You May Have Heard of Quercetin
If you have searched for alternatives to steroids and antibiotics to treat asthma, rhinitis, or sinusitis (or all three, as is common), you probably ran across Quercetin (pronounced “kwər’-sətin”). In the Integrative Medicine world and Alternative Medicine communities, quercetin is well-known as an anti-inflammatory agent. Here is what you need to know to decide whether to try taking quercetin to reduce your symptoms from asthma, allergic rhinitis, or sinusitis.
Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that occurs naturally in many foods, plants, and blue-green algae. Foods that that naturally contain quercetin include onions and garlic, and and many dark-colored fruits and vegetables, including:
- Apples
- Grapes
- Broccoli
- Green peppers
- Italian squash
- Tomatoes
- Cayenne pepper
- Black tea
- Green tea
- Red wine
If you struggle with symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis, here is how quercetin helps:
- Q inhibits antigen-induced basophil histamine release
- Q inhibits antigen-induced release of leukotrienes
- Q inhibits mast-cell degranulation (reduced release of histamine and leukotrienes)
- Q is a potent antioxidant
To summarize: Quercetin is a naturally-occurring antihistamine.
In fact, quercetin’s effect on upper airway inflammation is unmatched by other natural remedies.
But wait, there’s more …
According to the American Cancer Society, preliminary data suggests that Quercetin may also be a potent anticancer agent! (You know, just in case you were on the fence about quercetin based on the anti-inflammatory and antihistamine effects.)
Note that quercetin is not well absorbed, and is best absorbed when taken between meals. It is also absorbed best when combined with bromelain (a pineapple-derived enzyme). Most commercial preparations contain both ingredients.
So, you should be asking, “Is Quercetin safe for children”?
Of course, there is little incentive for companies to go through the expense of clinical trials for a naturally-occurring substance that the FDA considers a “dietary supplement.” Even less incentive to go through the extra expense of testing in children.
That is the long way to say that there is limited information on the safety of qeurcetin in children.
On the other hand, quercetin has been given to children for many years now, and is available in over-the-counter forms that children love: chewable tablets. The FDA classifies quercetin as a dietary supplement, and does not regulate it as a medicine.
Alternative Treatments for Children, by Lawrence Rosen, MD
I’m Reassured
The thing that most reassures me regarding the use of quercetin as an antihistamine for children is that it is recommended by Lawrence Rosen, MD.
Dr. Rosen is a renowned pediatrician, and the founder of The Whole Child Center. He practices Integrative Pediatrics – combining the best evidence-based remedies to help his patients, regardless of their origin.
Dr. Rosen is also the author of Treatment Alternatives for Children, a comprehensive guide for parents. One of the key benefits of this excellent resource is that it offers side-by-side comparisons between “conventional” and “alternative” common remedies. I highly recommend that every parent buy this book and keep it nearby!
[for transparency: this is an affiliate link: endorsing products that I believe in].
Quercetin For Your Child (and for you)
As I mentioned, Quercetin is available over-the-counter in preparations for children. One of the most popular, and well-reviewed on Amazon, is Ortho Molecular Dehist Jr.
So check out Ortho Molecular D-Hist Jr for your little boogorheads, or Ortho Molecular Natural D-Hist for you!
[for transparency: these are affiliate links: endorsing products that I believe in].
Anyone reading this familiar with these? What has your experience been? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Please leave a message and let us all know.
Other Alternatives
Also consider these non-medicinal options for your little asthmatic. Both of these have been found to significantly reduce asthma symptoms in good clinical trials:
- Acupuncture (yes, really – children do surprisingly well with needles to treat asthma with acupuncture!)
- Yoga (yes, really – that “hippy,” Eastern posture/exercise thang)
Summary
There you have it, my brief explanation of the anti-inflammatory, antihistamine benefits of Quercetin.
Do you take quercetin? Do you give it to your kids?
What is your experience with quercetin? Positive or negative, we’d like to hear!
NOTE: due to its anti-leukotriene action, quercetin is NOT appropriate for pregnant women.
_______________________________________
Hi, I’m Russell Faust, author of this medical education blog.
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Until next time, remember … you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose (unless you’re a boogor doctor ;~D)
I have heard of this in a nasal spray form as well….any research on which is better…chewable or nasal spray? Or is there equal benefit in both?
You’re right, Lisa.
There are several brands of quercetin nasal spray (“Allergix,” “Sinufix” among others).
I have not tried any of them, plan to.
Let us all know if you give it a try.
Thanks!
Russ
Dr. Faust, my little 30 month old grandson wakes up every night with blood in his nostrils, his boogers are always very thick, can you recommend something? He is not congested this is just how he wakes up in the morning.
Hi Denise,
The #1 cause of nose-bleeds in toddlers this age is the FINGER. Even if they never put a finger in the nose when they are awake, it can happen while they are sleeping – unconciously. And this is a difficult age to prevent it. Try keeping the nasal lining moist during these dry winter months: use a STEAM vaporizer at night; use acquesous-based ointment like Aquaphor, topically to moisten the nasal lining. Acqueous ointments are much more comfortable than the grease-based vaseline-type ointments. Beyond that, take a look at the 3 or 4 articles here on this site pertaining to nose-bleeds.
Without a thorough exam, I can’t be of much help. My advice is to see a pediatric ENT for personalized care.
Thanks for visiting and sharing.
