Quercetin and steroids

[Leigh1234]

Hi everyone,

I have several autoimmune endocrine diseases and allergies. I am considering adding activated Quercetin with Bromelain to my regimen, but I've read that it can increase the body's metabolism of steroids. I currently take hydrocortisone and florinef for Addison's Disease. Is it safe to start Quercetin? The recent tree pollen increase seems to have really exacerbated many of my endocrine symptoms.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Xenina]

Go to YouTube and check out videos on B1 (theanine). It improves immune disease,  nerves,  fatigue,  etc. Also take folate, but not folic acid.  I'm also on the keto diet.

[Paxiled]

B1 is thiamine, not theanine.  L-theanine is a pseudo amino acid found in green tea, and is a mild calming agent.   Not sure how this is going to help a lot with allergies, but there it is.  As for taking folate, maybe.  It is perhaps better absorbed than the synthetic folic acid, but as it comes in the already methylated form, you can take too much and can suffer some side effects, so take care here.  The main reason this has become a thing is the discovery of a large number of people who have genetic defects that make it hard for the body to convert B12, B6 and folic acid to their methylated form, but most people with this defect don't actually have this problem.  Some do.  If you do, then you won't absorb folic acid much.  But certain people can have bad reactions to too much methylated B vitamins, and too much folate taken as folate can cause or exacerbate certain cancers and can also make some people anxious and have other side effects.  Folic acid is probably safer, and for a normal person, they will convert it to the methylated form fine and in the amount needed.  But it is very possible the methylated form of folate, the form mostly found in food and the form we use it in, will be better and faster absorbed.  If the amount isn't too high, it's probably safe, but again, be wary.  Also, if you take too much of it you can adversely affect you levels of B6 and B12, because the three are naturally in balance and a proper balance prevents problems with homocysteine, which we need but too much of which can cause cholesterol oxidation and possible heart problems.  Meaning, this might be good info for you or really bad info for you, so you need to find that out.  Most of us, if we eat our veggies, don't actually have a folate problem to begin with, but if you don't, you do.  Pregnant women also need more to prevent certain problems, but again, the methylated form might be a problem so again, you need to check.  As for the keto diet, I'm not sure there really is such a thing.  It's a marketing success, for sure.  Make sure if you're on it you don't sacrifice your veggies, especially the green leafy ones, that supply that folate naturally.  Again, maybe, maybe not.  Peace.

[Paxiled]

Oh, and triphala is a cleanse.  It's true it isn't a laxative, but it is a cleanse.

[Paxiled]

For digesting meals, bromelain helps digest protein, and for that purpose must be taken with or right after a meal.  But for antiinflammatory purposes (which includes as an antihistamine), it must be taken between meals so it isn't being wasted digesting any protein in your digestive system.

[Leigh1234]

Thanks Paxiled.

Triphala doesn't work as a laxative/cleanse for me - strange but true. Without it and fish oil, I have major constipation problems, which I'm chalking up to a combination of my new elimination diet (which is high-protein and low-fiber by default), hypothyroidism, and a gall bladder on the fritz. The triphala just keeps things from getting too bad...sorry if that's too much information for a public post, heehee.

I'll post if I find out more about this Quercetin stuff. Still planning on giving it a shot. Anything to slow all this inflammation!

Can't decide about taking the Bromelain between or during meals - I need help with digestion, but probably moreso systemically. Between is probably best, right? Can always toss a few slices of pineapple back for dessert...

Thanks again.

[Paxiled]

Me, either.  You know, you shouldn't probably use triphala on a daily basis.  It's a cleanse, which should only be done every so often or it will wash out some good stuff.  It has to have added Vitamin C, because bioflavanoids don't work without vitamin C.  Don't forget to take it between meals, or the bromelain will be wasted digesting your food.  

Really odd about the quercitin and steroids.  Tell us more if you find out.  After all, it's in apples.

[Leigh1234]

Thanks, everyone! This is great info.

I AM SO GLAD TO HAVE FOUND THIS COMMUNITY!!!

To answer your questions, the Florinef doesn't really seem to affect me one way or another (except technically, it's keeping me standing, heehee). At first my dose was too high and my Potassium dropped. That made me feel horrible, of course, but I'm o.k. with 1/2 dose. I need it and lots of salt when it gets hot out, or else things can take a turn...happened this past weekend, actually.

I'm taking lots of Vit. C - in my antioxidant, and also because I drink Triphala tea 2x/day. The Quercetin/Bromelain I'm thinking of trying has added C, too, and Magnesium. Not worried about the Bromelain - I eat tons of pineapple, anyway, and it definitely helps me with my meals.

I guess it makes sense that steroids doses could be affected by Quercetin use, just due to the decreased inflammation in the body, but I didn't understand why Quercetin would actually cause a change in metabolism...hmm.

Thanks again!

[Paxiled]

There are herbs that don't affect the immune system -- most of them, in fact.  I don't know this about quercitin.  You might call the manufacturer of that product, Source Naturals.  Or Nature's Life, which also makes a quercitin bromelain combination, the one I take because it's less expensive.  Is it the quercitin or the bromelain you're worried about?  Bromelain is a digestive enzyme that, when taken with meals, digests protein.  Quercitin is a bioflavonoid.  If it turns out to be out, there are other antihistamines, such as freeze dried nettles.  Eclectic Institute makes the best one.  Also scutellaria, or Chinese skullcap.  Neither affects the immune system.  You might also look into homeopathic remedies, since they are diluted to where they contain no active ingredients.  There's one by BioAllers that contains diluted tree pollen as a sort of vaccination, and there are allergy combinations by Heel and A Vogel that are good.  On the other hand, this is a hellish pollen season, and nothing has been working for me so far.

[laura1967]

Hmmmm that is a good question! I would think you would have to take it in large amounts though, in order for it to affect your steriod levels.
How does the florinef affect your moods? I didn't like the way it made me feel mentally.
Vit C (ester) as much as tolerable is even better for your immune system and allergies. I would take both, but the C in high amounts.
With you having autoimmune diseases, i would NOT suggest taking any herbs for allergies, because your body is already reactive.