Tag Archive for: seasonal allergies

Immune Booster 2 and 3

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Continuing with our look at how to approach the first tickle of a cold or seasonal allergies, we’ll finish up with the final two parts of our immune boosting supplements.

Garlic

The second part of our immune boost supplements is garlic; it’s been noted to have beneficial properties for over 5,000 years. Garlic thins the blood, thereby benefiting blood pressure, and helps lower cholesterol. Garlic does many things, but what benefits our immunity is its ability to boost the immune system while reducing inflammation.

There’s little question that garlic helps the immune system. It’s been used as a dietary treatment to help the immune system recover from chemotherapy; it’s also been used in supplement form to help the immune system get and stay stronger. That’s an obvious way it helps with viruses and allergies, but it also acts as an anti-inflammatory. It’s important to remember that inflammation occurs whenever our body is under attack—not necessarily broken-leg inflammation, but the release of negative hormones. Garlic helps reduce that type of inflammation.

Just as with echinacea, it’s important to begin as soon as the first tickle occurs. The quantity would be 600 mg taken three times a day. That makes our immune system start to work better.

Vitamin C

The third part of our immune system boost is vitamin C; also known as ascorbic acid, it’s best known as an antioxidant. From the research of Linus Pauling until today, vitamin C has been studied extensively. Even though vitamin C hasn’t been proven to prevent a cold, it does seem to reduce the symptoms of a cold. That may be the result of its antioxidant capacity to reduce inflammation.

When the body is exposed to viruses or allergens, the immune response is triggered. That’s desirable, of course, but what we don’t like are the symptoms associated with the response, such as watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, and on and on. While the exact mechanism is unknown, what may be happening is that vitamin C may be clearing up the free radicals in immune response cells, thereby allowing them to function better. No one knows, but it makes sense.

Take 250–500 mg three times a day. Some people increase their C to 10 times that amount, but my strategy is always to take the lowest amount to get the result I want.

The Bottom Line

The old adage “There’s no cure for the common cold!” was correct and still is as of this date. But if you want to reduce the symptoms and possibly the duration of common infections such as colds, the flu, or even seasonal allergies, remember the immune boosting trio.

Let’s summarize our immune boost formula, keeping in mind the number of tablets can vary depending on brands. Three times per day, take these:

            500 mg echinacea

            600 mg garlic

            250–500 mg vitamin C

Remember: the first tickle in your throat is the best time to start the immune boost trio.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Nutrients. 2022. https:// doi.org/10.3390/nu14214604

Immune Booster 1: Echinacea

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Just like nine years ago when I first wrote this, the cold and flu season is still around. The seasonal allergy season is right around the corner and may have started, depending on where you live. When you feel that first tickle in the back of your throat, that first nasally sensation, that’s when you have to take action, confirmed again with a recently released study. That’s what we do in our house, and that’s what I’m going to cover this week.

It begins with echinacea. The research on echinacea was and is still equivocal when it comes to treating colds, but when it comes to boosting the immune system at the beginning of immune challenges, the research supports its use. There are three key factors:

  • Echinacea must be started at the first hint of a symptom.
  • The dose must be high enough to stimulate the immune system; I recommend 500 mg of echinacea derived from both the root and aerial parts three times per day.
  • Echinacea works best for those with a compromised immune system. Even the healthiest person will catch a cold or have seasonal allergies, but if you have a weak immune system to begin with, or it’s been weakened by illness or stress, echinacea will be even more effective.

That’s where you begin. There are two more key supplements coming on Saturday.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

References:
1. Adv Ther. 2015 Mar;32(3):187-200.
2. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2025.04.025

Research Update on Probiotics and Adult Allergies

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Researchers recruited a total of 95 adults, ages 19 to 65, with allergic rhinitis for a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial; all the subjects were from two hospitals in South Korea. They were not allowed to take their usual medication to treat seasonal allergies.

In the experimental group, 47 subjects received the probiotics, and 48 subjects were in the placebo group. The probiotics used in the study was a novel blend called NVP-1703. The variables the researchers selected to track were markers associated with the immune response such as IgE and interleukins. They also tracked the symptoms of the subjects by having them complete daily diaries noting responses such as sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, runny nose, etc. The subjects also took standardized written allergy questionnaires.

The researchers found significant positive changes in the questionnaire assessment from baseline through weeks one, three, and four between the probiotic group and the placebo group. The IgE levels and serum IL-10 levels were significantly improved between the probiotic and the placebo group.

The improvement in questionnaire results meant that the subjects that were taking the probiotics saw their allergy symptoms decrease. By assessing the immune responses, they saw that somehow the probiotics stimulated the production of IgE and IL-10. Both of those allow the immune system to control symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis.

The researchers concluded that this blend of probiotics could be beneficial to treat seasonal allergies; I’m not sure I would go that far since the study contained fewer than 100 subjects. I would say that it was nice progress, although there’s still more to do. But if you have allergies, taking your probiotics regularly may be helpful for your allergy symptoms as well as all the other benefits.

What are you prepared to do today?

        Dr. Chet

Reference: Nutrients 2020. 12: 1427-41.; doi:10.3390/nu1205142