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Allergy Attack!

| April 1, 2022

Immune Health

Helping manage seasonal allergies naturally.

First you sneeze. Then you cough. Then your eyes begin to itch and water and your nose begins to run. Welcome to spring, the season that brings us flowers and blossoming trees and green grass …. and increased pollen counts.

Seasonal allergies are a major pain for the millions of Americans who suffer.

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, allergic rhinitis—also known as hay fever—affects between 10-30 percent of the worldwide population. A recent report by Cleveland Clinic said that more than 50 million Americans—or one in six—experience all types of allergies.

Pollen is the most common environmental allergen, though allergies can also be triggered by indoor culprits, such as mold, mildew, dust mites, pet dander and cockroaches. More serious allergies can be attributed to medication and food.

Factors that have given rise to the increase in allergies include those that are environmental as well as genetics. “In fact, when it comes to genetics, if only one parent has allergies of any type, chances are one in three that each child will have an allergy. If both parents have allergies, it is much more likely (seven in 10) that their children will have allergies,” said Trisha Sugarek MacDonald, BS, MS, senior director of research & development/National Educator, Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation (Texas).

As for environmental influences, Sugarek MacDonald said that there is a massive load of environmental toxins that the body must filter every day. “Over time, this buildup can cause the immune system to become over-reactive to toxins, causing inflammatory reactions that initiate a cascade of events, causing the immune system to overreact,” she said.

She added that our immune systems can be overzealous, creating false alarms. “Our bodies are not often affected by a little pollen, but it is an all-out war for a certain percentage of the population. In consumers affected this way, their antibodies recruit the immune system, telling it that the world is ending, and with that, you get histamine. Histamines cause all the fun symptoms of seasonal allergies (i.e., hay fever)—itching, swelling, drippy eyes, headaches and a runny nose. However, there are many types of allergies—indoor/outdoor, skin, food/drugs, latex, insect and eye allergies.”

Though environmental allergies are annoying, they are, for the most part, manageable.

Allergies and the Immune System

Allergies signify that the immune system is in overdrive; an allergic reaction is when your body perceives something as a threat and causes an overreaction. “If the allergen is environmental, this overreaction can trigger wheezing, itching, runny nose, sneezing, and/or watery eyes. If the allergen is food-based, it may cause digestive upset, hives, or even anaphylactic shock,” said Jay Levy, sales director with Wakanuga of America, a manufacturer based in California.

“Allergies occur when your immune system acts defensively against substances that are typically considered harmless, like pollen, dust and certain foods. When the immune system detects this foreign substance (or allergen) entering the body, reactions can range from mild to severe,” added Vicky Mak, technical writer for Childlife Essentials, a California-based manufacturer.

“Allergies are specifically the mismanagement or overreaction to certain toxins that the immune system would normally handle without notice. For those with allergies, the immune system overreacts to the toxin creating an overly symptomatic response,” said Dan Curtin, executive vice president of Arthur Andrews Medical, a manufacturer based in Arizona.

Conventional Approaches to Allergies

Depending on the severity of their symptoms, many allergy sufferers engage in immunotherapy, or allergy shots, which are regular injections over a period of time that contains the allergy trigger. Others take prescription or over-the-counter medication, specifically, antihistamines. However, antihistamines come with side effects, such as drowsiness, which in turn can negatively affect energy and productivity levels.

“To avoid using antihistamines, others may turn to natural seasonal support instead. Ingredients that are common include vitamin C, zinc, elderberry and bromelain. These ingredients have been studied extensively for their strong immunomodulatory properties for decades. Natural products may contain ingredients extracted from herbs that have a long history of use in traditional medicine, so most ingredients are well-established,” said Mak.

Consumer Demand/State of the Market for Natural Products

Most industry experts agree that the consumer demand for seasonal wellness and allergy products is on a consistent upswing. “The largest segments of growth are related to the Immune System and Stress categories, and allergy products often are counted within the immune space,” said Harkins.

The growth in part can be attributed to the sheer number of consumers with allergy issues, both adults and children.

