Dealing with a sensitive nose

SINUS is a common term many use to refer to a sensitive nose condition. Medically, it is known as allergic rhinitis, which is defined as an inflammation of the mucous lining in the nose. Triggered by allergies, allergic rhinitis is characterised by sneezing spells, or an itchy, runny or blocked nose.

HYPERSENSITIVE IMMUNE SYSTEM The nose naturally produces about a litre of mucous daily which is meant to “filter the air” before it enters the lungs. Only when a truly harmful substance enters the nostrils, should it trigger a reaction to expel it, via sneezing or runny mucous.

A sensitive nose on the other hand, tends to get triggered by even the most harmless substance such as dust. The root cause of this has been identified as a hypersensitive immune system. Due to a hyper reactive nose, it often leads to chronic inflammation which results in a blocked nose. Symptoms often extend to the parts connected to the nose, such as the eyes (red and teary), ears (feeling of fullness) and throat (dry cough).

Often, those who suffer from allergic rhinitis also have sinusitis. This condition refers to the swelling or inflammation of the sinus mucous membrane. This swelling causes the sinus openings that normally drain mucous, to be blocked. Mucous then stagnates, causing facial pain and headaches besides attracting viral or bacterial infections. Doctors often refer to sinusitis as rhinosinusitis because inflammation of sinuses (pockets of air in the cavities of the face) nearly always occur simultaneously with inflammation of the nose (rhinitis).

HEALTH BURDEN Research shows that chronic inflammation in the nose increases the risk of asthma. As the nose forms the entry point to the lungs, prolonged inflammatory reactions in the nose eventually affect the lungs.

Unfortunately, public awareness on nasal allergies is poor. Hence, most people just live with a sensitive nose, hoping it will disappear on its own after a while. The fact is, nasal allergies and allergic rhinitis do not simply go away. In fact, unless the hypersensitive nature of the immune system is addressed and managed, nasal allergies are likely to worsen and lead to inflammatory conditions in the lungs or asthma. Once asthma is diagnosed, it is generally permanent.

MANAGING ALLERGIES To manage a sensitive nose and sinusitis, it seems simple, just avoid. If the patient knows what it is that triggers their nose to tingle and become runny, then they can just avoid those triggers. Still, it is impossible to control our environment all the time.

Conventionally, drug options such as antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and steroids have been employed to gain relief from nasal symptoms. Antihistamines are the mainstay of treatment although these are not recommended for sinusitis due to its drying effects which will increase the risk of infections in the sinuses. For all its usefulness, conventional drug treatment is still unable to address the most important issue, the hypersensitive state of the immune system.

NATURAL THERAPY RESEARCH Scientists at the Ruder Boskovic Centre in Zagreb, Croatia have discovered that an activated astragalus root extract known as Lectranal displayed benefits for people with hypersensitive immune systems. This herbal medicine which has been rigorously trialed and tested, has been found to calm hypersensitive noses and sinusitis.

Published in the journal Phytotherapy Research in 2010, treatment with Lectranal resulted in 70% of sensitive noses becoming desensitised after at least two months of treatment. Unlike other general, non-specific therapies, Lectranal aims specifically towards the hypersensitive nature of the immune system, which triggers nasal symptoms to appear in the first place.

With Lectranal, the immune system is guided to normal function instead of overreacting each time it meets an allergen such as dust, pollen or even temperature changes. The type of allergen is not important as Lectranal deals with the root of the hypersensitive immune system, by influencing the way in which the system processes these allergens. This patented herbal extract has also been shown to impart a memory to the immune system so that it recognises allergens in future without the irritating nasal symptoms appearing. As a result, the nose remains calm and non-hypersensitive. While avoidance is still recommended, patients do find that Lectranal certainly helps them to cope better. A pharmacist and natural therapy advocate, Datin Swanee Teh at a recent Scent-sitive Nose Forum held in Kuala Lumpur said, “Having suffered for so long, people don’t realise that they can actually manage their condition effectively and safely to experience life once again with a normal nose. The goal of treatment is to reduce allergy symptoms minus the side effects. To achieve this goal, natural therapies like Lectranal are proving helpful.”

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