A.Vogel Natural Allergy Relief tablets Sneezing Itchy nose Scratching throat Burning eyes and lacrimation. Sugar and gluten-free Natural Allergy Remedy (Pollinosan) not only lowers the allergic reaction but also relieves symptoms. One of the other actions of Pollinosan is to remove the toxins associated with the allergy mechanism, such as histamine and other chemical mediators. Composition Each tablet contains: Medicinal ingredients: Ammi visnaga (Khella, ripe fruit) 1X, Aralia racemosa (American Spikenard, fresh root and rhizome) 2X, Cardiospermum halicacabum (fresh, aerial parts of the flowering plant) 2X, Luffa operculata (whole fruit) 6X, Okoubaka (dried bark of the branches) 2X, Larrea mexicana (Gobernadora, leaf and young branch) 2X, Galphimia glauca (dried leaf and inflorescence) 3X. Non-medicinal ingredients: Lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, starch. Dosage General use recommendation: Take 15 minutes before meals. Allow to slowly dissolve under the tongue. Adults and adolescents over 13 years old: Take 2 tablets, 3 times daily. Children 6 to12 years old: Give 1 tablet, 3 times daily. Children 2 to 5 years old: Give ½ tablet under the tongue or dissolve in a small amount of water, 1 to 3 times daily. Note: In acute cases, take hourly up to 12 times daily, gradually reducing frequency as improvement occurs, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. Historical overview Allergies were almost never heard of 50 years ago but they are now one of the most frequent health problems. Respiratory allergies, hay fever, allergic asthma, food allergies and urticaria are only some of the names given to this disease, now of epidemic proportions in our society. According to some authors, 40% of the population suffers from one or another form of allergy (against only 4% in the 50s). Many therapists blame environmental pollution, others blame chemical and devitalized food, others blame antibiotics, and others blame vaccines. Be that as it may, the current medical answer to an allergy is not satisfactory: antihistaminic and other allergy-drugs bring a temporary relief but no treatment. The real question is: "If it is possible to acquire an allergy, shouldnt it be possible to get rid of it?" Beyond tradition, homeopathic science is in constant evolution. Research on new therapeutic avenues led to the exploration of medicinal herbs from afar. Pollinosan® contains many of these exotic herbs and represent the fruits of the researchers incessant labor. These herbs are not found in the traditional homeopathic materia medica. They include Ammi visnaga, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Galphinia glauca, Larrea mexicana and Okoubaka aubrevillei and come from Africa, Mexico, etc. Pollinosan®s actual concept is very different from that of the other homeopathic products available for allergies. Rather than targeting only allergic symptoms, Pollinosan® eliminates the toxins that overload the immune system. It is therefore aimed at all types of allergies (rather than only hay fever) because it promotes a normalization of the immune system. Actions and pharmacology Ammi visnaga (Toothpick herb) 1 X Toothpick herb is a member of the Umbelliferae family and comes from the Mediterranean, North Africa and the Near East. Part used: dried ripe fruit. Ammi visnaga is used in the treatment of angina pectoris, upper respiratory tract inflammations and asthma. It especially targets whooping cough, abundant secretions of the respiratory tract, chronic bronchitis and sibilances. Its main active ingredient, khelline, has vasodilator and bronchodilator properties. Aralia racemosa (American Spikenard) 2 X American Spikenard is a member of the Araliacae family and comes from North America, from Canada to Virginia. Not to be confused with Sarsaparilla (Smilax officinalis). Part used: fresh root and rhizome. Aralia racemosa is used as an expectorant. It is particularly useful in cases of asthma starting before midnight (usually worst around 11 p.m.); of sensibility to the least draught (often resulting in a cold or an aqueous, abundant and irritant nasal drip) and of coughs triggered by lying down. Cardiospermum halicacabum 2 X Cardiospermum is a member of the Sapindacae family and comes from Southern North America, and Central America. Part used: freshly grown herb. In local traditional medicine, cardiospermum was used to treat respiratory illnesses and digestive problems. In homeopathic dilution, it is used in both skin and respiratory allergies. In vitro, cardiospermum blocks histamine reactions and has proven spasmolytic, hypotensor and anti-inflammatory effects. According to Dr. W. Schwabe(1), many allergy-suffering patients got significantly better