According to a CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) report examining allergy trends in children, there has been an uptick in food and skin allergies between 1997-2011. “The percentage of people in the U.S. suffering from allergies will continue to grow as climate change lengthens pollen season and environmental pollution worsens air quality. According to Acumen Research and Consulting, a global provider of market research studies, the global market for allergy relief products is projected to grow nearly 7 percent and reach $39.5 billion in the next five years,” said Mak, adding that this category will continue to grow due to a higher health awareness among the U.S. population.

Retailer Dianna Singh owns Elk Grove Vitamins, a natural products retail store based in Elk Grove, CA. She agreed that this category has been growing, as she is seeing many consumers in the store with allergy symptoms; to that end, she carries a variety of SKUs, noting that quercetin is one of the popular ones. “This category is a constant throughout the year,” she said.

“It would be safe to say that the average customer that would typically purchase an over-the-counter (OTC) product at the drugstore seems to be looking for a more natural approach. We have seen a huge uptake in our ‘new customer’ base looking for these options,” Singh added.

The pandemic has played a role, too. “COVID has impacted the natural products market in a positive way. A huge section of the population that never would have taken preemptive steps toward staying healthy has now moved toward the dietary products industry to fortify and protect their health,” said Curtin.

“The driving force behind consumers looking for natural wellness options in the natural health food marketplace for seasonal wellness is a great topic. There are plenty of medications to choose from, either OTC or prescription-based, but many consumers may not want to take these options because they can make them feel extremely drowsy, listless, or wired. Also, some consumers may be tired of continually using nasal sprays for allergy treatment. Allergy supplements offer consumers an alternative to manage their seasonal conflicts with fewer side effects. Surveys show that almost half of all people with allergies try a natural allergy remedy at some point,” said Sugarek McDonald.

She added that the growing awareness regarding allergies and increasing incidences of allergies drive the demand for more varied and innovative allergy relief products. Also, “The high costs and side effects of most anti-allergic medications have led to an increasing public interest in natural products,” she added. Reasons include a general consumer dissatisfaction with conventional pharmaceuticals, a growing preference for natural herbal medications, as well as improved quality and safety standards with herbal medicines.

Andreas Koch, marketing professional with Natural Path Silver Wings, a manufacturer headquartered in Tennessee, said that as allergy cases are continually on the rise, the demand for remedies will grow proportionately. “Though immune support supplement sales growth has spiked during the past two years, the lines have been blurred between traditional seasonal purchases versus now more sought-after year-round immune support. More consumers are buying supplements in larger sizes for year-round protection rather than seasonal five to six-month supply cycles,” he added, noting that for this reason, consumers are purchasing larger bottle sizes.

Levy said that his company has not seen a specific uptick in interest for allergy supplements, but “Over the past two-plus years, the demand for immune supporting supplements has risen dramatically, likely due to COVID-19. Consumer sales for functional foods with proclaimed ‘immune-supporting’ ingredients, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, elderberry, beta-glucan, probiotics and antioxidant polyphenols have increased greatly since the pandemic began in 2020,” said Levy. He added that there are not as many combination products that target seasonal allergies, as most contain only one ingredient.

Natural Products to Support Allergies

Wakanuga focuses on the underlying systems involved in an allergic response, specifically, the immune system. The company makes three immune-specific products: Kyolic Immune Formula 103, a supplement containing aged garlic extract, vitamin C, a premium mushroom complex, astragalus, oregano and olive leaf extracts; Kyo-Green Harvest Blend Powdered Drink Mix, a blend of ancient grains, nutrients, prebiotic fiber and herbal actives to support a healthy immune system; and Moducare, a blend of plant sterols and sterolins to help balance the immune system so that it reacts appropriately to potential threats like allergens. The company also makes probiotics, which can also support a healthy immune response during allergy season, Levy pointed out.

