One of The Top Herbal Remedies for Allergies and Sinus
According to research, seasonal allergies have a lower total symptom score when inflammation is reduced. Regulating the immune system is shown to produce positive results when considered in the treatment plan for allergies. (1)
People often attempt to maintain immune health and overall wellness by undergoing seasonal detoxes. However, when it comes to seasonal detoxes, people who suffer from allergies and immune manifestations should be very cautious (2). The necessary detox may cause moderate to severe allergic symptoms, which are usually classified as a "healing crisis". The mobilization of toxins and the release of fatty acids into the bloodstream due to fat breakdown might be the trigger. This mobilization of toxins may affect the health of virtually all body organs.
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Preforming an Allergy Detox
A holistic sinus and allergy detox keeps in mind the state of delicate detox organs like the liver and the kidney(3, 4). Taking steps to calm the immune system, maintain a healthy anti-oxidant load, and shield the organs from toxins may all help to make the procedure smoother and more manageable.
Symptoms that may improve with healthy detoxes include chronic sinusitis and over-irritation of the delicate mucus membranes. This may result in fewer symptoms of allergies, clearer nasal passages, and less chance of hay fever upon future allergen exposure. Those symptoms are much more likely to resolve if organs like the lung, heart, blood vessels, and liver are taken into account.
Common Effective Remedies You Never Think of as Detox:
Neti Pot: Gets rid of a runny nose by clearing away toxins and allergens in the nasal passages
Essential Oils: Stimulate the body's immune response to clean up accumulated allergins and inflammatory markers
Vitamin C: Clears the oxidation that is caused by toxins, microorganisms, and allergins
Saline Solution: Helps to act as a magnet that draws out impurities
Allergy Medications: Assist the body a detoxing (or removing) allergic chemicals like histamine by lowing their production or inhibiting their channels which gives the body the chance to catch up and clear passageways
Nasal Spray: May function like the neti pot or like allergy medications
Stinging Nettle: Urtica dioica or nettle tea is a plant that supports detox pathways
Rosmarinic Acid: Helps to decrease allergic immunoglobulins by breaking them down
Eucalyptus Oil: Helps to breakdown allergic and inflammatory chemicals
Science Behind Detoxification
Detoxing is the process of removing accumulated byproducts from the body. It is a natural process in the liver, kidneys, lungs, and skin. The liver is one of the most important detox organs in our body. It filters out toxins from our blood and sends them to be excreted by other organs like the kidneys and lungs. The liver also produces bile, which helps break down fats and cholesterol in our diet. The kidneys are another vital organ for detoxification because they filter out waste products from our blood and send them to be excreted by urination or some, through sweat. (5,6)
Some organs have their pathways for detox. The brain, for example, uses the time spent sleeping to break down toxic metabolites. Likewise, the lungs detoxify the body from gases. Toxic gases are expelled through respiration. (7,8)
Science of Seasonal Allergies (Link to Detox)
Detox aggravation:
Mobilization of toxins in the blood to be eliminated
Interaction with organ-function
Feeling tired or sluggish
Increase in oxidation
Increase in allergies and intolerances
When healthy weight loss or fasting autophagy takes place:
The body activates the process of breaking down to rebuild
The body gets rid of cellular waste
Challenges of weight loss:
Fats dumped into the blood
Blood sugar fluctuations in blood glucose
Toxins built into the composition of the body are mobilized
When we start a seasonal detox, we are ultimately looking to mobilize toxins (8,9,10). When freed, those toxins are dumped into the bloodstream. Factors that may make detox more stressful include toxicity load, toxin type, and organ function.
The mobilization of toxins from tissues causes an overload on our organs and can worsen symptoms such as fatigue and unregulated immunity. Remember that the toxins can disrupt organ function, alter cellular signalling, and even oversensitized the immune system due to their inflammatory nature. For some individuals, the process leads to a worsening of symptoms. (10).
