Doctors: Homeopathic Remedies May Work For Allergies

BALTIMORE -- As spring nears, allergy sufferers will prepare for hay fever and other seasonal allergies.

But this year, some might seek alternative treatment for allergies, reported WBAL-TV in Baltimore.

Dr. Mimi Palenque, a naturopathic doctor at the Medispa at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, said homeopathy can help.

"Homeopathy is all about allergies and allergens, but we view the body very, very differently than a medical practitioner would," Palenque said.

Two new studies reviewed the herbal supplement Butterbur.

"(Butterbur) is a huge leaf and an herb that comes from the rhubarb plant. It's used for sinuses, hay fever, migraines," Palenque said.

One study found Butterbur superior to a placebo. A second study found Butterbur extract had similar effects to the prescription drug Zyrtec for relieving allergy symptoms.

"Symptoms like sneezing and nasal congestion, in both groups of patients, had similar resolution," said Dr. Ileana Enamorado, also of Mercy Medical Center.

There are other alternative remedies for allergy symptoms that Palenque said are safer than an herbal supplement like Butterbur.

"I don't call them medicines; I call them remedies, because that's what they are," she said. "They're very, very safe because of the dilution process. When you have a supplement, they're not diluted. They are cold pressed, and you're getting it full strength; that's very powerful."

Naturopathic doctors say homeopathic remedies are safe enough to use with children.