Birch Pollen Plant and Hay Fever

Birch Pollen Plant Extract May

Be New Therapy for Hay Fever

Battling hay fever with a plant extract works. It was recently
demonstrated in a clinical study conducted by researchers
of the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) of Helmholtz Zentrum München and Technische Universität München,
Germany.

Allergic symptoms were alleviated significantly better than
with the usual histamine receptor antagonists. In a paper published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
the research scientists explained how this plant extract works
and how effective it is.

Antihistamine medications (such as Desloratadine) have long been considered the treatment of choice to alleviate the symptoms of hay fever sufferers. Now, in a randomized double-blind study, researchers demonstrated that the plant extract Ze 339 (Petasol butenoate complex) from Birch Pollen
combats nasal mucosa swelling faster and more effectively.

Apparently, however, the extract not only works in acute cases "Our data indicate that the extract also has a preventive effect, which must be nvestigated further," said the doctors from the Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM) in Munich. The results look promising for improving the quality of life of people with allergies.

So far the plant extract has only been approved as a drug in Switzerland and South Korea. Further studies need to be carried out in order to allow it to be sold as a prescription drug elsewhere.

Story Source:
German Research Centre for Environmental Health
Journal Reference:
"Petasol butenoate complex (Ze 339) relieves
allergic rhinitis-induced nasal obstruction more effectively than desloratadine. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology"2011