Let’s Learn How Allergic Responses Work and How to Support Them Naturally.

Understanding Your Body's Allergy Defense System

Before you reach for another tissue, let’s break down the invisible allergy army marching through your body. From your nose to your liver, each system plays a starring role in how your body reacts to pollen, dander, and other allergens. By learning how these systems work - and how to naturally support them - you’ll be better equipped to sniff less and smile more!

Your body's defense against allergies is a complex system involving multiple components working together to protect you from allergens. Understanding how these elements function can empower you to support them naturally and effectively. Here’s a quick look at the main defenders on your allergy front line:

Symptoms Are Signals...

Picture yourself walking through a field in allergy season - your mucous membranes jump into action, quietly trapping pollen and irritants. But if they're dry or compromised, those allergens slip through, and your nose runs, eyes itch, and throat scratches. Inside, mast cells sound the alarm, releasing histamine and triggering sneezing, watery eyes, and skin irritation.

Behind the scenes, your liver works to clear the histamine flood and keep you balanced. When it’s overwhelmed, symptoms linger - think brain fog, fatigue, or dull headaches.

And if histamine builds up in your system, your skin often takes the hit, showing up as itchiness, rashes, flushing, or sensitivity to heat and sweat. It’s your body’s way of saying: the cleanup crew’s falling behind.

Symptoms of seasonal stressors can include:

• Sneezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Coughing
• Post-nasal drip
• Scratchy throat
• Headache or sinus pressure
• Fatigue
• Itchy skin or hives
• Wheezing or shortness of breath

Mucus, Mast Cells, and More...

Your body has a built-in defense system to manage allergens, beginning with the mucous membranes in your nose, sinuses, and throat. These act as a physical barrier, trapping irritants before they can enter your system.

When this barrier is compromised, allergens pass through more easily and trigger immune responses. Inside your body, mast cells detect these intruders and release histamine, which causes familiar symptoms like sneezing and itching.

To prevent reactions from becoming overwhelming, your liver works to break down and clear out excess histamines. When it’s functioning well, allergic responses are not even felt, let's review these areas:

First Line of Defense - Mucous Membranes

The mucous membranes in your nose, sinuses, and throat trap irritants like pollen and pet dander. Goblet cells within these membranes produce protective mucus. If your mucous lining is weakened, allergens penetrate more easily, triggering reactions. Strengthen your mucous membranes with nutrients like Vitamin A and zinc, along with herbs like Albizia and Eyebright. A robust mucosal barrier prevents allergens from entering your system.

Mast Cells and Histamine Release

Mast cells release histamines when they sense allergens, triggering common allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, and swelling. These cells have granule "pockets" with histamine that can burst prematurely if malnourished and weak.  Keeping these cells calm and stable can help tone down the allergic drama. Stabilizing mast cells naturally can help reduce these uncomfortable reactions.

Liver: Your Histamine Clearing House

Once histamines are released, your liver jumps into action to process and clear them. But when it’s overloaded, those histamines hang around longer, making you feel worse. Symptoms of a sluggish histamine clearance system might include lingering headaches, brain fog, fatigue, or itchiness of skin.

Supporting liver detox helps keep your system clear and reactions short-lived. Herbs like Milk Thistle and Schisandra support liver detoxification. Incorporating leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, and staying hydrated boosts your body’s natural detox pathways and can significantly reduce allergy-related discomfort.

Targeted Natural Solutions With MediHerb and Standard Process

Mucosal Support

Allerplex (featuring fenugreek to thin mucus) helps clear congested sinuses by promoting healthy mucous flow while supporting overall respiratory health with glandular extracts and whole food ingredients. Sinus Forte by MediHerb combines herbs like Eyebright, Goldenrod, and Cayenne to soothe irritated sinus tissues, reduce excess mucus, and promote clear nasal passages. Together, they form a powerful duo for reinforcing mucosal health and easing sinus reactivity during peak allergy seasons.

Mast Cell Stabilization

Mast cells are like the body's alarm system, releasing histamine when they detect allergens. This histamine release can lead to symptoms like sneezing, itching, and swelling. Certain herbs, such as Albizia lebbeck and Baical Skullcap, have been found to help stabilize these cells.​

Albizia lebbeck, also known as "Siris" or "Indian walnut," has a history in traditional medicine for treating seasonal stressors. Studies have shown that extracts from this tree can suppress the genes responsible for producing histamine and its receptors.

Baical Skullcap, scientifically known as Scutellaria baicalensis, is a traditional Chinese herb with notable properties. The flavonoids baicalein and wogonin found in this plant have been shown to inhibit the release of histamine from mast cells. This means that Baical Skullcap may prevent the onset of symptoms by stopping mast cells from releasing histamine in the first place. ​

Incorporating these herbs into your routine may help manage allergies by stabilizing mast cells and reducing histamine release.

Liver Health and Histamine Clearance

Allerplex and Antronex by Standard Process enhance liver function, supporting histamine breakdown and removal. Allerplex provides a blend of whole food ingredients and glandular extracts that nourish the liver and promote bile flow - essential for clearing histamines efficiently.

Antronex is available by itself or is one of the ingredients of Allerplex contains a unique extract called yakriton, derived from bovine liver fat, which helps improve the body’s natural detoxification of histamines and supports proper vascular function. Together, these supplements offer a comprehensive approach to reducing lingering allergy symptoms like congestion, fatigue, and itchy skin by boosting your liver’s natural ability to keep your system clear.

Discover Your Unique Allergy Profile

IgA and IgG Testing During Allergy Season

When allergy season hits, symptoms like sneezing, itchy skin, or brain fog can be made worse by more than just pollen or dust. Your body may also be reacting to certain foods or environmental triggers. IgA and IgG are types of antibodies your immune system makes in response to these triggers. High levels of these antibodies might mean your body is dealing with chronic sensitivities that increase inflammation.