results with cardiospermum than with cortisone. He therefore recommends cardiospermum each time allopathic medicine recommends cortisone (especially for serious allergy symptoms). Galphimia glauca (Galphemia) 3 X Galphimia is a member of the Malpighiacae family and comes from Mexico and Central America. Part used: leaves and dried flowers. Galphimia is successfully used in all sorts of skin and respiratory allergies. A study published in « Fortschritte Der Therapie » followed 86 patients suffering from hay fever during two allergy seasons. Of the 41 patients from the treated group (galphimia 4 X), 11 saw their symptoms disappear and 23 noted a significant improvement. In the placebo group (45 patients), only 3 saw their symptoms disappear and 18 noted a significant improvement. No side effects were reported.(2) Galphimia is acknowledged in the German homeopathic pharmacopoeia. Larrea mexicana (L. tridentata) (Paloondo, chaparral) 2 X Larrea is a member of the Zygophyllacae family and comes from the deserts of South-Western North America. Part used: whole dried herb. In traditional medicine, Chaparral was used as a blood purifier and against some cancers. In homeopathic dilution, it has expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties and it is useful in the treatment of respiratory tract infections and inflammations. Its role in Pollinosan® is to drain the allergic terrain. Luffa operculata (Luffa) 6 X Luffa is a member of the Cucurbitacae family and comes from Central America, South America and North Africa. Part used: dried fruit. Luffa is recommended in cases of atrophic rhinitis like those following a nasal decongestant spray abuse. It is typically effective for those with a crusty dry nose, or those who suffer from a head cold with pale or yellow secretions present mostly in the morning. These symptoms are generally aggravated in hot rooms and improved outdoors. Okoubaka aubrevillei (Okoubaka) 2 X Okoubaka is a member of the Octonematacae family and comes from West Africa. Part used: dried bark. Okoubaka is used in the prevention and treatment of poisoning. Dr M. Kunz studied its ability to stimulate the bodys defense mechanisms against poisoning.(3) She noticed Okoubakas effectiveness against food poisoning, pesticide poisoning and many self-poisoning (auto-toxic) diseases like some diabetes. An allergy may be considered an exacerbation of the bodys defense mechanisms (the immune system) that start attacking normally inoffensive intruders. Okoubaka normalizes these defense mechanisms and allows the immune system to concentrate on real aggressors. Scientific studies A Dutch clinical study evaluated Pollinosan® on 199 patients suffering from the following allergies: dust: 50.8%; animals: 35.7%; pollens (hay fever): 68.3%; and allergies of unknown origin: 14.6%. Most patients suffered from more than one allergy and 28.6% were allergic only to pollens. The study was conducted from April to July, in 1988 and in 1989, and the results of the two years were compared to check for a difference in allergens (due to dry weather, for example) that could alter the data. The use of Pollinosan® led to concluding results: 56,8% of patients reported a distinct improvement of their symptoms (complete or quasi-complete disappearance of symptoms); 31.7% of patients reported a partial improvement of symptoms; and only 11.5% of patients did not notice any improvement. No side effects were reported.(4) Precautions, contraindications and interactions Avoid taking in case of known allergy to any of the ingredients in the product. Consult a healthcare practitioner if symptoms persist or worsen. Allergy and intolerance information: Contains lactose. Do not use if safety seal is broken. Keep out of reach of children. In the first days of treatment, an initial aggravation of symptoms may occur. This positive manifestation will soon subside and indicates that the body is responding to treatment. When this happens, reduce the dosage by half and gradually increase according to symptoms. References 1-Leeser O. Lehrbuch der Homöopathie. Karl F Haug Verkag Heidelberg éditeur 1971. 2-Weisenauer M, Haussler S, Gaus W. Pollinosis therapy with galphimia glauca. Fortschritte Der Therapie. 3-Kunz M. Okoubaka. A New Homoeopathic Medication. Allgemeine Hoeopathische Zeitung 1972;217(3);116-21. 4-Helweg JH et al. Pollinosan® study. Bioforce Ltd. 1990. Suisse. 5-Stauffer K, Schlegel M. Kilnische Homöopathische Arzneimittelehre. Johannes Sonntag ed. 1995. Regensburg Allemagne. 6-Boericke W. Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia Medica and Repertory. B. Jain publishers 1996. New Delhi India. 7-Voisin H. Matière Médicale du Praticien Homéopathe. Maloine 1992. Paris France