Spring Allergies: New Advances Bring Lasting Relief

 

J. Mark Tillotson

Like a boat with a hole in the bottom, you either fix the hole or you have to keep bailing.

 

The body’s immune system has evolved a complex and powerful inflammatory process that protects us from infections and parasites. In the process of providing that protection, the immune system may overreact to less potent foreign substances in the environment such as tree pollen.

 

The immune system has a unique ability to distinguish its own ‘self’ from any other ‘self.’  Determined by DNA, every living cell has one-of-a-kind glycoprotein attached to its cell wall that identifies “what” and “who” it is. That identity could be birch tree pollen, a dust mite or Mary Smith. Normally, the body’s immune system learns to accept a good number of non-self particles into the respiratory system without causing an inflammatory response. The overreaction to relatively harmless particles that causes tissues to become inflamed or swollen is an allergy.

 

In allergic individuals, the immune system reacts to a moderate or even low exposure to the foreign particles by producing an excessively high number of anti-allergen proteins. These proteins are specifically designed to attack the pollen or other allergen. An overabundance of anti-allergen proteins destabilizes the immune system’s Mast cells so that when they come in contact with a pollen particle, inflammatory substances such as histamine are released. This induces allergy symptoms of itching, swelling, and sneezing. These chronic symptoms are often diagnosed as hay fever, allergic rhinitis and asthma.  

 

 The most frequent spring allergens that occur in the Anchorage area are Birch, Alder, Poplar, and Spruce plus the lesser allergenic trees of Willow , Pine and Juniper. The annual allergy season is extended into the summer and fall as plant material decays producing allergenic by-products. Airborne allergens that are blown or carried into homes are added to indoor allergens of pet dander from family dogs and cats, house dust and indoor molds.  Individuals with seasonal allergies may also have indoor or perennial allergies, both of which can be treated simultaneously.

 

There are two basic options for medical treatment of allergies. Like a boat with a hole in the bottom, you either fix the hole or you have to keep bailing. You can reduce exposure to pollen by staying indoors or reduce animal dander and house dust with air filters, dust collectors, and bare floors, but the body is still allergenic and symptoms will persist. Therefore, you keep bailing.

 

Over-the-counter and prescribed medicines use antihistamines and decongestants to control allergy symptoms. These drugs often produce side effects and, at best, only provide another means of bailing the water, which continues filling the boat. Steroid drugs destroy you.

 

Naturopathic medicine features an effective arsenal for bailing allergy symptoms, but without the negative side effects. An example of one readily available alternative is nature’s premiere antioxidant, Vitamin C. When combined with such bioflavonoids as Quercetin (which is derived from flowers, fruits and vegetable pigments), these supplements help stabilize the cell walls of histamine-filled Mast cells and break down the histamine molecule. Natural supplementation on its own is a better way of bailing the water, but will not provide a profound and permanent cure.  

 

For individuals with significant airborne allergies, a lasting solution is called ‘desensitization’ or ‘immunotherapy.’  This is the best means available for true healing in the sense of actually fixing the hole (or preventing your allergic symptoms from recurring). Immunotherapy educates the immune system to stop producing the overabundance of anti-allergen proteins. There are presently two techniques of immunotherapy: Subcutaneous and Sublingual.

 

Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT) is the older technique. This requires an elaborate series of tests performed by scratching suspected allergens into the skin to see if they trigger a strong allergic response. Those allergens found to irritate the skin (or that are otherwise found positive in a blood test) are then administered by repeated injections at the doctor’s office once or twice a week. These treatments usually take one to two years, followed by booster shots for another three to five years, or indefinitely.

 

The drawbacks of SCIT are now evident.  Treatment takes a long time, is expensive, and possibly painful.  For these reasons, many patients stop treatment before completion. Also, adverse reactions including anaphylactic shock occur in a small percentage of SCIT patients. Children under the age of five are not allowed to receive SCIT because of their vulnerability to anaphylactic episodes.

 

These negative aspects of injection immunotherapy for treating airborne allergies can be avoided with a new technique that is the standard of care in Europe . Instead of painful injections, allergen drops can now be placed directly under the tongue with the technique of Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT).  SLIT uses drops of water with minute amounts of antigens that are self-administered at home. The immune system gently becomes accustomed or desensitized to the low doses of antigens and gradually learns to tolerate ever greater doses, thereby stopping the overproduction of anti-allergen proteins.  The release of histamine and other inflammatory compounds ceases and the boat is fixed!

 

Recent European university studies have proven that SLIT is a potent cure for allergies and is safer than injection immunotherapy. A University of Vienna study concluded, “Sublingual immunotherapy is a well tolerated and clinically effective method of treatment for birch pollen allergies.”  Twenty-two double blind studies evaluated at the Imperial College School of Medicine in London concluded “SLIT is a safe treatment which significantly reduces symptoms and medication requirements in allergic rhinitis.”  At the University of Genoa , 32,800 SLIT doses were administered with no asthmatic or anaphylactic reactions reported in adults or children. A Marmara University Hospital study in Istanbul , focusing on the SLIT treatment of children with allergic rhinitis and asthma, found SLIT to be a useful alternative with no side effects. Young children in Europe with one or two asthmatic parents are treated early on with Sublingual Immunotherapy to prevent the later development of allergies and asthma.

 

Conventional SLIT can be improved even further by a naturopathic doctor with a holistic approach.  Particular allergens from Alaskan flora, along with those actually obtained from patients’ homes, can be included to individualize the therapeutic drops. This way, the specific airborne allergens causing the symptoms are utilized to raise the effectiveness of the treatment. Nutritional supplementation and homeopathy may also assist in the quickness and completeness of the healing.  

 

An advanced naturopathic SLIT protocol that is highly effective can be completed in six months with no need for yearly booster treatments.  As a cured patient said to her doctor 12 years after naturopathic SLIT treatment for her allergies, “What you did with those little drops was absolutely amazing!”

 

 

Dr. J. Mark Tillotson is a naturopathic allergist practicing at the Glacier Allergy & Health Clinic and can be reached at 274-0012.