Allergies and Rhinitis

In the Allergies and Rhinitis collection we bring together food supplements that many people look for during the pollen season and when the seasons change, from brands such as Thorne, NOW Foods, Solaray, Lamberts, Suravitasan, Zeinpharma, HOP Biologics, Researched Nutritionals, Alphagem, Bétula, Be-Life, Soria Natural and Allergy Research Group. You will find quercetin, black seed oil, nettle, butterbur, NAC and plant-based formulas for the respiratory tract.

Food supplements do not treat or prevent allergies or rhinitis. Diagnosis and treatment are a matter for your doctor, and supplements do not replace prescribed medication.

Seasonal allergies and rhinitis: the essentials

Pollen and dust mites

In Portugal, pollen from grasses, olive trees and pellitory is concentrated mainly between March and June, while dust mites and moulds are present all year round. On high-pollen days it helps to keep windows closed at peak times, shower and change clothes at the end of the day and rinse your nose with saline.

Diagnosis and treatment

Frequent sneezing, a blocked or runny nose and itchy eyes can have several causes. Your doctor can confirm the cause with simple tests and recommend the right treatment. Your pharmacist can also help you choose over-the-counter medicines.

Types of products

Quercetin

Quercetin is a flavonoid found in onions, capers and apples. It comes in plain capsules, as phytosome and combined with bromelain and vitamin C. See also our collection dedicated to quercetin.

Black seed and nettle

Black seed oil (Nigella sativa) has been used for centuries in the Middle East and North Africa. Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica) is a common European plant, traditionally used in food and herbalism.

Butterbur

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a plant from wet areas of Europe. Supplements use a standardised root extract from which the pyrrolizidine alkaloids that the plant naturally contains are removed.

NAC

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a stable form of the amino acid cysteine, from which the body makes glutathione.

Plant formulas for the respiratory tract

Formulas with thyme, fennel, mullein and elderberry, gemmotherapy macerates, live cultures for the mouth and throat, and formulas with vitamins and minerals.

Precautions

• Do not stop taking the medication your doctor has prescribed. If you have asthma or shortness of breath, talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
• Only choose butterbur extracts certified free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Butterbur belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae) and is not suitable for people with liver disease, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Black seed and quercetin may interfere with anticoagulants and other medicines. If you take medication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
• Formulas with bromelain are not suitable for people allergic to pineapple.
• During pregnancy and breastfeeding, ask a health professional for advice.

If you have difficulty breathing, wheezing, or swelling of the face or throat, seek medical help immediately.

See also the Quercetin and Echinacea and Propolis collections.