For more than a decade, Childlife Essentials has been supplying natural seasonal wellness and immune-supporting dietary supplements specifically for the infant and child market. “We are dedicated to helping bridge nutritional gaps in children’s diets, which are affected by environmental challenges and changing dietary habits. Since children commonly encounter seasonal allergies that can impact their immune health and quality of life, we formulated our nutritional supplements with premium herbal extracts, antioxidants, and phytonutrients to help encourage healthy immune function for growing kids,” said Mak. To this end, the company offers a wide range of supplements focused on immune support in children, including both liquids and tablets. The company’s bestselling product in this category is Aller-Care, a liquid supplement. “Its all-natural formula contains a special combination of vitamin C, zinc, elderberry concentrate, amla (Indian gooseberry) extract, bromelain (pineapple extract), and grape skin and seed extract, all of which are excellent in providing wide-ranging seasonal support for kids,” said Mak.

Bluebonnet’s Super Quercetin Formula is a bestseller for the company. “Each serving contains a potent combination of antioxidants and allergy-supporting natural ingredients, incorporating vitamin C from pure ascorbic acid because it is involved in many complex functional roles in the body, such as neurotransmitter, collagen, carnitine and tyrosine synthesis, and catabolism. In addition to its many functional roles, vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant, either by scavenging or neutralizing oxygen or nitrogen free radicals, allowing for healthy cells in the body and lungs. Antioxidants and oxidants are balanced in the normal lung, creating homeostasis, essential for healthy lung function. An increase in oxidants or a decrease in antioxidants can disrupt this balance and cause oxidative stress,” explained Sugarek McDonald.

North American Herb & Spice (NAHS), a manufacturer headquartered in Illinois, has been supplying seasonal wellness and allergy relief products for three decades. The company has focused on black seed oil. “It is a super food that supports nearly every system in the body. It’s main areas of support, besides allergies and the lungs, are for the heart, immune, digestive systems. It will even support detoxification of the liver, gallbladder, colon, kidneys and pancreas while helping you breathe better,” said Harkins.

The company’s bestselling product is SinuOrega, a nasal spray with pure mountain spring water, a blend of spice oils, including wild Oreganol p-73, and real sea salt. “It has remained in our top 10 products each year. The open secret behind its success is simply that it works when other products did not. This is according to the frequent feedback received by our customer base. Without a ton of marketing, the word of mouth and repeat sales lend to the high volume of purchases we see,” said Steven Harkins, director of education and culture for HAHS.

Other products by NAHS include Wild Oregano, the company’s first product, which supports healthy respiration, allergic response and the health of the immune system; Black Seed Oil, a natural bronchodilator and immune system and respiratory aid; and OregaResp and Juice of Oregano that provides natural support with mucus removal, oxygen counts and immune system response.

Natural Path Silver Wings has been manufacturing colloidal silver immune support for almost three decades. “The 50 ppm strength is ideal for daily maintenance; the 250 ppm is an enhanced immune support; and 500 ppm extra strength for highest immune boost. Silver Wings also makes a 150 ppm colloidal silver with echinacea and oregano herbal blend and also a 150 ppm colloidal silver with olive leaf extract blend for added immune coverage,” said Koch.

The 500 ppm colloidal silver in both dropper and spray bottles are bestselling, as the high ppm (parts per million) provides the strongest immune support. “It’s true atomic colloidal silver, not the ionic form which requires an electric process and loses an electron, making it unstable. This is the reason ionic form is limited to only a weak 10 ppm and anything higher may be potentially unsafe. The 500 ppm is easy to take, anytime, anywhere, virtually tasteless and effective for entire family of all ages. This higher strength has been especially popular during the last two years,” added Koch.

Arthur Andrew Medical’s bestselling product is Serretia. “Serrapeptase is a proteolytic, or protein-digesting enzyme that helps most people with any type of rhinitis or sinusitis as it is able to break down mucins, the main protein in mucus. In addition to liquifying mucus, serrapeptase also supports a normal inflammatory response for sufferers as well. Thin mucus and less swelling are an excellent combination for seasonal allergy relief,” explained Curtin.

