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 treatment and conventional medical treatment. This web page provides information regarding allergy symptoms and medications.
Natural
allergy treatment and remedy
Avoid or reduce exposure to allergens.
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 supplement medication
for allergy symptom relief
Flavonoid 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.
Mangosteen has
xanthones which have some antihistamine activity.
Butterbur has been studied with
mostly good results.
I have had allergy symptoms for
years, they are mild and are related to indoor carpets and dust. The only remedy
that has helped this is ginkgo biloba, St Johns Wort eased the symptoms a little
bit. My stuffy nose and puffy eyes just disappear when i take ginkgo. However,
both of them give me some minor unwanted side effects such as feeling nervous
and finding it hard to sleep. I found a common denominator of ginkgo and St
Johns wort, they both contain quercetin which has been discussed as a natural
allergy remedy. Is it possible that i could find the same relief from quercetin
without the other effects that ginkgogives me?
It is difficult to predict in any one person what the response
would be.
I have used some of 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. Tongkat ali herbal extract offers no obvious benefits.
Food and diet
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. 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 good 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 we are 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 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. For info on food
patch testing.
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 relief. Oral antihistamines relieve
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).
Intranasal corticosteroid medication are effective but long term safety is still not fully
understood.
Steroid free nasal antihistamines are only available by prescription. The first
medication of this type was Astelin (azelastine). Intranasal
antihistamine medications have side effects including headaches and
sedation, and a bitter taste when the spray drips down from the nasal passages.
Birth control pill influence
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 a medical journal 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, 2006.
Worst cities to live
Knoxville and a host of other Southern cities Louisville, Ky.; Charlotte, N.C.;
Jackson, Miss.; and Chattanooga. top the list of the worst places to live with
spring allergies. The rankings are based on an analysis of the following three
factors for the 100 largest metro areas in the U.S. Pollen scores (airborne
grass/tree/weed pollen and mold spores), Number of allergy medications used per
patient, Number of allergy specialists per patient.
Symptom and
signs
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 such as itchy
eyes, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, nasal congestion and drainage. Some people get
a
headache.
Additional unpleasant feelings include hearing changes, scratchy sore throats,
hoarseness, and cough. Other less common symptoms include swelling in
face or throat tissues, skin irritations, and even respiratory problems and
asthma.