According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, 60 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergic diseases. Also, allergies are one of the leading cause of chronic disease in the US and cost the healthcare system over $18 billion dollars annually. A large portion of that money goes to some of the top grossing pharmaceutical drugs which are anti-histamines, the common side effects of which include: insomnia, dry mouth, fatigue, drowsiness, and sore throat.Not to mention that some of them are habit-forming and can create chemical dependence.

What exactly is an allergy though? We all know what the symptoms feel like, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, rashes, etc., but what exactly is going on inside our bodies that causes these reactions? While all the facts are stil not yet known, there is a lot we do know, and much of it can be helpful in creating relief for allergy sufferers.