IgA is mostly found in places like your nose, lungs, and gut, while IgG is found throughout your body and can cause delayed reactions—like feeling tired or getting headaches hours or days later. Testing for both types of antibodies can help you spot what’s making your symptoms worse. This can guide you to make changes in your diet or environment to feel better during allergy season. Still, not all doctors agree on how useful IgG testing is, so it’s best to use the results along with advice from a healthcare professional.

Common Liver Testing to Better Understand Histamine Clearance Potential

Your liver doesn’t just help process toxins—it also plays a big role in clearing histamine, a chemical your body releases during allergic reactions. If your liver isn’t working at its best, histamine can build up and make allergy symptoms worse. Blood tests that check liver enzymes like ALT, AST, ALP, and GGT can show how well your liver is functioning. When these enzymes are off, it may be a sign your body is having trouble clearing histamine efficiently. Supporting your liver with the right foods, supplements, and habits - especially during allergy season - can help reduce how intense your symptoms feel. Keeping your liver healthy means your body is better equipped to handle histamine surges from seasonal triggers.

Track Progress and Fine-Tune Your Plan

During allergy season, it’s especially helpful to keep an eye on how your body is responding to your diet and any supplements you’re taking. Doing repeat IgA/IgG tests and liver function tests can show if your symptoms are improving and whether your current plan is working. For example, lower antibody levels or better liver enzyme scores might mean your body is calming down and clearing histamine more effectively.

But if things stay the same - or get worse - it might be time to change your approach. Working with a knowledgeable health practitioner can help you make sense of the test results and figure out the best next steps for staying on track through allergy season.

Start Your Allergy Reset Today!

You don’t have to suffer through every allergy season with tissues in one hand and frustration in the other. By understanding how your body’s mucous membranes, mast cells, and liver work together during allergic reactions, you can support these systems naturally and build long-term resilience.

Whether you’re sneezing through spring blooms or foggy-headed in the fall, it’s time to move beyond surface symptom relief and embrace a holistic approach. Strengthen your mucosal defenses with nourishing nutrients, stabilize mast cells with trusted herbal allies like Albizia and Baical Skullcap, and keep your liver primed to clear histamines effectively with detox-supportive foods and supplements.

Whether you’re navigating spring blooms, summer dander, or year-round triggers, a holistic, evidence-informed approach puts you back in control of your health.

Allergy-Fighting: Roasted Beet and Blueberry Salad Recipe

Did you know beets can help beat allergies? Rich in antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatory properties, beets support your liver's detoxification pathways and strengthen mucosal barriers. Enjoy this delicious roasted beet and blueberry salad to nourish your immune system and keep allergy symptoms at bay!

Ingredients:

• Roasted beets, cubed
• Baby spinach
• Kale
• Shredded carrots
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Fresh blueberries (quercetin-rich)
• Crumbled goat cheese (optional)
• Toasted walnuts
• Olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing
• Drizzle of local raw honey

Directions to Roast Beets:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Trim off the beet greens, leaving about 1 inch of stems intact.
• Wash beets thoroughly, then wrap each beet individually in aluminum foil.
• Roast on a baking sheet for 45-60 minutes until tender.
• Allow to cool, peel, and then cube.

Salad Preparation:

Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl. Toss gently with dressing and finish with a drizzle of local raw honey.

Benefits:

This vibrant salad provides powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds to support your immune system, strengthen mucosal barriers, and aid liver detoxification, helping naturally ease allergy symptoms.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Allergies. National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm​U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Climate change and health equity: Pollen.
• Islam, M. N., Mizuguchi, H., Shahriar, M., Venkatesh, P., Maeyama, K., Mukherjee, P. K., Hattori, M., Choudhuri, M. S. K., Takeda, N., & Fukui, H. (2011). Albizia lebbeck suppresses histamine signaling by the inhibition of histamine H1 receptor and histidine decarboxylase gene transcriptions. International Immunopharmacology, 11(11), 1766–1772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2011.07.003​
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Climate change and health equity: Pollen. https://www.hhs.gov/climate-change-health-equity-environmental-justice/climate-change-health-equity/climate-health-outlook/pollen/index.html
• Axios. (2025, April 8). Allergy season is getting worse due to climate change. https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/04/08/allergy-season-climate-change-indianapolis​

Statement on Research and Efficacy

This article is grounded in emerging research and integrative clinical insights aimed at helping individuals navigate the growing challenges of seasonal and environmental allergies. The strategies and products discussed - particularly from Standard Process and MediHerb - blend traditional herbal wisdom with modern scientific investigation to provide holistic support for immune balance, histamine regulation, and natural resilience.

Key ingredients such as Albizia lebbeck, Baical Skullcap, Milk Thistle, Schisandra, and Eyebright have been traditionally used and studied for their role in supporting mucosal defenses, stabilizing mast cells, and enhancing liver detoxification - critical components in managing allergic responses. For example, Albizia lebbeck has been shown to inhibit histamine production at the genetic level, while Baical Skullcap flavonoids have demonstrated an ability to prevent mast cell degranulation.

While individual responses to herbal protocols may vary, these integrative approaches aim to calm the body’s inflammatory load and restore balance by working with the body's natural processes. The benefits of these herbs and supplements are often amplified when combined with healthy habits such as antioxidant-rich nutrition, hydration, quality sleep, and stress reduction techniques. We encourage readers to seek guidance from qualified healthcare professionals to create personalized protocols aligned with their specific immune health needs.

Disclaimer

The content provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The herbal products and supplements discussed have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the research cited supports the functional role of these ingredients, the findings do not necessarily pertain to the specific products mentioned.