Nazaleze, an all-natural nasal powder spray, is still in my allergy arsenal after using up four bottles of the stuff. In fact, I just ordered another four bottles from the company which makes it in the United Kingdom (UK).

Before trying Nazaleze, natural nasal sprays never stayed in my medicine cabinet for long as they seldom worked for me. When I discovered Nazaleze, that all changed. The powder spray, used in conjunction with Singulair, a leukotriene inhibitor, has brought my sneezing and watery eyes to a halt. I was able to get by with Nazaleze alone until the fall allergy season arrived.

Nasaleze is a cellulose powder that you spray into your nose where it forms an invisible, gel-like mucus lining in the nasal tract that acts as a barrier to airborne allergens, such as pollens, dust mites and animal dander.

The simple concept for the spray was developed by an engineer in the UK who worked in a cosmetic factory. He noticed that workers there never sneezed because of their exposure to the vegetable powder used in the cosmetics. He took some of the powder home to give to his son who got instant relief from his allergies.

Studies of the spray have shown that it relieves allergy symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, more effectively than pharmaceutical sprays. In one study, 85 percent of participants, who had formerly been using some type of pharmaceutical treatment, got improvement in their allergy symptoms after three weeks. After six weeks of use, 90 percent of participants realized improvement in their symptoms.

A 2007 study had similar results with participants getting significant relief from the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and hay fever. Tests show in most hay fever cases, symptoms are controlled in minutes by using Nasaleze. Asthma cases are relieved in a few hours and even eczema has been known to subside after approximately three weeks of using twice daily.

The UK Medicines Control Authority has cleared Nazaleze for year-round use. It is labeled as drug-free, non-habit forming, non-drowsy, and safe for children and pregnant women.

I’ve learned a thing or two since my early experiences using Nazaleze. In the beginning, I wondered if I’d actually gotten anything in my nose when I used it because it doesn’t smell or leave an after taste. If you’ve gotten the proper dose in your nose, you can feel a slight sensation in your nostrils. I’d rate this feeling as somewhere between nothing and a slight sting.

I’m still a bit of a klutz when it comes to squeezing the bottle with the right amount of pressure to deliver the perfect dose, which is approximately a two-inch plume of powder. The procedure is: blow your nose, pinch off one nostril, spray the powder and inhale in, then repeat with the other nostril.

You’ll need to re-administer Nazaleze if you blow your nose. I find that I need to use it about every four hours which means a bottle won’t last you 30 days as the producers of Nazaleze advertise. I have been going through a bottle in about two weeks with three sprays a day.

I ordered Nazaleze again on line from the UK since it doesn’t seem to be available anywhere in the U.S. The cost was $15.95 per bottle with free shipping for a “30-day supply,” only with a one-spray-a day habit. This time in my family pack of four bottles for $47.85, I included one bottle of Nazaleze cold to give it a try. Nazaleze cold has garlic added for cold protection. My first order arrived in less than five days, and I am hoping this one will too.