It is a good idea to reconcile scientific research with natural health approaches. It is sometimes a difficult task. All medical journals sell ads to drug companies, and it should be obvious that economics help determine what appears in the journals. But occasional natural health gems do appear; they are usually small studies that can still be branded as “inconclusive.” The overall attitude of the journals seems to be, “My, isn’t this amusing. We will have to look into it someday.”

But as long as drugs like Ritalin make $3 billion per year and are advertised in the journals, you will not see the journals take a stand and suggest that kids with ADD need B vitamins, omega-3 oils, exercise, and to stop eating junk food. They will, however, print the occasional amusing little study.

One such study, appearing in the journal Annals of Allergy (May 1994), evaluated 26 children with ADHD. The children were placed on an allergy elimination diet. Along with eliminating artificial colors and preservatives, several foods were removed, including common allergens such as wheat, dairy products, eggs, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, chocolate, and peanuts. Of the 26 subjects, 19 responded well to the diet. It is a small study, but it should offer hope to people with ADD.

Studies supporting the use of natural healthcare for allergies do exist. Scientists in Finland found that the type of fats consumed in the diet may be connected to a tendency toward allergy, according to research published in the journal Allergy (2001;56:425–428). The British Medical Journal (January 19, 2002; 324:144) published research showing that the herb butterbur may be useful for allergic symptoms.

There is even a journal article about homeopathy and allergies. In a small study published in the August 19, 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal, 24 patients were given a homeopathic remedy daily and 27 patients received a placebo. Although it was a small group, the study was double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized. There are more studies like this posted in the allergy section at https://wholehealthweb.com.

The information found in medical journals is interesting, but it does not give the practitioner information that is good enough to effectively treat airborne allergies. The doctor who is a real scientist, and who wants to make his or her patients better, will make note of the journal research but will also look at what patients respond to and take into account seemingly unrelated research.

For instance, we know that eating sugar and producing insulin exacerbates inflammation. The symptoms of hay fever are largely due to inflammatory chemicals produced by the body, so it stands to reason that refined sugar should be avoided by patients with hay fever. The same thing goes for trans fats. Yet this advice is seldom given in traditional medical offices; they are waiting for the perfect study to prove this (perhaps prompting Nasonex to pull its ads).

A real scientist will take journal articles into account, but will also consider clinical and anecdotal information. He or she will look at known chemistry and physiology. Although journals tend to scorn anecdotal information, some of the most clinically useful information comes to us anecdotally. And why not use anecdotal information if you are dealing with a very low-risk therapy like nutrition that can potentially produce good results—especially if a doctor you respect is using it and getting results?

Hormones produced by the adrenal glands fight inflammation. Indeed, adrenal support is a mainstay for natural health practitioners treating allergies. You don’t see many articles in medical journals about nutrient support for the adrenals. There is some information about herbs and vitamin C in the journals. Bioflavonoids, such as quercetin, are often very useful for hay fever patients. Many herbs are also useful. But it is difficult to put together an effective therapy using journal articles alone.

So, when treating a patient with hay fever, products for adrenal support and herbal products designed to reduce histamine are very effective, especially when combined with a diet free of refined sugar, hydrogenated oils, and chemical additives. Other useful products include bioflavonoids and fish oil. A few thousand IU of vitamin A per day for a couple of weeks works wonders if the patient’s eyes itch. You can really fly without a net and use chiropractic adjustments or acupuncture.

We are still waiting for the definitive double-blind, placebo-controlled study to prove that this works, but in the meantime, patients who are getting better don’t seem to mind the status of the research.