Condition
Allergic Diseases (General)
Allergic diseases arise when the immune system overreacts to harmless things like pollen, dust mites, or foods, releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause sneezing, itching, and swelling. Probiotics are among the best-supported supplements, with moderate evidence, and trials of one strain, Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92, found eczema symptoms eased in children and adults. Those studies were small, though, and most plant extracts have only been tested in animals or cells.
Sources: PMID 20861645; PMID 25660281
- Supplements studied
- 7
- Graded outcomes
- 7
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms Three clinical trials using the L. acidophilus L-92 strain demonstrated improvements in atopic dermatitis symptoms. A double-blind RCT in Japanese adults and a pediatric study both showed reductions in dermatitis severity scores and serum cytokine markers. A third trial demonstrated efficacy with prolonged ingestion of L-92 in adult patients. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 4 studies | 250 people | ||
Studies that measured atopic dermatitis symptoms
| ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic Response In rodent models, Artemisia iwayomogi extract dose-dependently inhibited systemic anaphylactic reactions (compound 48/80-induced in ICR mice), passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (Sprague-Dawley rats), and ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation (BALB/c mice). Mechanisms include mast cell stabilization via NF-kappaB/p38 MAPK inhibition, reduced histamine release, and suppression of Th2 cytokines and serum IgE. No human studies exist. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 7 studies | |||
Studies that measured allergic response
| ||||||
Japanese catnip
- Allergic Response: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic Response In IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells, S. tenuifolia suppressed degranulation (beta-hexosaminidase release) and reduced IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-4, and IL-6 at 100 mcg/mL. In rats, the extract dose-dependently inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis and reduced plasma histamine levels. In a DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis mouse model, treatment suppressed serum IgE, TNF-alpha, and IL-6, and downregulated NF-kappaB and MAPK expression. No human data exists. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 3 studies | |||
Studies that measured allergic response | ||||||
Chinese Hawthorn
- Allergic Inflammation: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic Inflammation Preclinical studies report that Chinese hawthorn extracts inhibit mast cell degranulation and histamine release, and reduce inflammatory cytokines via NF-κB inhibition. Evidence is limited to in vitro and animal models with no human trials. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured allergic inflammation | ||||||
East Indian globe thistle
- Mast Cell Stabilization (Anti-allergic): changes; see studies
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mast Cell Stabilization (Anti-allergic) In an animal/in vitro study, ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of S. indicus showed 77–88% protection against mast cell degranulation induced by compound 48/80 and sheep serum, slightly exceeding the standard drug ketotifen (69–75%). Suggests potent mast cell stabilizing activity comparable to established anti-allergic agents. | Changes; see studies | Moderate effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured mast cell stabilization (anti-allergic) | ||||||
Lactosucrose
- Allergic IgE Response: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic IgE Response In OVA-sensitized mice, dietary lactosucrose supplementation produced dose-dependent suppression of anti-ovalbumin IgE responses. Lactosucrose inhibited antigen-specific IgE and IgG1 production even after a second immunization, while splenocytes showed reduced IL-4 and IL-5 production and augmented IL-10 production, suggesting a Th1/Th2 rebalancing effect. No human data available. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 1 study | |||
Studies that measured allergic ige response | ||||||
Histidine
- Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms Limited human studies have explored histidine supplementation in atopic dermatitis, potentially related to its role in filaggrin production (a histidine-rich protein important for skin barrier function). Evidence is preliminary and insufficient for clinical recommendations. | Improves (the measure goes down) | Small effect |
Key findings
- Atopic Dermatitis SymptomsImproves (the measure goes down)
- Allergic ResponseImproves (the measure goes down)
- Allergic InflammationImproves (the measure goes down)
The Allergic Diseases General Support protocol
2 primary supplements · 7 supporting supplements
- Quercetin500–1,000 mg daily in divided doses
- Probiotics10–20 billion CFU multi-strain daily (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains)
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Studies cited
17 studies from PubMed
- Development of real-time PCR based molecular markers for two medicinal herb Artemisia species A. capillaris and A. iwayomogi
- Crataegus pinnatifida: A botanical, ethnopharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacological overview.
- Artemisia iwayomogi (Dowijigi) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway.
- Immunomodulation Effects of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq. on the IgE-Induced Allergic Model of RBL-2H3 Cells
- Efficacy of prolonged ingestion of Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 in adult patients with atopic dermatitis
- Effects of oral administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 on the symptoms and serum cytokines of atopic dermatitis in Japanese adults: a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial
- Schizonepeta tenuifolia inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis in mice
- Effects of oral administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus L-92 on the symptoms and serum markers of atopic dermatitis in children
- Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. casei mix sensitize colorectal tumoral cells to 5-fluorouracil-induced apoptosis
- Mast cell stabilizing effects of Sphaeranthus indicus
- Application of the multiplex PCR method for discrimination of Artemisia iwayomogi from other Artemisia herbs
- A carbohydrate fraction AIP1 from Artemisia iwayomogi suppresses pulmonary eosinophilia and Th2-type cytokine production in an ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma model
- Effects of dietary lactosucrose (4G-beta-D-galactosylsucrose) on the IgE response in mice.
- Development of SCAR marker for discrimination of Artemisia princeps and A. argyi from other Artemisia herbs
- Artemisia iwayomogi inhibits immediate-type allergic reaction and inflammatory cytokine secretion.
- Anti-allergic effect of Artemisia iwayomogi on mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis
- Effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia extract on mast cell-mediated immediate-type hypersensitivity in rats