Supplement of the month: Sinuplex and D-Hist
Brittany Schmidt, DC
Sinuplex
I HATE being sick. I hate the sneezy, stuffy, tired, coughing, and raw nostril feeling. Thankfully, I do not get sick very often and when I do; my symptoms don’t last long because I take initiative in fighting the illness. I get adjusted, I up my fluid intake, I see the acupuncturist, I cut sugar and eat well, and I take supplements. Often times when I am sick or see someone else suffering from a common cold or lasting upper respiratory illness I recommend Sinuplex.
Sinuplex helps support the respiratory system. It is a blend of vitamin C, quercetin, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), stinging nettle root, and bromelain. I want to break down each of these components and discuss their efficacy. When I was in chiropractic school the instructor for our Cardiopulmonary Systems class was a big fan of NAC. He spoke of how NAC is a great tool for those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because it helps fight inflammation in the respiratory system. According to WebMD, NAC can reduce flare ups by 40% and improve phlegm consistency in people with COPD. A 2015 Meta-Analysis found that patients treated with NAC had significantly fewer exacerbations COPD (Cazzola, et al). NAC theoretically works the same way in someone with the flu or common cold; it keeps the respiratory tract healthy by reducing inflammation and improving phlegm naturally. Quercetin has been understudied in my opinion; Quercetin is a flavonoid that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. One study showed that trained cyclists had reduced incidence of upper respiratory infections when treated with quercetin when compared to placebo (Nieman, et al). While the findings of this study were significant, there needs to be further studies conducted to show true efficacy. Stinging nettles may help with allergies and upper respiratory health because it reduces the amount of histamine the body produces and may reduce eosinophils (the white blood cells that typically respond to allergens). Finally, Bromelain is a powerful anti-inflammatory proteolytic enzyme that is found naturally in pineapple. In chiropractic school I heard consistently that bromelain was a great tool for individuals recovering from a soft tissue injury, however, I had never considered it for sinusitis or upper respiratory tract infections. A 2018 study found that bromelain was able to penetrate into the blood and sinonasal mucus in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (Passali et al). Because bromelain is generally safe and tolerated well, further studies should investigate its potential effects on the upper respiratory system and the treatment of sinusitis.
D-Hist
D-hist is very similar to Sinuplex ingredients wise. Like Sinuplex, D-hist has quercetin, bromelain, NAC, Vitamin C, and stinging nettles. So what’s the difference between the two? The difference lies in the amounts of each ingredient. D-hist in my mind is more appropriate for sinus and respiratory issues related to allergies because of the increased amount of stinging nettle, quercetin, and bromelain. Stinging nettles, as previously mentioned, can be helpful for allergies because it helps regulate the immune response and helps with mast cell degranulation, the formation of prostaglandins, and histamine action (Obertreis, et al). D-Hist also has more quercetin which also plays a role in prostaglandins, mast cell, and histamine regulation. Many of our patients have reported success with D-hist and D-hist Jr (a similar formula made for kids!); it is often mentioned that when regularly taking D-hist they aren’t as dependent on their allergy medications; of course all of this is anecdotal but in my mind it is worth mentioning. I thankfully do not suffer from seasonal allergies, however, Dr. Eliason has shared that she does. Dr. Eliason personally loves D-hist, it works well for her! When I was discussing D-hist with Dr. Eliason she mentioned that if you have seasonal allergies in spring or summer it can be helpful to take D-hist before those seasons arrive because the stinging nettles can build in your system and hopefully make your allergy season a little bit less miserable.
And of course…
you should always speak to your doctor before starting a supplement and this is not meant to provide medical advice. If you have questions ask us!
One last note on colds and allergies
I have heard is that adjustments can help improve the immune response. This is why so many chiropractors exclaim that getting adjusted can help with things like sickness, allergies, and asthma. Personally, I think this is a bold, borderline irresponsible claim. What I have found by doing a quick literature review is that there are a few studies out that exist that suggest chiropractic adjustments may have an effect on pro-inflammatory markers and enhance the production of interleukins (glycoproteins that regulate immune response). When I look at the strength, reliability, and validity of those studies however, I find it is all lacking. In my opinion the studies that exist are great preliminary studies for future research. Further research is definitely needed to confidently establish whether adjustments do in fact play a role in the immune and inflammation response. That being said, will I always get adjusted when I start feeling sick? Absolutely. I’m always puzzled when patients cancel due to being sick. OKAY, certainly there are times where you are too ill to come to the chiropractor, always use your best judgement—but—if you have a simple head cold or a lingering cough, don’t cancel, COME IN! I can’t promise there is valid research out there saying you’re going to get better but I can say from clinical and personal experience there is a good chance you will feel better while your illness runs its course.
Resources
Chiropractic Organization – https://chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Immune_Responses_to_Spinal_Manipulation.shtm
lInfluence of N-acetylcysteine on chronic bronchitis or COPD exacerbations: a meta-analysis. Mario Cazzola, Luigino Calzetta, Clive Page, Josè Jardim, Alexander G. Chuchalin, Paola Rogliani, Maria Gabriella Matera. Eur Respir Rev. 2015 Sep; 24(137): 451–461. doi: 10.1183/16000617.00002215
Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic revision of Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: e7720. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720
N-Acetyl Cysteine: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Dosage, and Warning
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1018/n-acetyl-cysteine. Accessed on 10/04/2018
Quercetin reduces illness but not immune perturbations after intensive exercise.
David C. Nieman, Dru A. Henson, Sarah J. Gross, David P. Jenkins, J. Mark Davis, E. Angela Murphy, Martin D. Carmichael, Charles L. Dumke, Alan C. Utter, Steven R. McAnulty, Lisa S. McAnulty, Eugene P. Mayer
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007 Sep; 39(9): 1561–1569. doi: 10.1249/mss.0b013e318076b566
Obertreis, B. et al. Anti-inflammatory effect of Urtica dioica folia extract in comparison to caffeic malic acid. Arzneimittelforschung 1996; 46(1): 52-56.
Passali D, Passali GC, Bellussi LM, et al. Bromelain’s penetration into the blood and sinonasal mucosa in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2018;38(3):225-228.
Stinging Nettle
https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/herbs/stinging-nettle/Why do we get sick in winter? Accessed on 10/04/2018
