MSM is a naturally occurring mineral made from sulfur that has been shown in studies to relieve arthritis, headaches, back pain, and also helps strengthen hair and nails. MSM is known as “N Factor”, to bring cells back to normal. A recent study from the Genesis Center for Integrative Medicine in Graham, Washington, found another that adds to the benefits of MSM: its effectiveness as a remedy for seasonal allergies.
MSM Sulfur is a white, odorless, water-soluble element found in nature and in foods such as milk, fruits, vegetables, shellfish, and meat. It is especially rich in eggs, onions, garlic, asparagus, and broccoli. When foods are heated, washed, frozen, or processed, their natural stores of MSM are depleted, making supplementation beneficial.
Seasonal allergies affect more than 23 million Americans each year. Symptoms can include sneezing, watery eyes, runny nose, congestion, cough, scratchy throat, and fatigue. Side effects of antihistamines include drowsiness, and decongestants can cause sleeplessness or irritability. The goal of the MSM study was to test whether a natural mineral can reduce allergy symptoms and to determine if it has potential side effects.
The study was published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Fifty-five patients with seasonal allergies received MSM at 2,600 milligrams per day. The use of MSM resulted in a significant reduction in total and upper respiratory symptoms within 7 days. Lower respiratory symptoms improved substantially by the third week. Few side effects were associated with the use of MSM and no patient withdrew from the study due to adverse reactions. In addition, by day 14 the energy levels of the participants had increased considerably.
The researchers concluded that MSM supplementation of 2,600 mg/day for 30 days is an effective remedy with “no side effects” in reducing seasonal allergy symptoms. One unexpected and valuable benefit of MSM was a significant increase in energy. For this reason, it is better to take MSM early in the day rather than in the evening or at night, too close to bedtime.
As for vitamin C, some people with allergies have experienced improvement in their symptoms after taking 1-2 grams of vitamin C per day (1,000-2,000 milligrams). A buffered form of vitamin C, such as calcium ascorbate, may work better for allergy sufferers or asthmatics than regular vitamin C, according to a study published in the American Journal of Digestive Diseases.
One group of researchers showed that vitamin C reduced the tendency of the bronchial tubes in the lungs to spasm (Annals of Allergy), and another study in China showed that people with more vitamin C in their diet had greater lung volume, meaning they could exhale more air than those who eat less of the vitamin.
Natural remedies can go a long way in providing effective allergy relief without the side effects of medications, such as drowsiness or headaches.