Best success!
RF
Hi, I wasn’t sure where to write this. I am a 25 year old male and I suffer from asthma and sinus problem which I have had as long as I can remember.
The question that I have I have been pondering for a few years now is, why does my asthma and sinus problems get very bad if I stop smoking? I have been on and off cigarettes for a few years and when I stop I find it hard to breathe whereas if I smoke I can breathe fine. I don’t want to smoke anymore I want to live a healthy life but struggling for breath every few hours can’t be healthy either.
Have you had any experience with this sort of problem before? Thanks in advance and I really like your website. I’ll definitely be giving the saline spray a go. Thanks
Hi Paul,
I have no idea, sorry.
Even if quitting makes things worse in the short term, you will be MUCH healthier over the long term if you quit!
Quit now! I don’t want to be removing your larynx (voice box) and part of your face in twenty years because you keep smoking!
Take a look at this post for resources to quit: http://www.boogordoctor.com/2010/10/quit-smoking-do-it-for-your-kids/
RF
Hi There
this is nice blog, but going forward i would like to update some backround information on my case, i have 30 years old and is very senstive to smoke , paint fumes and i got cough and sore throat easily and due to this my cough got worsened from last 1 year. can u pls advise what is the problem, now cough is so severe that, i could breathe pipe swelled and finding it is uneasy to breathe, could you please recommend what best i can do..
adding to this, i have problem with dust also..
thanks
Surbhi
Hi Surbhi,
I wish I could help! It is simply not possible to provide personalized medical advice over the internet. All of the information on this site is strictly as a source of general information – a reference resource – and not medical advice. I CAN advise you to seek local medical care that you trust. Having a relationship with your healthcare provider is a key to your success.
Thank you for visiting, and best success,
RF
Hi Doc
Love your site. I’m a long term sinusitis sufferer. I’ve been using a saline nasal rinse daily and quercetin nasal spray for a while and it helps in the short term. My question is what can I do to alleviate a new symptom – the terrible mucus smell in my nose. I’ve had this for about a month now and antibiotics didn’t help. Is this caused from a biofilm bacteria?
Hi Steega,
Thank you for your comment, and for sharing.
The “terrible smell” may be due to one of a couple things:
(1) inflammation can alter the sensory epithelium that provides your sense of smell, located at the very top of the nasal airway. Reducing the inflammation can correct that – things like nasal saline rinses, including Xylitol to reduce bacterial growth, Manuka honey for its anti-bacterial AND anti-inflammatory effects. Oral quercetin is also an effective anti-inflammatory agent. Either combined with bromolain to aid absorption, or in the form of Iso-quercetin (available from Integrative Therapeutics. I have no relationship with IT).
(2) byproducts of acute or chronic bacterial infection can smell pretty bad, especially the bacteria that cause chronic infections and biofilms. Read all the information you can on chronic sinusitis and also on eliminating biofilms. Some info here on this site.
Please note: if you find that chronic biofilms are contributing to your sinusitis, and decide to add ‘baby shampoo’ to your nasal rinses to help eliminate the biofilms, be VERY cautious and add only a few drops to your nasal saline rinses (I learned the hard and ouchy way :))
My best advice is to find an ENT doc that can help you find the cause, and won’t jump to surgery as the solution.
Thanks again for reading and sharing!
RF
Hey Y’all,
I just suffered through a viral URI – a “cold” – but didn’t really suffer much. How? I was taking Ortho Molecular Natural D-Hist several times every day for a week. What a HUGE difference: much less sore throat, much less congestion, much less lingering snot. And no anti-histamine drowsiness. I continue to take one per day for the anti-inflammatory benefits. I’m convinced, based on my “n-of-one,” I just ordered some more from Amazon.
RF
Hi Dr. Faust,
I’m an allergic rhinitis sufferer for years. I’m allergic to dustmites. I’ve been taking Quercetin for abt half a year. I find that it helps to reduce the severity of my allergy attack, but not the frequency. I take 500mg, 2x daily, after meals. I read that for best effect, its to be taken BEFORE meals, but I find that my gastric don’t react very well to that. Also, the one am taking is purely Quercetin, without Bromelain. Do u think these factors affected the effectiveness of Quercetin? Is there such a thing as overdosage of Quercetin and its side effect?
I read from your post that due to its anti-leukotriene action, quercetin is not appropriate for pregnant women. Can you explain abit more abt what is anti-leukotriene action? Is Quercetin suitable for women planning to conceive? What abt lactating moms?
I really like your website, written by a Doctor, it is easy to read and not full of boring medical jargons, lol! I have recently started my own blog on allergic rhinits and sinusitis – writing from the view of a sufferer and patient. Your comments and interaction on my blog is welcomed and I look forward to more posts from you. Keep up the good work, doctor!
Hi Shan,
Thanks for your detailed note, and your kind comments.
Great questions! The answer is not so great: there is little guidance regarding Quercetin during pregnancy, or for lactating women or women planning to conceive.
A search on these issues provides mostly warnings based on speculation, not on real clinical data. But in the case of pregnancy, caution is always the best approach. One of my favorite sites for information on supplements like Quercetin is the University of Maryland’s Integrative Medicine site. It is one of the oldest Integrative Medicine programs in the country, recently celebrating their 21st Anniversary.
Thanks again for visiting and your support. I look forward to watching your site develop. Please keep me updated.