An allergy is a reaction of the immune system in which normal body tissue is injured. The mechanisms by which the immune system defends the body and by which a hypersensitivity reaction can injure it are similar. Thus, antibodies, lymphocytes, and other cells, which are normal protective components of the immune system are involved in allergic reactions as well as in autoimmune disease and organ transplant rejection. Here we discuss natural allergy treatment and conventional medical allergy treatment. This web page provides allergy information regarding allergy symptoms and allergy medications.
Symptom of
allergy
Allergy symptoms appear when the body's immune system responds to a substance
called an antigen or allergen. The immune system makes antibodies to fight off
the allergen. The battle between allergen and antibody results in a release of
many chemical mediators, such as histamine, into the bloodstream. These chemical
mediators cause changes in the body, which produce allergy symptoms.
Allergy symptoms include itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal stuffiness,
nasal congestion and drainage. Another allergy symptom could be headache.
Additional allergy symptoms include hearing changes, scratchy sore throats,
hoarseness, and cough. Other less common allergy symptoms include swelling in
face or throat tissues, skin irritations, and even respiratory problems and
asthma.
Natural
Allergy Treatment options
Avoid or reduce exposure to allergens listed
at this
allergy information page.
Eat more cold water fish with high content of fish oils.
Reduce hydrogenated and trans fats such as those found in certain baked goods
and margarine. The last two decades have seen an increase in the prevalence of
asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis in developed countries. This increase has
been paralleled by a reduction in the consumption of animal fat and an increase
in the use of margarine and vegetable oils containing omega-6 polyunsaturated
fatty acids (PUFAs), such as linoleic acid. There is also evidence for a
decrease in the consumption of oily fish which contain fish oils, such as EPA. Linoleic acid, a type of
omega-6 oil found in oils such as as corn, safflower, and sunflower, is a
precursor of arachidonic acid, which can be converted to
prostaglandin E2
(PGE2), a form inflammatory type prostaglandin that causes the immune system to
release a protein that triggers allergic reactions,
whereas fish oils inhibit the
formation of PGE2.
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Have a wide variety of produce, preferably
organic. Vegetables an fruits contain many flavonoids that have
anti-inflammatory properties. Eating more vegetables could reduce the severity
of hay fever.
Avoid excess alcohol consumption which may lead to an increase in IgE levels.
Natural medication
for allergy symptom relief
Flavonoids supplements may be helpful, including
Quercetin. If you don't
eat enough vegetables, you could consider taking flavonoid supplements.
Flavonoids are known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Vitamin C in small
amounts such as 50 to 300 mg seems reasonable.
Acetylcysteine is a
powerful antioxidant and helps support healthy lung tissue. You can purchase
Acetyl-L-Cysteine here.
Mangosteen has
xanthones which have some antihistamine activity.
Butterbur has been studied with
mostly good results.
Allergy Medication with oral antihistamines
Allergy medication options include oral antihistamines, nasal
antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal sprays.
Oral antihistamines are the allergy medication drugs most commonly used for treating allergies
and providing acute or chronic allergy relief. Oral antihistamines relieve
allergy symptoms by blocking histamine, the chemical “culprit” that causes many
symptoms. Antihistamines are classified as H1 blockers and H2 blockers,
depending on the type of receptors (on the surface of cells) that they act on.
H1 receptors are associated with human tissue involving capillaries, and H2
receptors predominate in the lining of the stomach.
Newer, second generation antihistamine allergy medications include
Zyrtec (cetirizine), Allegra (fexofenadine), Clarinex (desloratadine), and
Claritin (loratadine).
Allergy medication with intranasal steroids
Intranasal corticosteroid medication are effective but long term safety is still not fully
understood.
Allergy
medication with intranasal antihistamines
Steroid free nasal antihistamines are only available by prescription. The first
allergy medication of this type was Astelin (azelastine). Intranasal
antihistamine allergy medications have side effects including headaches and
sedation, and a bitter taste when the spray drips down from the nasal passages.
Allergen immunotherapy
Allergen immunotherapy (allergy injections) may provide an alternative solution
when an allergen can't be avoided. With immunotherapy, tiny amounts of the
allergen are injected under the skin in gradually increasing doses until a
maintenance level is reached. This treatment stimulates the body to produce
blocking or neutralizing antibodies that may act to prevent an allergic
reaction. Eventually, the blood level of IgE antibodies, which react with the
antigen, also may fall. Although many people undergo allergen immunotherapy, and
studies show that it helps, its cost-effectiveness and risk-to-benefit ratio
aren't always favorable.
