07/03/2022

Reduce allergy symptoms by balancing immune function

Life Extension, man with headphones sitting on top of a bench in a park druing cherry blossom enjoying the sun

Most allergy drugs treat symptoms, but do nothing to stop the underlying cause — an out-of-balance immune response. See what you can do.

Seasonal allergies affect over 50 million adults. (1,2) During allergy season, people use an assortment of over-the-counter medications for runny noses and itchy eyes. 

Certain allergy medications have now been shown to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s, among other side effects. (3) 

Find efficient relief for seasonal allergies with FLORASSIST® Nasal >>


Getting to the root of seasonal allergies

Most allergy drugs treat symptoms, but do nothing to stop the underlying cause — an out-of-balance immune response. This immune imbalance is what causes the body to overreact to harmless substances, and results in annoying allergy symptoms.

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to something in the environment that is harmless to most people. When the body perceives a threat from an allergen such as dust or pollen, it swings into defensive action. 

The result is watering eyes and a runny nose designed to flush out the allergen from the body. These allergy symptoms are the last in a long domino effect of reactions involving the body’s immune-system cells.

Once an allergy attack occurs, most people reach for over-the-counter medications for relief. The problem is that antihistamines, steroids (like Flonase®), and decongestants only provide temporary relief.

A better solution is to stop the body from overreacting to harmless threats like pollen or dust. For that to happen we need to restore normal immune balance — and that involves retraining immune system cells in the Th2 family.

Th2 cells are also known as T helper type 2 cells. Th2 cells play a role in organizing a protective immune response to outside invaders such as allergens.


Allergy relief with unique probiotic or novel yeast 

A probiotic, Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92and yeast compound, Yeast fermentate, have demonstrated robust effects in balancing the immune response and suppressing allergy attacks. 

For many sufferers of seasonal allergies, this probiotic or yeast restrained immune overreaction starting in the digestive tract.

When allergy sufferers were given a unique probiotic or novel yeast compound, results from three different studies revealed:

  • 43% fewer days with nasal congestion,
  • 24% reduction in swollen nasal passages, and
  • 31% reduction in eye symptoms. (4-6)

Try Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 and Yeast fermentate: FLORASSIST® Nasal


Quick facts about allergies — what you need to know

  • Seasonal allergies affect millions of people, yet there is no medication that can provide complete symptom relief.
  • All available products work near the end of the complex series of steps that lead our immune systems to overreact to something as innocuous as a pollen grain.
  • A new approach works to “retrain” the immune system to respond in a more measured way.
  • Yeast fermentate and Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 have been shown to restore the normal balance between excitable immune cells and cells with a capacity to calm and modulate the hyperactive response.
  • This modulation of the immune response significantly reduces symptoms such as runny nose and itchy, watery eyes without resorting to steroids, antihistamines, or decongestants.
  • Studies have shown that these supplements reduce medication-symptom scores, indicating that many people could cut back on their reliance on standard allergy medications.


Read more on the health topic


References

  1. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/ToolsTemplates/EntertainmentEd/Tips/Allergies.html.Accessed November 8, 2016.
  2. Available at: http://www.aafa.org/page/allergy-facts.aspx. Accessed November 8, 2016.
  3. Gray SL, Anderson ML, Dublin S, et al. Cumulative use of strong anticholinergics and incident dementia: a prospective cohort study. JAMA Intern Med. 2015;175(3):401-7.
  4. Moyad MA, Robinson LE, Kittelsrud JM, et al. Immunogenic yeast-based fermentation product reduces allergic rhinitis-induced nasal congestion: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Adv Ther. 2009;26(8):795-804.
  5. Ishida Y, Nakamura F, Kanzato H, et al. Effect of milk fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-92 on symptoms of Japanese cedar pollen allergy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005;69(9):1652-60.
  6. Ishida Y, Nakamura F, Kanzato H, et al. Clinical effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-92 on perennial allergic rhinitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Dairy Sci. 2005;88(2):527-33.