Allergy Symptoms and Treatments

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How does my nose work, anyway?
What are the two main defense mechanisms of the nose?
Why doesn’t this defense mechanism work all the time?
What are the underlying problems of allergies?
What is histamine?
References

Any allergy sufferer will tell you that the change of seasons are the worst. If they’re lucky, they’ll only have one or two months to feel lousy. If not, their symptoms could drag on for about half the year. Kali bichromicum is a bichromate of potassium that has been used and studied since the early 19th century to relieve the symptoms of sinusitis, including runny nose, and thick mucous discharge. A new product now delivers this traditional remedy with a patent-pending delivery technology. 1 Normally, your nose and nasal passages work as a very effective filter. It easily ensures clean, allergen-free air to the lungs, helping prevent allergic reactions. Increasingly, however, our nasal passages have to work overtime just to cope with everyday exposures.After all, more people than ever own pets, travel for business and work in enclosed spaces. In fact, allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic disease in the United States, and in just the past 15 years, cases of allergic rhinitis have increased dramatically. In 2002 alone, approximately 14 million office visits to health care providers were attributed to allergic rhinitis. 2,3

There are three ways your nose protects your health:

• It filters air and stops particles (even particles as small as a grain of pollen!)
• It humidifies the air you breathe in, preventing it from drying out the lungs and bronchial tubes.
• It warms cold air to body temperature before it enters your lungs.

We inhale about 20 billion particles everyday. Air enters the nose first, and circulates through the pharynx, larynx and trachea, and then down into the bronchi and the lungs. The familiar shape of the nose is a case of form following function: a septum (the wall dividing the nose) is composed of cartilage and bone and covered by a mucus membrane and six to eight thin, curved bones called “turbinates.”

Tissues beneath the turbinates are sensitive to temperature and cause this area to swell when a person is in dry, cold or contaminated air. But, the nasal passages don’t just further filter the air. This explains why so many of us get a runny nose when we’re outside in the winter.

So, two of the main defense mechanisms of the nose are:

Mucus: a protective secretion produced by the nose that contains antibodies, enzymes, water and other proteins. It acts like fly paper, trapping allergens, bacteria and other inhaled particles. Cilia: tiny hairs found throughout the nasal passage that work in a wave-like action to push the foreign particles trapped by the mucus to the back of the throat where it is swallowed and destroyed by the acidic environment of the stomach.

Why doesn’t this defense mechanism work all the time?

Suppressing either the function of the cilia or the mucosal lining creates problems with our nasal filtering system. The cilia, in particular, are very sensitive to pollution, second-hand smoke, and cold weather. The mucous membranes are easily affected by dry air(especially airline air) antihistamines,and alcohol based preservatives in traditional nasal sprays. Any of these factors can cause the mucosal lining to dry out.

Although it may sound strange, what’s really needed by the nasal passages is “mucosal balance:” neither too much, nor too little. That’s where the Kali bichromicum comes into play. Kali bichromicum has been recommended for over 150 years as a “balancing agent” for nasal health. It helps thin out thick, stringy discharge without drying out the nasal tract completely. And, conversely, when nasal passages are overly dry, it helps repair the thin covering of mucus on the membranes, easing the passage of air into our lungs. 1

Underlying problems:

Once our defensive system is compromised, it can easily become overwhelmed, allowing allergens direct contact with nasal tissues without the benefit of a mucosal layer of protection. In reaction, these tissues release histamine to get rid of these invaders — bringing on the sneezing fits so familiar to any allergy sufferer.

What is histamine?

Histamine is a chemical released by mast cells during an allergic reaction that causes inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose. Its activation causes poor-quality mucus and postnasal drip (the annoying chronic nasal discharge that makes us reach for tissues all the time). More than just bothersome is the itching, sneezing, wheezing and coughing that usually accompany allergic reactions. Left unchecked, those symptoms can be downright dangerous, leading to chronic respiratory conditions—possibly even asthma. In fact, nearly all children with asthma also have allergies. A major cause of asthma is an allergy to pollens, dust mites, pet dander, smoke and mold. 4So, even though allergy medicines help relieve symptoms, they don’t address the underlying problem: maintaining healthy nasal passages. The unique formulation of Kali bichromicum in an almost weightless powder, provides even distribution in the nasal passages to do more than just control symptoms — it keeps you breathing.

References:

1. Clarke, JH, M.D. “Kali Bichromicum.” In: A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, Volume II. B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd. New Dehli, India.

2. “Allergy Statistics Fact Sheet.” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Web site available at: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/aller gystat.htm. Accessed: April 5, 2005.

3. “Allergies/Hay Fever.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fast Stats A-Z, Vital and Health Statistics, Series 10, no. 205, May 2002. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm. Accessed: April 5, 2005.

4. “Double Trouble: The link between allergies and asthma.” Mayo Clinic staff. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?retry Count=1&objectid=BFC355EF-E627-4E1E-BCFBD5F8874118DF. Accessed: March 28, 2005.

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