It’s official.
The 2015 allergy season is one of the worst on record.
But next time your eyes start itching or your nose starts running, think before reaching for Zyrtec. Besides the side effects that only get worse over time, it doesn’t cure anything.
Even more alarming… Some unsuspecting users develop a rash when they stop taking cetirizine (Zyrtec).1,2 It’s like a withdrawal symptom. In fact, it’s so common, it even has a nickname… The “Zyrtec itchies.”3 But the FDA doesn’t like talking about it. They barely even acknowledge it’s a side effect.4
An allergy med that causes itchiness…just another one of Big Pharma’s genius concoctions.
Of course a solution already exists—and it doesn’t come from a lab. It comes from a shrub that grows in damp or marshy areas.
Healers have used it for centuries to treat a range of ailments… From asthma to intestinal muscle spasms.5,6 And it’s an excellent antihistamine. Some studies suggest it’s just as effective as Zyrtec for combatting hay fever. But better.
You see, one of the main problems with cetirizine is that it causes intense fatigue… To the point it disrupts people’s daily lives. It impairs their thinking and causes confusion.7 Their productivity suffers.
But now a study out of Switzerland put this extract head-to-head with cetirizine. And guess what happened?
Researchers found two weeks of treatment alleviated allergic rhinitis. And it didn’t cause drowsiness or fatigue.8 The cetirizine group… Their experience was very different. Sedating effects made up two thirds of the side effects they reported.
This natural allergy fighter is butterbur extract. And it’s not just about keeping your energy levels up… Butterbur also helps relieve the symptoms that make most people reach for Zyrtec in the first place.
Another team of Swedish researchers studied 580 patients with seasonal allergies. They all had nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and irritated skin. They each took two butterbur tablets per day. After just two weeks, 90% of patients saw an improvement in their symptoms.9
In other words, butterbur can help you ease allergy symptoms…without putting you to sleep. And without causing crazy withdrawal symptoms when you stop.
Look for natural butterbur supplements at your local health store or online. It should contain 8 mg of petasin per tablet. This is the amount used in most studies. How many pills you take will depend on your symptoms. But a word of caution…
Butterbur is related to ragweed, daisies, and chrysanthemums. So if you have an allergy to any of these, butterbur may cause a reaction.
If that’s the case, you can seek out other natural allergy fighters… Like stinging nettle and vitamin D3. Along with butterbur, these can also help improve immune health and prevent allergic reactions before they start.
In Good Health,
Angela Salerno
Publisher, INH Health Watch
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References:
1http://www.consumeraffairs.com/rx/zyrtec.html
2http://www.exhibithealth.com/general-health/caution-zyrtec-withdrawal-side-effect-1451/
3http://michaelmgriffin.hubpages.com/hub/zyrtec-withdrawal-itching
4http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/AC/03/briefing/3999B1_23_Zyrtec.pdf
5http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11302783?dopt=Abstract
6http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7938265?dopt=Abstract
7http://www.everydayhealth.com/drugs/zyrtec
8http://www.bmj.com/content/324/7330/144
9http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16751170?dopt=Abstract