Natural Allergy Relief
Allergies Spring is here. The trees are blooming, the grass is growing and the birds are singing. The pollen is blowing in the balmy breeze and all is NOT well. Sneezing, drippy nose, runny eyes, and difficulty sleeping are driving people to the doctor’s office for a prescription of antihistamines and steroids.
Seasonal allergies, or hayfever, affect millions of Americans each year. While these symptoms are uncomfortable and annoying, many more Americans suffer from chronic sensitivities and allergies whose delayed reactions make them much more difficult to recognize.
Allergies are NOT caused by allergens such as pollens, house mites, dust or other substances. While it is true that these substances trigger an allergic response, the underlying cause is a malfunctioning immune system. Basically what occurs in an allergic response is that the immune system identifies the harmless allergen and tries to destroy it. The allergic symptoms that many are so familiar with (runny nose, watery eyes, etc) are direct signs that the immune system is trying to destroy these harmless substances. This type of immunological mayhem cannot be differentiated by the body from the stress put on the immune system from infection. Infections in the body are often sub-clinical or those that are missed due to the fact that they are just always there, and do not exhibit the symptoms of a full-blown infection. In many cases of sub-clinical infection, the infection(s) have been present for extended periods of time and directly contribute to immune dysfunction and allergies. Many auto-immune diseases can be viewed as a severe form of allergy where the immune system attacks its owner.
An allergy results when a person has an abnormally high sensitivity to a normally harmless substance. There are multiple descriptive terms for types of allergies such as: Chemical sensitivities, Food sensitivities, Environmental Illnesses or Intolerances. At the most basic level an allergy is simply a reaction to something that doesn’t necessarily affect other people.
A person may be allergic to virtually any item; usually an allergic person will be allergic to multiple items.
Common allergens include:
· Foods
· Artificial food additives and dyes
· Perfumes
· Petrochemicals such as paint, gasoline, insecticides
· Chemicals such as formaldehyde, ammonia, fabric softener etc.
· Environment- dust, pollens, grass, trees
· Yeast, Fungi, and Molds
Allergy symptoms can be immediate or delayed and often include:
· Rash
· Nausea
· Diarrhea
· Stomach pain
· Fatigue
· Nasal congestion
· Coughing
· Joint or muscle pain
· Heart palpitations
· Dizziness
· Watery eyes
· Depression
· Headache
· Dark circles under the eyes
· Eczema
· Disorientation
· Wheezing
· Insomnia
Traditional medicine practitioners and natural medicine practitioners address allergies from vastly different viewpoints. Consequently, methods of treatment are quite different.
Traditional medicine will treat allergies with Immunotherapy (allergy) shots, antihistamine drugs, antibiotics if there is an underlying infection, and as a last resort a medical doctor will prescribe a cortisone type drug such as Prednisone.
Antihistamine drugs, while often very effective, are not much more than aband aid as they only manage the symptoms rather than solving the problem. Treating theunderlying infection is essential, but anti-biotics have many problems such as disruption of the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. Finally, cortisone type drugs are undeniably effective, and work very rapidly. Unfortunately cortisone drugs have an extensive and severe list of side effects. Cortisone drugs work by supplying the body with a hormone called cortisol which is an essential hormone made by the body’s adrenal glands. Cortisol controls the body’s allergic response and inflammation. Unfortunately, by supplying cortisol from a source outside the body, the body’s own ability to produce cortisol is severely depressed generally making it difficult to come off the drug and stay off long term.
Wellness practitioners work with you to manage and eliminate your allergies using several different methods.
Steps to overcoming allergies:
1. Heal and Repair the digestive tract. They can evaluate and recommend nutrients that aid in the healing and repairing the digestive tract. Deglycyrrhizinated licorice root has been shown to provide flavonoids to help heal the gastric lining. Oregano extract is a commonly used natural remedy for gastrointestinal-related infections. The yeast Candida can be a contributor to allergies and sensitivities, especially food sensitivities. Restoring the natural flora to the colon with Probiotics can be very helpful in controlling yeast overgrowth.
2. Lifestyle eating modifications. Avoiding sugar, fruit juices (especially for children), wheat and white flour, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils and pasteurized dairy products is almost always helpful.
3. Decrease the Inflammatory response. We live in a society where many of the foods we eat actually contribute to inflammation and poor health. Avoiding all the foods listed in step 2 will significantly reduce systemic inflammation and remove a burden from the immune system. Nutritionally support the health of your cells and naturally decrease inflammation with American Heart Association endorsed Omega-3 fatty acids.
4. A/SERT ( Allergy/Sensitivity Elimination Technique). A revolutionary treatment system based on the principles of Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Applied Kinesiology (Muscle Response Testing). This technique, developed by Dr. John Brimhall, can bring about dramatic improvement - at times even total elimination - of all types of allergies. It is simple, non-invasive and extremely effective. It is currently practiced by hundreds of health practitioners, including MD’s, nurses, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and dentists.
A wellness practitioner may stimulate key points along the patient’s spine while the patient is holding the allergen. By stimulating certain meridian points that effect specific organs and lobes of the brain with a Low Level Laser, a change takes place in the autonomic nervous system. Homeopathic remedies, that work in a similar fashion to allergy shots, can be placed under the tongue. This can help to neutralize the allergic reaction to the substance. A/SERT calms the brain and the nervous system, helping to eliminate your body’s conditioned response to the allergen. Sufferers should try to avoid the allergenic substance in their life, and go on a rotation diet to minimize contact with any offending foods. With this procedure, many people have been able to continue to have contact with the very substance that previously made them sick. However, if a person has had anaphylactic reactions to any substance in the past, they should avoid repeated contact with that substance at all costs.
5. Manage the stress monster! Stress hormones wreak havoc on the body and especially on the immune system. Learn methods of stress management such as meditation, Tai Ji, taking time for yourself, and just learning to say “NO” to the stuff that is not truly in line with your goals and values. Nutritionally support the stress response in your body. This can be done with a simple saliva test to monitor your cortisol levels (stress hormone) and make nutritional and lifestyle recommendations based upon the results.
6. Detoxification. Allergies may be worsened by toxins within the body. There are several different methods of detoxifying the body. Detox considerations should include nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, and the EB Energy Balancer detoxifying footbath. The EB Energy Balancer was designed and developed to restore the body's energy balance while facilitating its natural detoxification process. This device has been proven in clinical trials to help balance and restore the body's pH and electromagnetic energy. If you follow the suggestions in this article, you may not have to live with allergies any more.