A constitutionally prescribed homeopathic remedy can not only help ADHD and hayfever symptoms but reverse both too.

Yes, that could mean no more need for anti-histamines that make you drowsy and dull. Or worse if you have ADHD make you more restless and nervous, which are also known side-effects of anti-histamines Piriton and Claritin. Nasal corticosteroids come with their own long list of side-effects which is less than ideal if resorting to them yearly to address seasonal allergies.

It's understandable why people reach for these medications. Constant sneezing, incessantly itchy eyes, and a runny nose is extremely irritating and can make a big impact on a child’s ability to learn at school and totally disrupt an ADD adult's focus on their work. Garcia-Lloret estimates that about 20 to 30 percent of children with allergies have trouble learning as a result of their symptoms (1).

Anti-histamine's V's Homeopathic remedies

First generation H1-antihistamines e.g. Benadryl and Sudafed 'penetrate readily into the brain to cause sedation, drowsiness, fatigue and impaired concentration and memory causing detrimental effects on learning and examination performance in children and on impairment of the ability of adults to work and drive' (2). According to the researchers of this study their use should be discouraged. The newer second-generation H1-antihistamines are apparently safer and cause less sedation yet if you look at the insert that comes with second generation anti-histamines such as Claritin and Zyrtec sleepiness, feeling tired, drowsiness are cited as common side-effects.

Antihistamine medications are designed to stop histamines from binding to histamine receptors. Antihistamine medications don’t remove histamines from the body – which means they’re free to bind to remaining receptors. This explains why an anti-histamine can relieve a runny nose and itchy eyes, but is ineffective for other common histamine symptoms. Antihistamine medications only deal with the result – not the cause.

Homeopathic remedies address the root cause/s, and work with the body rather than against it. They don't interfere with the bodies natural, protective histamine response. A constitutional homeopathic remedy (one that matches an individuals total symptom picture) stimulates a healing response to restore balance to a hypersensitive immune system.

Histamine is not actually the enemy. It's important for mood, vasodilation of blood vessels (H1 receptors), release of stomach acid (H2 receptors), regulates nerves, sleep/wake cycle and appetite (H2 receptors), and H4 receptors located in the small intestine and colon; play a role in the body’s inflammatory response (3). Histamine is an important brain neurotransmitter and neuro-regulator that is present in all nerve cells. Histamine either directly or indirectly influences all other major neurotransmitters, often via inhibition of neurotransmitter release, thus theoretically causing anxiety, depression, or both (4).

The outcome of one recent study led researchers to advocate the use of anti-histamines alongside Ritalin for best treatment outcomes for allergic rhinitis. According to Melamed & Heffron 'the combination of an antihistamine (cetirizine) and a stimulant (methylphenidate) produced superior results when treating children with comorbid allergic rhinitis and ADHD, enhancing the efficacy of treatment for both allergic and ADHD symptoms' (5). Interesting to note that this particular research was funded by Pfizer who happens to produce both Methylphenidate and Cetirizine (Zyrtec). No surprise then when there's no mention of the serious side-effects one would risk by taking this combination long-term .

The Link between ADHD & Hayfever

Researchers in the Netherlands and Boston studied 884 boys with ADHD and 3,536 boys without the disorder. Of the children with ADHD, 35 percent had an allergic disorder and 34 percent had asthma (6). Another study concluded that 'ADHD and allergic rhinitis may have common mechanism and represent a comorbid condition that links the nervous system to the immune system'.

A study published last year cited in their abstract that 'allergies often result from immune responses that often involve chronic inflammation' and that 'ADHD patients have more allergic symptoms and higher levels of allergic and inflammation markers such as IgE and histamine' (7). Their study confirmed a 'significantly higher prevalence of rhinitis and ezcema in the ADHD group than the control group. They concluded that 'it is unlikely that ADHD causes allergies...that allergies precede or co-exist with ADHD because of some shared etiology'.

So what could this shared etiology be? Well, like Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride, author of Gut & Psychology Syndrome has been talking about all these years - their digestive systems. She believes the one thing allergies, asthma, eczema, dyspraxia, dyslexia, behavioural problems, ADHD and autism have in common is digestive abnormalities.

Although each affects a different body system, the common issues are immune regulation and gut health. Dr. Campbell-McBride named this underlying condition Gut & Psychology Syndrome. She believes if this underlying gut imbalance is not resolved early-on it often progresses to more severe mental health conditions like depression, Bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder (8).

The Immune system

80% of our immune system resides in our digestive tract so it makes sense that our digestive system plays a huge role in the balance of our immune system (9). According to microbiome expert Jamie Morea 'the trillions of microbes that live there have a huge influence on the balance and performance of immune function including crowding out and killing bad bacteria, protecting your gut barrier, sealing gaps in the intestinal wall and increasing antibody levels. A lack of beneficial bacteria in the gut can contribute to the immune system's inability to distinguish friend from foe, leading to immune system overreaction known as allergies'(10).

