanizomenon presents a potential for exposure to anatoxin-a contained in spirulina products. Anatoxin-a is a potent neurotoxin that may cause fatal intoxication if enough is ingested and if adequate quality control measures are not undertaken. Tests were conducted on a sampling of 39 supplements and found that 3 of the samples, or 7.7% contained anatoxin-a. 1 out of the 3 samples intended for human consumption detected 11 micrograms per gram of anatoxin-a. The brand name of this product was not mentioned but the origin was Australia. 2 out of the 3 samples with significant anatoxin-a were intended for bird and fish consumption at concentrations of 33 and 2.5 micrograms per gram respectively but the origins of these samples were not known. There were 3 samples in addition to those mentioned above with anatoxin-a detected but were below the level of detected to determine concentration. 2 of these brands were from Australia with unnamed brand and 1 sample was named Swiss Natural Sources Spirulina. The following brands at the time of testing did not contain anatoxin-a as reported by this study: Lalco Laboratory Mega Spirulina, Phytovie Spirulina, Exact™ Spirulina, Health-Wise Natural Sources Spirulina, Nature’s Fingerprint Spirulina, Gandalf Nu-Greens Spirulina, Organika® Spirulina, Compare Spirulina, Jean-Marc Brunet, Le Naturiste, Spirulina 500, Nu-Greens Spirulina, Herbal Factors Spirulina, Root of Life Brand Spirulina, Personnelle Spirulina + Ginseng, Adrien Gagnon Spirulina plus Chlorella, Jamieson Natural Sources Spirulina, Lalco Laboratory Florasun Spirulina, Fingerprinted™ Spirulina, Earthrise® Spirulina, Herbal Select Spirulina, and Bio Nutrition Micro Algaes. (8)
Diet for Natural Sinus Relief in Allergic Rhinitis
There are few studies which link diets as a treatment for nasal allergies. However, when comparing the rates of disease between non-vegetarian and vegetarians, non-vegetarian females were 1.15 times more likely to report allergic rhinitis, and were also more likely to report many different kinds of other allergies compared to vegetarians. (7)
Natural Sinus Relief with Pycnogenol
French pine bark extract, may produce natural sinus relief of chronic allergic rhinitis. Participants (n=39) were given either Pycnogenol or placebo 5-8 weeks before the start of birch allergy season in 2009. They provided feedback on their symptoms on a scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (severe; symptoms completely prevent normal activity). By the end of the allergy season, those in the Pycnogenol group had 35% lower eye symptoms and 20.5% lower nasal symptoms, compared to the placebo group. Additionally, the placebo group had a greater increase in the levels of IgE compared to the Pycnogenol group indicating that those in the placebo group had a greater allergic response. (9)
Summary: Natural Sinus Relief for Chronic Allergic Rhinitis
- One of the most safe and effective treatments for allergic rhinitis is nasal saline lavage twice per day (not saline nasal spray).
- Butterbur (1,2), or spirulina (3,4,5), may improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
- Spirulina taken at 2,000 mg/day resulted in reduced cytokine production in immune cells which is protective toward allergic rhinitis (3). Kim HM et al found in a study that spirulina inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells (4). There are some safety concerns and approval from the primary physician should be obtained prior to taking spirulina especially along with other medications or supplements. Spirulina is approved as a food additive by the FDA.
- Spirulina products may not have adequate quality control but may be safe if the product is tested free of anatoxin-a, a neurotoxin (8). Spirulina products from Australia or the Swiss Natural Sources Spirulina brand should be avoided (8).
- Butterbur has been reported to cause liver enzyme elevation in 1 out of 61 patients when used for 2 weeks (1). Butterbur herbal preparations may contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which have been known to result in toxic damage to the liver. Therfore, butterbur products should specifically state that the product is free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).
- Vegetarian diet may result in lower risk of allergic diseases than non-vegetarians (7).
- In a study during the allergy season, those in the Pycnogenol group had 35% lower eye symptoms and 20.5% lower nasal symptoms, compared to placebo (9).
References : Natural Sinus Relief for Chronic Allergic Rhinitis
1.Schapowal A. Petasites Study Group. Randomised controlled trial of butterbur and cetirizine for treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. BMJ 2002 Jan 19;324(7330):144-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11799030
