I’ve seen a couple members comment on snuff helping relieve seasonal allergy symptoms, and I’m curious as to whether or not anyone has come upon any explanation for this. This year is the first time in my adult life I haven’t needed any Benadryl or Zyrtec for my allergies, and I’m pretty excited by it.
I think it might have to do with reducing the mast cells. go ahead and look it up, since someone else can explain it better.
@apvonkanel, I suffer from chronic immune system issues, with severe inhalant allergies being one of the symptoms. If my nose and sinuses are already inflamed, using snuff is just like pouring salt into a deep wound. But snuff helps my sinuses and nose from becoming so inflamed. In my case, when my nose and sinuses become inflamed, these tissues, which should be moist at all times, become very dry and irritated. What the snuff does is to cause mucous production which tends to flush pollens and such out of my nose. Again, the trick, at least in my case, is not to let my nose and sinuses get badly inflamed, and snuff does help with this. I have also read that nicotine, aside from ingesting via cigarette, is actually an anti-inflammatory agent. I would advise you to experiment and see what works for you and view the biological mechanism as an academic matter since if it doesn’t work for you it is just that–academic.
I happen to have autoimmune issues myself, and I didn’t develop allergy issues until a secondary condition started drying out my sinuses. That being said, it’s just really great not dreading more spring weather.
Snuff has made all the difference in the world for my year round allergies.
Very dry Scotches and Toasts seem to help my allergies. I would also throw in some of the Dholakia line as an aid to allergies (Sparrow, Sparrow Cool, White and Black). Menthols help stop my sneezing attacks dead in their tracks.