One of the company’s newest products is KD Ultra, a combination of vitamin D3 and a full spectrum of vitamin K. “Most people would think that this is an unlikely product to use for allergies, but we have found that most allergies, especially seasonal allergies, have a direct link to low vitamin D levels. In fact, vitamin D plays such a huge role in regulating the immune system and all immune responses,” Curtin added. In fact, he said that while homeopathic tinctures have continued to trend for years, he is seeing products starting to address immune function.

Retailer Education

Though many people do check with their practitioners who can make recommendations about what products are best for allergy and sinus relief, many consumers do not know what ingredients to look for, forcing consumers to rely on retailers’ knowledge. That is why education of retailers and staff is essential and why manufacturers can play a large role in providing educational opportunities.

In fact, most companies support retail sales with educational handouts, brochures, shelf-talkers and sampling. Wakanuga does this, along with taking part in consumer-oriented health fairs put on by retailers. Childlife. Supports retail sales by creating B2B andB2C product-supporting documentation, such as white papers and other reference materials and engages in regular scientific literature. Education of the consumer is also a company value at NAHS; the company provides monthly newsletters, Zoom and in-person training for staff, as well as health resources on their website, information product sheets, and updated videos on all social media channels.

“We rely heavily on approaching our customers with educational material, especially facts relating to the products. It is safe to say that using the provided materials makes our line of work extremely reliable to be able to hand information that they truly appreciate,” said Singh.

“Consumers often aren’t aware of the herbs and nutrients that can address allergy symptoms. In addition, they may not connect the dots between their allergy and their immune system. This is why it’s important to provide credible information about seasonal allergies and immunity at the retail level. Ensuring retail staff is well-versed regarding the basics of allergy ingredients can help them answer most customer questions. In addition, becoming familiar with manufacturer-provided educational material can help retailers familiar with specific products,” said Levy. VR

For More Information:

Arthur Andrew Medical, https://arthurandrew.com
Bluebonnet Nutrition, https://bluebonnetnutrition.com
Childlife, https://childlifenutrition.com
Natural Path Silver Wings, https://npswsilver.com
North American Herb & Spice, www.northamericanherbandspice.com
Wakanuga of America, https://kyolic.com

Extra! Extra!

Helping manage seasonal allergies naturally.

First you sneeze. Then you cough. Then your eyes begin to itch and water and your nose begins to run. Welcome to spring, the season that brings us flowers and blossoming trees and green grass …. and increased pollen counts.

Seasonal allergies are a major pain for the millions of Americans who suffer.

According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, allergic rhinitis—also known as hay fever—affects between 10-30 percent of the worldwide population. A recent report by Cleveland Clinic said that more than 50 million Americans—or one in six—experience all types of allergies.

Pollen is the most common environmental allergen, though allergies can also be triggered by indoor culprits, such as mold, mildew, dust mites, pet dander and cockroaches. More serious allergies can be attributed to medication and food.

Factors that have given rise to the increase in allergies include those that are environmental as well as genetics. “In fact, when it comes to genetics, if only one parent has allergies of any type, chances are one in three that each child will have an allergy. If both parents have allergies, it is much more likely (seven in 10) that their children will have allergies,” said Trisha Sugarek MacDonald, BS, MS, senior director of research & development/National Educator, Bluebonnet Nutrition Corporation (Texas).

As for environmental influences, Sugarek MacDonald said that there is a massive load of environmental toxins that the body must filter every day. “Over time, this buildup can cause the immune system to become over-reactive to toxins, causing inflammatory reactions that initiate a cascade of events, causing the immune system to overreact,” she said.

She added that our immune systems can be overzealous, creating false alarms. “Our bodies are not often affected by a little pollen, but it is an all-out war for a certain percentage of the population. In consumers affected this way, their antibodies recruit the immune system, telling it that the world is ending, and with that, you get histamine. Histamines cause all the fun symptoms of seasonal allergies (i.e., hay fever)—itching, swelling, drippy eyes, headaches and a runny nose. However, there are many types of allergies—indoor/outdoor, skin, food/drugs, latex, insect and eye allergies.”

Though environmental allergies are annoying, they are, for the most part, manageable.

