I am a chiropractor and have been trained in the body’s functions as well as its associated nutritional needs. So this spring when my nose started running and I was sneezing way too often, I decided to look into my nutrition and any possible ways to combat these symptoms. I was tired of taking Sudafed all the time.
I read the side effects for Sudafed and decided it wasn’t worth the risks. Some of the milder possibilities are nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, dizziness, headache, or nervousness. A few of the rare but very serious side effects are rashes, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, and trouble breathing! The other annoying thing about Sudafed was how difficult it was to buy at the store since it can be used to create illegal drugs.
For a few years I have been a provider for a whole food nutrient company called Standard Process, so I researched what options they have for allergies. I found an excellent product called Allerplex that looked like it would work better than the Sudafed I was using 2-3 times a day.
To my surprise, the Allerplex has been a great replacement, but it has done more than just replace the Sudafed. The recommended dose was three capsules at each meal. After 1 week of this, I was nearly symptom free! After another week I decided to decrease the dosage to 2 capsules at meals, then I went down to 1 capsule at meals. Still the same great results, so I decided to stop taking it altogether (realizing I could always take another here and there when I needed it). Sure enough, I haven’t had any return of symptoms yet and I couldn’t be happier!
This might not be the right solution for you, but just remember that there are SO MANY options out there and it is always better trying the options with the least amount of risks.
Also see our post on Sinus & Ear Treatment.