'The more microbial exposure we have at a young age - the more diverse our microbiome - the healthier we are long term - because microbes train and challenge our immune system'. - Jamie Morea

Environmental and lifestyle factors that change our gut bacteria and increase our risk of allergies include infant use of antibiotics, formula feeding and birth via cesarean section. A 2018 study with 792,130 children found the risk of developing an allergic disease was significantly increased in those who had received antibiotics or medication to suppress stomach acid in the first 6 months of life (11).

For this reason people are now turning to probiotic supplements to replenish their microbiome to treat seasonal allergies and ADHD. 'One interesting study into ADHD and gut health looked at the influence of probiotic supplements. The researchers gave newborn babies either a probiotic or placebo for the first 6 months of life, and then reassessed them when they were 13 years old. By age 13, 17% of the placebo group had a diagnosis of either ADHD or autism. But in the probiotic group, the result was 0% – none of the participants had ADHD or autism' (12).

Sometimes this simple measure of giving a probiotic supplement isn't enough to restore gut health, and this is where homeopathy comes in.

Bowel nosodes (homeopathic remedies made from intestinal bacteria) were administered to Japanese patients suffering from gastrointestinal disturbances, such as constipation and diarrhea, to determine their therapeutic efficacy. The effects of probiotics and prebiotics for dysbiosis have been reported in many studies. 69.6% of dysbiotic patients taking bowel nosodes showed improvements, and no harmful effects were reported by any patient. These results suggest that the homeopathic bowel nosodes are a useful method for controlling gastrointestinal disturbances (13).

Homeopathic treatment stimulates gut healing with the use of constitutional remedies, bowel nosodes, and homeopathic detox' of substances known to cause leaky gut. The following case illustrates how homeopathy addresses Gut & Psychology Syndrome.

Case Study

When Peter, Age 6, came to see me he had severe hay fever, eczema, and temper tantrums. Peter's mom described his entry into the world as traumatic. He was born via Cesarean delivery at 36 weeks. Peter was rushed to NICU where he was given antibiotics and a steroid Dexamethasone.

Mother breastfed for 7 weeks, but Peter regurgitated breast milk after every feed. Mom believed he wasn't ready for the world. His skin and digestive system was so fragile. Mom was kept in ICU for 24 hours. She felt frustrated, out of control, anxious, angry and resentful. It was 'horrendous'. For 5 days after they would only let her see her son 10 minutes at a time.

Now at Age 6 Peter would have big explosions over small things and does not like to be told what to do. Mom described him as very stubborn, strong willed and likes to be in control. He talks incessantly and jumps from one subject to another. He gets anxious if things don't go as planned. Hits out when angry. When anxious or angry he twists his little finger to scratch it, which then opens up. He often has hacks around his finger joints.

Peter was always itchy especially his eyes and his back. Also the back of his ears. Itchiness was worse at night and worse for warmth of house and bed. Peter was a chilly person with sensitivity to cold. Peter also suffers from constipation - bowel movements once or twice a week/ fortnight, he is dairy intolerant.

Hayfever symptoms included itchy eyes worse for heat, early spring/ summer and autumn. Better for fresh air. Eyeballs become bloodshot and redness around eyes. Eyes close over, eyes appear back in his head. Redness and itchiness is worse in corner of eye. He rubs so much his eyes can go purple and bruised. On a Hot summers day e.g. if we cut the lawn he struggles to keep eyes open. From March Peter takes an anti-histamine daily to help relieve symptoms.

Peter was also diagnosed with Asthma. Uses a Becotide inhaler as soon as he gets a cough or difficult breathing to prevent asthma attacks. He is also allergic to cat dander. When Peter came to see me he had already done a vaccine detox and steroid detox with a previous homeopath.

This case continues. I will update chart as case evolves.

Sources

1) https://www.healthline.com/health-news/hay-fever-can-look-like-behavior-or-learning-issues#1

2) Pharmacology of Anti-histamines: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3667286

3) https://healthygut.com/articles/how-to-get-relief-from-a-histamine-intolerance/

https://www.narayaniwellness.com.au/holistic-medicine-blog/2016/10/25/hay-fever-seasonal-allergies-and-gut-health

4) https://riordanclinic.org/2017/02/50-children-adhd-elevated-levels-toxic-marker-urine/

5) Attention Deficit Disorder and Allergic Rhinitis: Are They Related? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5107870/

6) Children with allergy, asthma may be at higher risk for ADHD https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130813130334.htm

7) Attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder is associated with allergic symptoms and low levels of hemoglobin and serotonin. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-28702-5

8) Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. Gut & Psychology Syndrome.

9) Allergy and the Gastrointestinal System https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/

10) https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/gut-health-and-seasonal-allergies

11) Association Between Use of Acid-Suppressive Medications and Antibiotics During Infancy and Allergic Diseases in Early Childhood

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2676167

12) A possible link between early probiotic intervention and the risk of neuropsychiatric disorders later in childhood: a randomized trial.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25760553

13) Case Study of Homeopathic Bowel Nosode Remedies for Dysbiotic Japanese Patients

https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2017.0061

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and not intended to replace the advice of your physician or health care provider. First aid situations may require medical or hospital care. Do not use this article as a means to diagnose a health condition. Speak to your doctor if you think that your condition may be serious, before discontinuing any medication that has been prescribed for you, or before starting any new treatment.