Sublingual Homeopathic Type Grass Pollen Reduces Risk of Asthma in Children

Children with grass pollen allergy have a strong risk of developing asthma. In this study children were either given sublingual grass pollen before and during allergy season for three years or they were given typical drug therapy. The children given sublingual grass pollen drops had a much milder allergy season by the second season, and they used less medication than those using medication only. The children using grass pollen immunotherapy were 3.8 times less likely to develop asthma than those on standard medication. The study is published in the October 2004 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Individuals with Chronic Sinusitis may have an Exaggerated Response to Inhaled Mold

An exaggerated immune response to inhaled fungi may be a leading cause of chronically inflamed nasal passages and sinusitis. The common airborne fungi do not trigger symptoms in healthy adults although we frequently inhale them. Skin prick testing may not disclose the allergy but the patients with chronic sinusitis tend to have elevations of other antibody types to fungi. The study is published in the October 6th 2004 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Vegetables Protect You from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

A new study from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine shows that eating 3 or more servings of vegetables a day reduces the risk of developing non-hodgkins lymphoma by 40%. Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is a group of cancers that affect the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system.The most protective vegetables were either green leafy vegetables like spinach, or cabbage family vegetables.

In a second study, a polyphenol found in apples, cocoa, and red wine called procyanidins triggered a series of cell signalling, improving communication between cells. Improving communication in cells helps prevent changes that can cause cancer. The procyanidins actually increased cellular communication in a way that killed cancer cells. In a related study, rats were fed chemicals that cause colon cancer and were fed ether apple procyanidins or a regular diet. Giving the procyanidins for 6 weeks cut the number of precancerous lesins in the colon in half versus the regular diet. The studies were performed at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research. These and other studies were presented over the weekend at the Annual Fronteirs in Caner Prevention Research Confedrence in Seattle.