Allergic rhinitis and quality of life

By Nancy Gahles

Although allergic rhinitis, hay fever, and seasonal allergies may not be life threatening, nor last for more than a month or two, it certainly can drag a patient down and impact their quality of life. One way in which we, as practitioners, hope to address these conditions, is by quantifying their suffering and treating the totality of symptoms—body, mind, emotion, and spirit. Removal of symptoms may not, necessarily, return the person to a state of wellbeing. It may not offer them the freedom to engage in life fully. With reference to allergy sufferers, many of the medications they are prescribed make them drowsy, ineffective at work, and a danger for themselves and others.

One study noted that worker productivity declines during hay fever season because of time away from work. Certainly, one cannot recuse themselves from work for more than a day or two during the allergy season and so we seek medication for relief.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 19 million U.S. adults suffer with hay fever or allergic rhinitis and the illness accounts for 11 million doctor visits each year. Typical treatment includes antihistamines, decongestants, or steroids for relief. The frustrating part about this regimen is that it only addresses the symptoms, not the underlying problem. You must take these medicines daily, they are often only partially successful, and they frequently come with unwelcome side effects of drowsiness, dizziness, insomnia. This is a quality of life concern.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that allergy medications may make patients too drowsy to drive. Allergies affect 40 percent of children and over a quarter of adults. This means that at any given time, 16.9 million people are driving on the roads sneezing or reaching for a tissue. According to one study in the Netherlands, allergic rhinitis and over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medications can impair drivers as much as alcohol and have been linked to many roadway accidents. Even when obvious drowsiness is not present, mild confusion, a slower reaction time, and fatigue from antihistamines has a slow onset and many people don’t realize their senses and motor skills are reduced. An additional factor is the mixing of other medications a person may be taking along with alcohol use. As integrative practitioners, many people consult us first to take “something more natural.” It is then incumbent upon us to refer to our colleagues as the case indicates.

As an example, for those who do have the flexibility of choice, there are several options. From the herbal pharmacy of nature, we have butterbur. A randomized control trial showed that butterbur had the same effects on seasonal rhinitis symptoms as Zyrtec and produced fewer sedative effects. Be aware that herbs may have contraindications with pharmaceutical drugs, so check that out before you advise taking an herbal remedy.

These are quality of life issues that transcend symptomatic relief. Several researchers offer systematic reviews of a number of measures used in quality-of-life studies, including functional disability indices, health status scales, and measures of life satisfaction.

The salient point is that with a condition like allergic rhinitis, it is a misery. It affects quality of life, employment, family and lifestyle activities, and wellbeing. It stands to reason, then, that this condition is best suited to a remedy that both decreases the symptoms and increases quality of life.

Homeopathic treatment is one such method of treatment. One prominent study’s objective was to assess the effect of individualized homeopathic medical prescriptions with the Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life (RQLQ) in the treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis. The researchers posit in their abstract an important outcome measure in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Their conclusions demonstrated that, in fact, allergic symptoms were alleviated and quality of life increased.

Another study measured symptomatic relief and quality of life increases investigating the effects of a homeopathic drug prepared from common allergens such as tree, grass, and weed species specific to the Southwest region of the United States. This is significant because allergic responses are specific to the individual, as demonstrated in the study above, and one factor that individualizes their response is the geographic region and the allergens that comprise that region. With this information, one can then be a more specific prescriber.

Homeopathic medicines do not interact with pharmaceutical drugs, nor do they have side effects, and so are an ideal option to consider. Single remedies are the most effective when matched to the patient’s individual, unique symptoms.

One example is Allium Cepa. People needing Allium Cepa will have symptoms reminiscent of the way one feels when chopping onions. The eyes water and the tears flow like a faucet. The nose also runs profusely, and this discharge is burning, causing a raw, redness under the nose and upper lip, often with frequent sneezing. Hoarseness and tickling of the throat may be present with a hacking cough. The person needing Allium may be melancholy and fear that their pain will become unbearable. Homeopathic remedies resolve not only the physical symptoms, but the emotional state of the person, as well increasing their quality of life.

Wyethia is a remedy often used for hay fever sufferers, especially when itchiness is a prominent symptom. The roof of the mouth and throat and the back of the sinuses may itch intensely causing the person to try to scratch it with their tongue, making a clucking sound. A constant need to clear the throat is common. A dry hacking cough may be present progressing to allergic asthma. The person needing Wyethia may have symptoms of great sadness and feel forsaken, a definite adverse quality of life indicator.

The homeopathic Materia Medica is replete with over 4,000 remedies. A professional homeopath will be able to assist you in finding the right match for you. Single remedies are the most effective when matched to an individual’s unique symptoms and can be bought over the counter, although, in chronic cases, consult with a professional homeopathic physician is advised.