Sufferers of hay fever besieged by runny nose and itchy eyes may find relief in a powder produced from pine tree. The nasal spray called cellulose forms a fence over the lining of the nose and filters out allergies generated from trees and flower pollen.
The researchers from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden state they have borne out that the spray does lessen the symptoms of hay fever, or else known as seasonal allergic rhinitis, particularly among children. A study was carried out by Queen Silvia Children’s Hospital in Gothenburg during the birch pollen season in spring 2009.
A group of fifty-three children aged from eight to eighteen years, those who had allergic reaction to pollens were given daily pill of antihistamine. They were also given a nasal spray of cellulose powder or a placebo three times a day for the duration of more than four weeks. Reminders and reporting of symptom scores were done using text messages.
The occurrence of pollen allergy was measured daily on the roof of the hospital and the pollen counts afterward were examined concerning the symptoms reported by the children. They showed that the nasal symptoms of the children were considerably abridged in those who used the cellulose powder. The best effect was obtained at low to moderate concentrations of pollen.
According to associate Professor Nils Åberg, the cellulose powder has no unfavorable effects and this truth makes it especially an attractive treatment for children. It is used increasingly in many countries, but there is until now no scientific study proving the effectiveness of the cellulose powder in children during the pollen season.
The inclusive nonexistence of unfavorable effects makes this treatment estimably appropriate to self-care and particularly for the treatment of children. Controlled scientific studies like this also provide the healthcare system with a basis for testing this product as a supplement to other treatments. It is frequently essential to combine different agents, at least for parts of the pollen season, added professor Åberg.