Allergies and the Immune System

Allergies signify that the immune system is in overdrive; an allergic reaction is when your body perceives something as a threat and causes an overreaction. “If the allergen is environmental, this overreaction can trigger wheezing, itching, runny nose, sneezing, and/or watery eyes. If the allergen is food-based, it may cause digestive upset, hives, or even anaphylactic shock,” said Jay Levy, sales director with Wakanuga of America, a manufacturer based in California.

“Allergies occur when your immune system acts defensively against substances that are typically considered harmless, like pollen, dust and certain foods. When the immune system detects this foreign substance (or allergen) entering the body, reactions can range from mild to severe,” added Vicky Mak, technical writer for Childlife Essentials, a California-based manufacturer.

“Allergies are specifically the mismanagement or overreaction to certain toxins that the immune system would normally handle without notice. For those with allergies, the immune system overreacts to the toxin creating an overly symptomatic response,” said Dan Curtin, executive vice president of Arthur Andrews Medical, a manufacturer based in Arizona.

Conventional Approaches to Allergies

Depending on the severity of their symptoms, many allergy sufferers engage in immunotherapy, or allergy shots, which are regular injections over a period of time that contains the allergy trigger. Others take prescription or over-the-counter medication, specifically, antihistamines. However, antihistamines come with side effects, such as drowsiness, which in turn can negatively affect energy and productivity levels.

“To avoid using antihistamines, others may turn to natural seasonal support instead. Ingredients that are common include vitamin C, zinc, elderberry and bromelain. These ingredients have been studied extensively for their strong immunomodulatory properties for decades. Natural products may contain ingredients extracted from herbs that have a long history of use in traditional medicine, so most ingredients are well-established,” said Mak.

Consumer Demand/State of the Market for Natural Products

Most industry experts agree that the consumer demand for seasonal wellness and allergy products is on a consistent upswing. “The largest segments of growth are related to the Immune System and Stress categories, and allergy products often are counted within the immune space,” said Harkins.

The growth in part can be attributed to the sheer number of consumers with allergy issues, both adults and children.

According to a CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) report examining allergy trends in children, there has been an uptick in food and skin allergies between 1997-2011. “The percentage of people in the U.S. suffering from allergies will continue to grow as climate change lengthens pollen season and environmental pollution worsens air quality. According to Acumen Research and Consulting, a global provider of market research studies, the global market for allergy relief products is projected to grow nearly 7 percent and reach $39.5 billion in the next five years,” said Mak, adding that this category will continue to grow due to a higher health awareness among the U.S. population.

Retailer Dianna Singh owns Elk Grove Vitamins, a natural products retail store based in Elk Grove, CA. She agreed that this category has been growing, as she is seeing many consumers in the store with allergy symptoms; to that end, she carries a variety of SKUs, noting that quercetin is one of the popular ones. “This category is a constant throughout the year,” she said.

“It would be safe to say that the average customer that would typically purchase an over-the-counter (OTC) product at the drugstore seems to be looking for a more natural approach. We have seen a huge uptake in our ‘new customer’ base looking for these options,” Singh added.

The pandemic has played a role, too. “COVID has impacted the natural products market in a positive way. A huge section of the population that never would have taken preemptive steps toward staying healthy has now moved toward the dietary products industry to fortify and protect their health,” said Curtin.

“The driving force behind consumers looking for natural wellness options in the natural health food marketplace for seasonal wellness is a great topic. There are plenty of medications to choose from, either OTC or prescription-based, but many consumers may not want to take these options because they can make them feel extremely drowsy, listless, or wired. Also, some consumers may be tired of continually using nasal sprays for allergy treatment. Allergy supplements offer consumers an alternative to manage their seasonal conflicts with fewer side effects. Surveys show that almost half of all people with allergies try a natural allergy remedy at some point,” said Sugarek McDonald.

She added that the growing awareness regarding allergies and increasing incidences of allergies drive the demand for more varied and innovative allergy relief products. Also, “The high costs and side effects of most anti-allergic medications have led to an increasing public interest in natural products,” she added. Reasons include a general consumer dissatisfaction with conventional pharmaceuticals, a growing preference for natural herbal medications, as well as improved quality and safety standards with herbal medicines.

