Allergy season has roared in like a lion in many areas in the country. My suffering began in early February due to a warmer than usual winter. My problem is I cannot take prescription or over-the-counter allergy medications because of other health conditions.

My healthcare provider recommended a natural product, called Aller-C by Vital Nutrients. It contains Quercetin, a natural antihistamine. She indicated many of her patients who can’t or don’t want to take regular antihistamines have had good results.

She mentioned that this product starts working in several days which was a definite plus. Some natural remedies have to be taken long before allergy season to allow them to build up in your body.

A 100-capsule bottle sells for about $20 plus free shipping on Amazon with a minimum order of $35. You take two capsules two to four times daily or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Quercetin is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It belongs to a group of water-soluble nutrients, known as bioflavonoids. It is available as a supplement but is found naturally in many food sources, including apples with their skin, tomatoes, red and yellow onions, scallions, berries, red grapes, black and green tea, broccoli and citrus fruit.

This anti-inflammatory compound is thought to reduce the inflammation associated with allergies by stabilizing cell membranes, preventing them from releasing histamine. Quercetin also prevents the lungs, nasal passages and eyes from swelling after allergen exposure.

Quercetin may prevent the release of histamines from the immune cells but there is no body of strong scientific evidence to back this up. It doesn’t work for all users as I found by checking out online reviews. Reviewers seemed to be either enthusiastic or lukewarm about it.

Most reviewers said the product definitely took the edge off their symptoms which was what they were hoping for. I just started taking this product and am hoping it will at least tone down my symptoms to a more tolerable level. I will update this article to report my findings.

One month later, I am happy to report Aller-C is doing the trick for me. Allergy season is bad this year but my symptoms are toned down with Aller-C. I would even say I have fewer symptoms than my husband who takes an OTC antihistamine. I won’t say I have no symptoms but they are definitely tolerable with this product. I still suffer with watery, itchy eyes, especially outdoors, but runny nose, sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat are all manageable. I probably could add some eye drops to deal with the eye problem.

Quercetin apparently works by helping the body do its own job of dealing with allergens, such as pollens and mold. As an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, it can be beneficial for preventing colds as well.

Few side effects have been reported but it may cause headache or stomach upset. Consult your healthcare professional to determine if quercetin is right for you.