For info on food
patch testing.
Birth control pill and allergy
Mothers who have previously used oral contraceptive pills seem more likely to
have children with nasal allergies. Dr. Leea Keski-Nisula, of Kuopio University,
Finland, and colleagues note in the medical journal Allergy that there has been
a suggestion of an association between oral contraceptive use and allergic
diseases. The researchers studied 618 asthmatic children aged 5 or 6 years and
compared them with 564 similar but unaffected children. Compared to children
whose mothers had not used oral contraceptives, those who had taken the pill
within a year of becoming pregnant had a greater likelihood of having a child
with allergic rhinitis, or nasal allergy. This was particularly the case in
families where the parents had allergies, and this association was stronger in
boys. There was no association between mothers' use of the pill and the
occurrence of asthma or eczema in their offspring. Allergy, December 2006.
Allergy symptoms not helped with
antioxidant supplements
Supplementation with vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and selenium has no
effect on anti-oxidant status and immune responses in allergic adults: a
randomized controlled trial.
Clin Exp Allergy. 2007 Feb;37(2):180-7. School of Paediatrics and Child
Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
Anti-oxidants are of growing interest in early treatment and prevention of
allergy disease in early life, but the effects on allergen-specific immune
responses need to be documented further before intervention studies in infants
are undertaken. The aim of this study in adults was to determine the effects of
dietary anti-oxidants on allergen-specific immune responses in sensitized
individuals. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, 54 adults with allergy
received an anti-oxidant supplement comprising beta-carotene (9 mg/day), vitamin
C (1500 mg/day), vitamin E (130 mg/day), zinc (45 mg/day), selenium (76 mug/day)
and garlic (150 mg/day) or a placebo for 4 weeks. Anti-oxidant capacity (AC),
serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and selenium, peripheral
blood responses, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), as a marker of airway inflammation,
and plasma F(2) isoprostanes, as a measure of oxidative stress, were measured
before and after supplementation. Results Anti-oxidant supplementation resulted
in significant increases in serum levels of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene
and selenium levels, compared with the placebo group. There was no change in
serum AC, plasma F(2)-isoprostanes, eNO or immune responses following
supplementation with anti-oxidants compared with placebo.
Allergy information and alternative
treatment emails
Q. I have consulted Dr. Sahelian's web site many times, and have used some of
the herbal remedies in the past, including quercetin, Vitamin C with flavonoids and
Omega 3s (which I take daily) stinging nettle,
Apple-Cider-Vinegar, grapeseed, etc. I'm interested in
the rosmarinic, not only for its allergy uses, but also as an anti-inflammatory.
Q. If Leaky Gut syndrome is the cause of food
allergies then is it really an allergy if undigested foods are being let back
into the bloodstream and causing havoc to the entire body, physically and
mentally? Once this Leaky Gut is repaired and undigested food is not let into
the bloodstream and there is no reaction then it wasn't really a food allergy?
Is this theory true? Allergy sufferers know it is almost impossible to avoid
certain foods and adhere to strict diets, say if a person is allergic to foods
such as dairy, wheat, casein, etc. Also if a person has so many so called
allergies, how is it possible to repair the Leaky Gut first when most
recommendations include herbs that might cause allergic reaction if the
allergies include hay fever, ragweed etc? It seems as though it is a vicious
circle leading to nowhere. Your explanation in your allergy section of your site
is good, especially where you mention the increase use of highly refined fish
oil as a good defense and repair tool. I am also puzzled by other certain health
issues that also come with the Food Allergies and Leaky Gut Syndrome, how about
parasites, fungus and bacteria that are said to also accompany these health
issues and cause more health issues. Now were dealing with a whole new host of
health issues when parasites, fungus and bacteria are included such as
headaches, joint pain, malabsorption issues, diarrhea etc. Can you sort this out
some how. Where would you recommend to start the healing process. Your answer
will be appreciated by millions of confused sufferers and hopefully we can all
benefit from your opinion.
A. A full explanation may require a whole book. To make it simple,
one's diet should avoid common food allergens and include a very wide variety of
foods. No single food should be eaten in large quantities. It is helpful to
exercise and have a deep sleep at night. See
diet for more
info.
Does tongkat ali
herbal extract cause
allergy symptoms
Not that we are aware of.