Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) occurs as a reaction to seasonal airborne allergens. It affects about 7 percent of the population of North America and is a risk factor for 88 percent of asthma patients (Scadding). The following agents complement or offer alternatives to conventional treatments for seasonal allergies.

Vitamins and Minerals

The following vitamin and mineral dosages are based on those in Access: Professional Reference to Conditions, Herbs, and Supplements (see http://www.onemedicine.com/

• Vitamin A—10,000 to 15,000 IU/day
• Vitamin B₆—50 to 100 mg/day
• Vitamin B₅—50 to 75 mg/day
• Vitamin C—1,000 mg/day tid to qid
• Vitamin E—400 IU/day
• Zinc—20 to 30 mg/day

Herbs and Nutrients

• Quercetin displays anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro, including the ability to inhibit histamine release and leukotriene and prostaglandin synthesis. Dosage: 250 mg bid to tid.
• Freeze-dried stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) appeared to relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis in a randomized, double-blind study (Mittman). Dosage: 300 mg bid.
• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also called fish oil, decreased bronchial hyperreactivity in patients with asthma associated with allergic rhinitis in a trial by Villani et al. Dosage: 2 to 4 g/day total EPA and DHA capsules.