Which Herbal Products Will Help My Nasal Allergies?

Herbal remedies have a long track record of use through-out much of the world for a variety of ailments and have become increasingly popular in the United States over the past 2 decades. Patients are often attracted to the fact that these products are found in nature and that they have been used by indigenous cultures around the world for very long periods of time. There is also a generalized concept that because they are “natural,” they are safer. It is important to keep in mind, however, that these substances may also cause significant side effects.

A number of herbs have been used to treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Botanical products that have been tested in clinical trials and demonstrated improvement in allergic rhinitis symptoms include butterbur root, stinging nettle, and tomato seed extract. Another large group of plant-derived substances, including Citrus unshiu,Lycopus lucidus plant, Amomum xanthiodes plant, a Chinese herbal medication (bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang), and spirulina algae, have been shown to have beneficial anti-allergic effects in laboratory experiments but have not been tested in patients with allergic rhinitis. Grape seed extract has not been shown to have any significant effects in allergic rhinitis.