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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

There's little scientific research that shows alternative therapies work for treating allergies, but a number of people claim they help alleviate symptoms.

  • Herbal remedies and supplements include butterbur, cat's claw, choline, goldenseal, stinging nettle, belladonna and bromelain.
  • Alternative therapies include probiotics, acupuncture and hypnosis.
References
  1. Allergy. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
  2. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.acaai.org/public/questions/frequent.htm. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
  3. Tips to Remember: What is an allergic reaction? American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisallergicreaction.stm. Accessed Jan. 7, 2009.
  4. Bauer BA. Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine. New York, N.Y.: Time Inc.; 2007:156-157.

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Jan. 30, 2009

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