Cellulose powder has been used to treat rhinitis since several years. However, lack of scientific research for its effectiveness to treat hay fever, which is a type of seasonal rhinitis has been unavailable. Therefore, some scientists have now provided evidence to show that cellulose powder is beneficial in children suffering from hay fever. Moreover, the researchers did not find any adverse side effects of the cellulose powder.
The methodology of the effectiveness
The cellulose powder is derived from the pine trees. The powder creates a barrier between the mucous membrane when it is puffed inside the nose. Therefore, any element present that causes an allergic reaction are disposed out of the nasal passage. The use of the cellulose powder did not show any adverse side effects, which makes it more attractive as a method for treating hay fever in children. However, there was no scientific study that actually showed the benefits of the cellulose powder in curtailing allergies in children during the pollination season.
The study undertaken in spring of 2009
The lack of scientific evidence prompted researchers to study the efficiency of cellulose powder during the spring of 2009. The study involved fifty-three children aged from eight years to eighteen years. The children who formed a part of this study were prone to allergic reactions and were studied for a period of four weeks. The children were asked to puff the cellulose powder inside their noses three times a day. In addition, the children were provided an antihistamine pill, which is commonly used to cure hay fever. The occurrence of the pollen on the roof of the participating hospital were studied daily. Finally, the pollen counts were evaluated and analyzed in relation to the various symptoms that the children reported. Additional data comprising over thirty-one years (from 1979 to 2009) was used to reach the conclusion.
The results of the study
The study showed a significant reduction in the nasal symptoms reported by the children after puffing the cellulose powder daily. The most significant results were seen at low and moderate concentration of pollen levels. Additionally, the children did not report any adverse side effects of the cellulose powder. The absence of the side effects and the effectiveness of the powder to reduce the symptoms of hay fever make it effective as a method for self-treatment. Finally, the cellulose powder treatment can be combined with other forms of treatment to reduce hay fever symptoms during the pollination season.