Common Treatment Options For Allergies:
Prescription medications
Over-the-counter medications
Natural remedies like essential oils, neti-pots or saline nasal irrigation
Dietary supplements (a natural antihistamine)
Allergy shots
The utilization of air purifiers
One of The Top Herbal Remedies for Allergies and Sinus
Scrambling through Middle Eastern classic texts of medicine reveals that the benefits of black seed oil are endless. It has been used for centuries in the Middle East and India as a natural remedy for almost every ailment. As one of the most vastly studied botanicals, scientific evidence points towards the true medicinal versatility of the botanical. (11,12)
Scientific Evidence Supporting Black Seed Oil in Human Clinical Trials
Black Seed Oil for Lung Health
The respiratory benefits of black seed oil have been well studied in clinical trials. Though many of the respiratory benefits of black seed oil are linked to the immune balancing properties of the plant. According to the ancient doctors of the Middle East, it’s the intense flavour that heals the lungs. (13)
When it comes to the lung as an organ, some studies show improvement in lung function and an enhancement in the filling and stretching of the lung. Other studies link the lung benefits to a decrease in inflammation, leading to a decrease in the thickness of secretion and thus better oxygen exchange. (13)
Black seed is thought to reduce nasal congestion by inhibiting the release of histamine. Such a characteristic makes it one of the best herbal remedies for allergy relief. The oil of the black seed is a bronchodilator that can help with asthma symptoms. It has also been linked to an improved post-nasal drip, sore throat, and allergic rhinitis. (13,14,15)
Common Symptoms of Allergies:
Itchy eyes
Watery eyes
Chronic sinus infections
Symptoms worsen during the allergy season
Puffy nose
Allergic asthma
Black Seed Oil for Liver Detox
Black seed oil is a natural product that can help improve liver function and reduce the effects of liver toxins. Due to its flavour and use for blood sugar irregularities, the plant has been used for centuries as a hepatoprotective agent in traditional medicine. In addition, it has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce the effects of liver toxins by reducing inflammation in the body. (16,17)
The anti-inflammatory properties also help improve liver function in hepatitis and other tissue-injuring diseases. It can also help prevent liver damage by decreasing the number of fat deposits that accumulate around the organ. (16)
Several studies on the detox potential of black seed oil demonstrate that thymoquinone is protective against natural toxins like aflatoxin (common in fungus-infected peanuts). It also appears to protect the liver from hepatotoxicity due to metals, antibiotics, and chemical agents (like ethanol). The protection offered by thymoquinone expands from hepatoprotection to nephroprotection, cardioprotection, gastrointestinal protection, and pulmonary protection. (18)
The mechanism of protection is thought to be multifactorial and encompasses:
Inhibition of free radical formation
Restoration of the antioxidant system
Preservation of the activity of antioxidant enzymes
Anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activity
Lipid peroxidation protection
Mitochondrial health enhancement
Anti-apoptotic (also signals apoptosis for unwanted growths)
Suppression of renal binding of oxidants
Regulation of organ-specific immune mediators
Enhancement of energy production (18)
Black Seed Oil for Immune Conditions
Studies demonstrate good efficacy for using black seed oil to protect the body against an over-active immune system, inflammation, and autoimmune diseases like celiac disease.
For those suffering from gastrointestinal sensitivity, studies demonstrate an improvement in both gut and skin symptoms when it comes to celiac disease. Additionally, other studies show a tangible change in inflammatory markers. (19,20)
Upper Respiratory Effects
- Improves allergic rhinitis
Improves sore throat
Improves post-nasal drip
Lower Respiratory Effects
Improves asthma symptoms
Bronchodilator
It improves allergic symptoms
Cardiovascular Support
It reduces cholesterol and blood pressure
Improves fat profile
Hepatoprotective Effects
Reduces the effects of liver toxins
It improves liver function for hepatitis patients
Metabolic Effects
It promotes weight regulation
Improves sperm parameters
Neurological Effects
Improves epilepsy
Improves memory
It helps with opioid withdrawal
Immune Effects
It improves auto-immune disease symptoms
Dermatological Effects
It decreases vitiligo lesions
Relieves eczema
It improves celiac disease-related skin manifestations
Gastric Effects
Improves stomach ulcer symptoms
Reduces dyspepsia
Intestinal Effects
Anti-parasitic
Improves Celiac symptoms
"Black seed oil is a natural way to detox the body. It can help with liver health, and it can also support weight loss"
Black Seed for Detox Conclusions
Black seed oil is one of the top herbal remedies for allergies and sinus. Itcan help with seasonal allergies by supporting a healthy detox, decreasing inflammation, balancing the immune system, decreasing immune markers, and calming over-reactive immunity. It also acts as an immune anti-oxidant.
Sometimes the much-needed detox can trigger moderate to severe allergy symptoms and immune manifestations. The trigger may be linked to the toxins’ mobilization and the fatty acids that enter the blood due to fat breakdown.
Calming the immune system, ensuring a healthy anti-oxidant load and protecting the organs from toxins may significantly help make the process smoother and tolerable for an extended period. Paying extra attention to the designated detox organs of the body can dramatically support a healthy and impactful detox!
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Gali-Muhtasib H, El-Najjar N, Schneider-Stock R. The medicinal potential of black seed (Nigella sativa) and its components. Advances in Phytomedicine. 2006 Jan 1;2:133-53.
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Al-Azzawi MA, AboZaid MM, Ibrahem RA, Sakr MA. Therapeutic effects of black seed oil supplementation on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A randomized controlled double blind clinical trial. Heliyon. 2020 Aug 1;6(8):e04711.
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Halder S, Islam A, Muhit MA, Shill MC, Haider SS. Self-emulsifying drug delivery system of black seed oil with improved hypotriglyceridemic effect and enhanced hepatoprotective function. Journal of Functional Foods. 2021 Mar 1;78:104391.
Danladi J, Abdulsalam A, Timbuak JA, Ahmed SA, Mairiga AA, Dahiru AU. Hepatoprotective effect of black seed (Nigella sativa) oil on carbon tetrachloride (ccl4) induced liver toxicity in adult wistar rats. J Dental Med Sci. 2013 Jan;4(3):56-62.
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