I discovered Natural D-Hist by Ortho Molecular Products at Pharmaca, a natural health food store and pharmacy, when I was looking for a supplement to help me with a persistent night-time cough. The cough had followed a bout of the flu and continued to linger for long after. As soon as I lay down at night, the coughing (I started calling it The Rock Show) would start. The coughing attacks were long (some spells lasted as long five minutes), uncontrollable and uncomfortable and would often lead to vomiting, an inability to breathe and muscle soreness. Needless to say that I wasn’t getting any sleep at night and was desperate for relief.
After having tried almost every cough drop and cough syrup in the ‘Allergy and Immunity Support’ section of my local health food store, I had given up hope that anything would help me. I was at Pharmaca to pick up a prescription for my daughter and thought that I would pick up some Manuka honey to ease some of my symptoms. I had one of my long coughing attacks in the pharmacy aisle and a pharmacist who saw me walked up to me and recommended this product. Her kindness and the ingredient list on the back of the bottle compelled me to try this product.
Let’s go over the ingredient list of Natural D-Hist and examine how and why this formulation is brilliant at promoting respiratory health, strengthening the immune system and treating allergies and coughs.
Quercetin
Quercetin, a bioflavonoid found in apples and red onions and has strong antioxidant and antihistamine properties. According to the Ortho Molecular Products website, quercetin controls the release of inflammation increasing compounds called leukotrienes and prostaglandins. When I dug deeper, I found that leukotrienes are precursors to prostaglandins, and are the inflammatory compounds that are responsible for broncho-constriction in acute asthma attacks. A serving size of two capsules has 400 milligrams of the leukotriene-busting quercetin. In addition to supporting respiratory health, quercetin’s strong anti-oxidant activity makes it useful for cardiovascular health and cancer prevention.
Stinging Nettles Leaf Extract
In a 2009 study published in Journal Phytotherapy Research, researchers identified key mechanisms that led to a deeper understanding of the nettle’s role in alleviating allergies and hay fever. The study pinpointed several ways in which nettle extract inhibited inflammatory events, including the reduction of prostaglandins that lead to seasonal allergies. Two capsules of Natural D-Hist contain 400 milligrams of stinging nettle leaf extract. Additionally, stinging nettles is rich in minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium and silica and helps in treating anemia, correcting hair-loss and healing wounds.
Bromelain
Found in the stem and fruit of the pineapple plant, bromelain is an enzyme that is supreme for protein digestion. While bromelain is often associated with digestion, a research study published in Journal Evidenced-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that the enzyme was helpful in preventing seasonal allergies. The study found that in addition to masking the primary immune response to allergies, bromelain addresses the key cause of allergies, that is, a hyperactive and hypersensitive immune system. Two capsules of Natural D-Hist contain 100 milligrams of bromelain. In addition to its allergy reducing and digestion boosting properties, bromelain helps with joint pain and muscle soreness and enhances the absorption of quercetin in the formulation.
N-Acetyl Cysteine
A precursor to glutathione (a super-star antioxidant), N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) is a modified version of the sulfur rich amino acid, cysteine. NAC is well known for reversing Tylenol induced toxicity, but in this formulation, it works as a mucolytic or mucus thinning agent. NAC changes the viscosity of mucus and thins thick phlegm associated with the flu. 2 capsules of Natural D-Hist contain 50 milligrams of NAC. NAC is an effective, safe and natural remedy for several conditions such as insulin resistance, tumor reduction in cancers, and stomach infections.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that is rapidly used up during times of stress and illness. In addition to its role as an antioxidant, vitamin C deactivates histamines and supports the immune system. Two capsules of the formulation contain 300 milligrams of vitamin C.
Final Thoughts
After purchasing Ortho Molecular Products Natural D-Hist in Pharmaca and reading the instructions at the back of the bottle about the loading dose, I decided to do things a bit different by front-stacking the product and took 6 capsules at the same time. I found relief in about 20 minutes and slept through the night after almost 10 days of suffering through night-time coughing attacks. After the initial stacking, I have been taking the recommended dose of 2 capsules per day.
Natural D-Hist is a superior formulation to support respiratory health and relieve seasonal allergies. It has found itself a firm place in my medicine cabinet.
Sources:
- theBMJ; What are Leukotrienes and how do they work in Asthma?
- University of Mayland Medical Center; Quercetin
- Phytotherapy Research; Nettle Extracts affects key Receptors and Enzymes Associated with Allergic Rhinitis
- Dr. Axe; 7 Health Benefits of Bromelain
- Life Extension; The Overlooked Compound that Saves Lives
- OrthoMolecular Products; Natural D-Hist