Andreas Koch, marketing professional with Natural Path Silver Wings, a manufacturer headquartered in Tennessee, said that as allergy cases are continually on the rise, the demand for remedies will grow proportionately. “Though immune support supplement sales growth has spiked during the past two years, the lines have been blurred between traditional seasonal purchases versus now more sought-after year-round immune support. More consumers are buying supplements in larger sizes for year-round protection rather than seasonal five to six-month supply cycles,” he added, noting that for this reason, consumers are purchasing larger bottle sizes.

Levy said that his company has not seen a specific uptick in interest for allergy supplements, but “Over the past two-plus years, the demand for immune supporting supplements has risen dramatically, likely due to COVID-19. Consumer sales for functional foods with proclaimed ‘immune-supporting’ ingredients, such as vitamin C, vitamin D, elderberry, beta-glucan, probiotics and antioxidant polyphenols have increased greatly since the pandemic began in 2020,” said Levy. He added that there are not as many combination products that target seasonal allergies, as most contain only one ingredient.

Natural Products to Support Allergies

Wakanuga focuses on the underlying systems involved in an allergic response, specifically, the immune system. The company makes three immune-specific products: Kyolic Immune Formula 103, a supplement containing aged garlic extract, vitamin C, a premium mushroom complex, astragalus, oregano and olive leaf extracts; Kyo-Green Harvest Blend Powdered Drink Mix, a blend of ancient grains, nutrients, prebiotic fiber and herbal actives to support a healthy immune system; and Moducare, a blend of plant sterols and sterolins to help balance the immune system so that it reacts appropriately to potential threats like allergens. The company also makes probiotics, which can also support a healthy immune response during allergy season, Levy pointed out.

For more than a decade, Childlife Essentials has been supplying natural seasonal wellness and immune-supporting dietary supplements specifically for the infant and child market. “We are dedicated to helping bridge nutritional gaps in children’s diets, which are affected by environmental challenges and changing dietary habits. Since children commonly encounter seasonal allergies that can impact their immune health and quality of life, we formulated our nutritional supplements with premium herbal extracts, antioxidants, and phytonutrients to help encourage healthy immune function for growing kids,” said Mak. To this end, the company offers a wide range of supplements focused on immune support in children, including both liquids and tablets. The company’s bestselling product in this category is Aller-Care, a liquid supplement. “Its all-natural formula contains a special combination of vitamin C, zinc, elderberry concentrate, amla (Indian gooseberry) extract, bromelain (pineapple extract), and grape skin and seed extract, all of which are excellent in providing wide-ranging seasonal support for kids,” said Mak.

Bluebonnet’s Super Quercetin Formula is a bestseller for the company. “Each serving contains a potent combination of antioxidants and allergy-supporting natural ingredients, incorporating vitamin C from pure ascorbic acid because it is involved in many complex functional roles in the body, such as neurotransmitter, collagen, carnitine and tyrosine synthesis, and catabolism. In addition to its many functional roles, vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant, either by scavenging or neutralizing oxygen or nitrogen free radicals, allowing for healthy cells in the body and lungs. Antioxidants and oxidants are balanced in the normal lung, creating homeostasis, essential for healthy lung function. An increase in oxidants or a decrease in antioxidants can disrupt this balance and cause oxidative stress,” explained Sugarek McDonald.

North American Herb & Spice (NAHS), a manufacturer headquartered in Illinois, has been supplying seasonal wellness and allergy relief products for three decades. The company has focused on black seed oil. “It is a super food that supports nearly every system in the body. It’s main areas of support, besides allergies and the lungs, are for the heart, immune, digestive systems. It will even support detoxification of the liver, gallbladder, colon, kidneys and pancreas while helping you breathe better,” said Harkins.

The company’s bestselling product is SinuOrega, a nasal spray with pure mountain spring water, a blend of spice oils, including wild Oreganol p-73, and real sea salt. “It has remained in our top 10 products each year. The open secret behind its success is simply that it works when other products did not. This is according to the frequent feedback received by our customer base. Without a ton of marketing, the word of mouth and repeat sales lend to the high volume of purchases we see,” said Steven Harkins, director of education and culture for HAHS.

