This is a nebulous area. Some folks understand the link between allergy symptoms and histamine, but it took me a long time and lots of discomfort to figure out, at least a bit, what's happenin'. Human body makes histamine, in response to entry of foreign stuff into the body, most often through the breathing apparatus, nose, throat, lungs. The foreign stuff is usually pollen, pollution products, bacteria, viruses, to a lesser extent yeasts in the form of fungus spores, and, hopefully, darned few parasites. The histamine's purpose is to alert appropriate white blood cells to the intrusion, bring them to the site of contagion, and eliminate the intruders: they EAT them! Trouble is, presence of histamine causes bodily reactions aimed at restricting entry of more of the unwanted stuff: the nasal passages swell, the lung's airways constrict (get smaller), the sneeze reflex is triggered to expel bad stuff. Unfortunately, all these responses aimed at helping preserve our bodies' well-being, often cause uncomfortable feelings: eyes tear and itch, mucus forms in abundance in the sinuses and throat, perhaps the lungs as well. Soon, we feel like hell. Enter modern Science. ANTI-histamines. These are medications which reduce the typical bodily responses to histamine production, aimed at reducing those uncomfortable and often debilitating histamine presence results. My purpose here, is to show the inequities present in medications available (what else would I be doing?). Formerly prescription only, Zyrtec is a good antihistamine now available OTC (over the counter, no prescription needed). The cost of prescription Zyrtec, now also OTC, is about 10 times that of the OTC price of the equivalent generic chemical, ceterizine hydrochloride (drop the second word, usually). I've studied this stuff at great length and learned there is a pre-cursor to ceterizine called Oxyhydrazine, which is much more effective, just as safe, but is only prescription only. When you take your nightly ceterizine pill (or Zyrtec, if you just don't trust "those chemicals"), you might be interested to know that had you taken Hydroxyzine instead, it would have been converted by your liver to ceterizine, which then goes on to inhibit those allergy symptoms. So, by using Zyrtec (ceterizine) instead of Oxyhydrazine, we lose the effect of a double-whammy help with the problem. Zyrtec has a sister med called Claritin, which I believe came out first. Same deal. Claritin is Loratadine chemically, is now widely available OTC reasonably. I have tried both, and generally regard Zyrtec as more effective, though recently I've used Oxyhydrazine instead, but had to buy it, er, well, you know. Decongestants come next. Nasal congestion is often a part of histamine production, so helping that is also needed. ALL decongestants available OTC cause increased blood pressure and drowsiness. Thus decongestants are to be viewed more carefully than antihistamines. Some OTC preparations have been sold combining both types of meds. READ the ingredients, trust not the CLAIMS made by advertisements, KNOW what you're buying to help your woes. Frank
A very good bit of research @Frank Sanoica and well written! Now, in response to the problem of nasal, sinus and lung congestion, going natural might be a better thing rather than pilling up before the hours of sleep. Noting that stuffing eucalyptus leaves up one’s nostrils might be a tad uncomfortable, however, placing them in a vaporizer is comfortable and does have it’s advantages over pharmaceuticals. It definitely is natural, smells good and doesn’t severely oppose the body’s normal processes. To me, it seems that antihistamines along with antacids make the body work that much harder for an otherwise normal person. When we take antacids the body makes more acid so it might follow that antihistamines make us try to produce more histamines especially with someone who is a continual user of those products. Just a couple of thoughts without a great amount of study I’m afraid because I may be comparing two different mechanisms. One of body defenses and the other a matter of a digestion process.
There are other substances involved in allergies other than histamines, so antihistamines may not solve everyone's allergy problem. Antacids are okay if you only use them rarely, but routine use causes problems.
In regard to the antacids, I read a paper that promotes the use of a light acid such as lemon water to combat an overactive condition during digestion. It seems that the induction of a light acid forces the body to quit making the much stronger hydrochloric acid. Contrarily, people who use antacids on a continual basis force the body to produce more acid which is a definite no-no. I may take an Omeprazol about once or twice a year for the occasional episode of acid reflux during sleep but that’s about all. So far as antihistamines, I probably haven’t taken anything in about 5 years. I dearly hate anything that messes with my brain and thus far, I haven’t seen or heard of anything on the market that doesn’t to some extent. I just allow my body do what it does and suffer through the stuffy sinus and other symptoms of pollen, dust etc.
@Bobby Cole " A very good bit of research @Frank Sanoica and well written!" Thank you, however, I should like it to be known that if a "spit out" a bunch of such information, unless it has a source indicated, it has been just that: spit out at the moment. Because most of my meanderings is of such reflexive content, I fully expect rebuttal. It's what keeps things going, no? Frank
@Bobby Cole "In regard to the antacids, I read a paper that promotes the use of a light acid such as lemon water to combat an overactive condition during digestion. It seems that the induction of a light acid forces the body to quit making the much stronger hydrochloric acid." The Ph of gastric juices varies from about 2 to 5, depending on the relative proportion of protein swallowed. However, the hydrochloric acid present does little to aid digestion: enzymes called proteases do the work of digesting protein, but cannot without an acidic environmernt, hence the need for the acid. Pepsinogen is released by gastric cells within the stomach wall, and becomes pepsin due to the acidic environment. The pepsin is active in digesting protein. Frank
As a bodybuilder, I'm not only familiar with but well studied in regard to the digestive processes but thanks for printing up a pretty good post. Still, it really doesn't have a lot to do with the statement I made now does it? Simply an overview of two posts I made: Overuse of any anti-nearly anything will cause the natural workings of the human body to try to regain some semblance of control and it's own concept of balance.
Nope, I'm not angry at all but just clarifying what I take to be a tad off the mark in regard to my statements. Not to worry and no need to be apologetic because like I said, you wrote a good post.
Can someone tell me why my stomach makes such loud gurgling sounds lately...sometimes during the day but it's really loud at night when I go to bed. I don't have acid indigestion or reflux.
Dunno....maybe a little water might help. Normally, such rumblings or growls are simply the intestines moving food through the tract but may also be caused by gas or both. If the growling isn’t followed by cramps and a case of the green apple quick steps, a glass of water will probably help things calm down. Hope that helps.......
What's the green apple case? No cramps and I do drink water. I put a bottle of water on my nightstand and by morning it's gone.
Eat a couple of green apples ( or tainted food) and wait about four hours and then post yourself near the closest and most available bathroom lest you should have to step quickly to one farther away. Hence the full name; The Mississippi green apple quick steps.