Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I have a 10 year old daughter who suffers greatly throughout the summer with allergies. I have used over-the-counter Claritin in the past, but I am looking for something natural for her to take. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.” —Jan D., Columbus, OH Dear Jan, If your child’s allergies are such that they are being managed by healthcare practitioners, I encourage you to discuss with them your desire to use more natural interventions for your daughter’s allergies to make sure they are in agreement. That said, I do have some ideas for natural products that could be quite effective. I have a lot of respect for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as it is one of the oldest and most effective medical systems on earth. One TCM formula that has also been studied for safety and efficacy in human trials is specific to the kinds of allergies you describe. It contains Chinese Peony root, Siler Root, Sweet Wormwood, Summer Cypress fruit, Dong Quai root and Chinese Licorice root. In one human study, this TCM formula was shown to reduce symptoms of allergic rhinitis by 67% and breathing/lung issues by about 86%. I recommend going to your local quality health food store, or integrative pharmacy, and looking for a product with this special TCM formula and ingredients. Good luck to you!