Ahh Chooo: MSM is effective for seasonal allergy symptoms
MSM is a naturally occurring mineral made from sulfur that has been shown in studies to relieve arthritis, headaches, back pain, and also helps strengthen hair and nails. MSM is known as “Factor N”, for returning cells to normal. A recent study from the Genesis Center for Integrative Medicine in Graham, Washington, found another to add to MSM’s benefits: its efficacy as a remedy for seasonal allergies.
Sulfur in MSM is a white, odorless, water-soluble element found in nature and in foods such as milk, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meat. It is especially rich in eggs, onions, garlic, asparagus, and broccoli. When food is heated, washed, frozen, or processed, its natural reserves of MSM are depleted, making supplementation beneficial.
Seasonal allergies affect more than 23 million Americans each year. Symptoms can include sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, cough, itchy throat, and fatigue. Side effects of antihistamines include drowsiness, and decongestants can cause insomnia or irritability. The goal of the MSM study was to evaluate whether a natural mineral can reduce allergy symptoms and determine if it has potential side effects.
The study was published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Fifty-five patients with seasonal allergies received MSM at the rate of 2,600 milligrams per day. The use of respiratory MSM resulted in a significant reduction in total and upper symptoms in 7 days. Lower respiratory symptoms improved substantially in the third week. Few side effects were associated with the use of MSM and no patients dropped out of the study due to adverse reactions. Also, by day 14, the energy levels of the participants had risen considerably.
Researchers concluded that MSM supplementation of 2,600 mg / day for 30 days is an effective and “side-effect-free” remedy in reducing seasonal allergy symptoms. An unexpected and valuable benefit of MSM was a significant increase in energy. For this reason, it is better to take MSM early in the day rather than in the afternoon or evening too close to bedtime.
Regarding vitamin C, some people with allergies have experienced an improvement in their symptoms after taking 1-2 grams of vitamin C per day (1,000 to 2,000 milligrams). A buffered form of vitamin C, such as calcium ascorbate, may work better for allergy or asthma sufferers than regular vitamin C, according to a study published in the American Journal of Digestive Diseases.
One group of researchers showed that vitamin C reduces the tendency of the lungs’ bronchial tubes to spasm (Annals of Allergy), and another study in China showed that people with more vitamin C in their diet had greater lung volume which means that they could exhale more air than those who consume less vitamin.
Natural remedies can go a long way in providing effective allergy relief without the side effects of medications, such as drowsiness or headaches.