Other products by NAHS include Wild Oregano, the company’s first product, which supports healthy respiration, allergic response and the health of the immune system; Black Seed Oil, a natural bronchodilator and immune system and respiratory aid; and OregaResp and Juice of Oregano that provides natural support with mucus removal, oxygen counts and immune system response.

Natural Path Silver Wings has been manufacturing colloidal silver immune support for almost three decades. “The 50 ppm strength is ideal for daily maintenance; the 250 ppm is an enhanced immune support; and 500 ppm extra strength for highest immune boost. Silver Wings also makes a 150 ppm colloidal silver with echinacea and oregano herbal blend and also a 150 ppm colloidal silver with olive leaf extract blend for added immune coverage,” said Koch.

The 500 ppm colloidal silver in both dropper and spray bottles are bestselling, as the high ppm (parts per million) provides the strongest immune support. “It’s true atomic colloidal silver, not the ionic form which requires an electric process and loses an electron, making it unstable. This is the reason ionic form is limited to only a weak 10 ppm and anything higher may be potentially unsafe. The 500 ppm is easy to take, anytime, anywhere, virtually tasteless and effective for entire family of all ages. This higher strength has been especially popular during the last two years,” added Koch.

Arthur Andrew Medical’s bestselling product is Serretia. “Serrapeptase is a proteolytic, or protein-digesting enzyme that helps most people with any type of rhinitis or sinusitis as it is able to break down mucins, the main protein in mucus. In addition to liquifying mucus, serrapeptase also supports a normal inflammatory response for sufferers as well. Thin mucus and less swelling are an excellent combination for seasonal allergy relief,” explained Curtin.

One of the company’s newest products is KD Ultra, a combination of vitamin D3 and a full spectrum of vitamin K. “Most people would think that this is an unlikely product to use for allergies, but we have found that most allergies, especially seasonal allergies, have a direct link to low vitamin D levels. In fact, vitamin D plays such a huge role in regulating the immune system and all immune responses,” Curtin added. In fact, he said that while homeopathic tinctures have continued to trend for years, he is seeing products starting to address immune function.

Retailer Education

Though many people do check with their practitioners who can make recommendations about what products are best for allergy and sinus relief, many consumers do not know what ingredients to look for, forcing consumers to rely on retailers’ knowledge. That is why education of retailers and staff is essential and why manufacturers can play a large role in providing educational opportunities.

In fact, most companies support retail sales with educational handouts, brochures, shelf-talkers and sampling. Wakanuga does this, along with taking part in consumer-oriented health fairs put on by retailers. Childlife. Supports retail sales by creating B2B andB2C product-supporting documentation, such as white papers and other reference materials and engages in regular scientific literature. Education of the consumer is also a company value at NAHS; the company provides monthly newsletters, Zoom and in-person training for staff, as well as health resources on their website, information product sheets, and updated videos on all social media channels.

“We rely heavily on approaching our customers with educational material, especially facts relating to the products. It is safe to say that using the provided materials makes our line of work extremely reliable to be able to hand information that they truly appreciate,” said Singh.

“Consumers often aren’t aware of the herbs and nutrients that can address allergy symptoms. In addition, they may not connect the dots between their allergy and their immune system. This is why it’s important to provide credible information about seasonal allergies and immunity at the retail level. Ensuring retail staff is well-versed regarding the basics of allergy ingredients can help them answer most customer questions. In addition, becoming familiar with manufacturer-provided educational material can help retailers familiar with specific products,” said Levy. VR

For More Information:

Arthur Andrew Medical, https://arthurandrew.com
Bluebonnet Nutrition, https://bluebonnetnutrition.com
Childlife, https://childlifenutrition.com
Natural Path Silver Wings, https://npswsilver.com
North American Herb & Spice, www.northamericanherbandspice.com
Wakanuga of America, https://kyolic.com

Extra! Extra!

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