Herbal Remedies for Allergies

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Herbal Remedies for Allergies

 

Why people develop allergies remains a mystery in the medical

community. Until we know more about allergies, the best line of

defense is to eliminate the offending agents. Sneezing, runny nose,

watery eyes, sinus congestion, hives, swelling are all symptoms of

allergies.

 

Allergies can affect almost any area of the body. Substances that

irritate the skin, allergic reactions to drugs, detergents, and other

chemicals are all culprits. Also, grass, cow products, house dust,

pets, wheat, colorants, additives and preservatives are all

possibilities.

 

Dust Mites. The dust mite is an almost-microscopic relative of ticks

and spiders. But the living mite is not the problem. It's the fecal

material they expel in their wanderings about our carpets and

furniture—their primary residences—and the bodies of dead mites that

cause reactions.

 

Mold. Mold grows wherever it's dark and humid—under your carpet, in

the basement. It just doesn't matter which one you encounter. Inhale

any one of them, and if you are allergic, you'll start sneezing.

 

Hay fever is an allergic condition triggered by inhalant substances

(frequently pollens), which leads to sneezing and inflammation of the

nose and conjunctiva of the eyes.

 

Any skin inflammation may be considered Dermatitis. Redness, scaling,

and thickening of the skin may occur with dermatitis. Pinpointing the

cause of the problem is the first step toward alleviating the

symptoms.

 

Eczema is a type of dermatitis that is allergy related. It appears as

dry, cracking, crusting and red patches on the skin. Often there are

swelling, weeping blisters. The skin can become inflamed and itchy.

Many factors can contribute to eczema. Stress is a major factor.

Exposure to cleaning compounds, perfumes, detergents, household

chemicals, soaps, food allergies, as well as, nutrient deficiencies.

 

Hives are lumps or weals that are very itchy. They can appear all of

a sudden. They can be related to a particular food or as another

complication from allergies; stress.

 

Anaphylactic shock. This is the most serious of allergic reactions.

It can kill by suffocation, the result of swelling of the larynx and

obstruction of the airway. Anaphylactic shock can occur in response

to insect stings, ingestion of allergenic foods in sensitive

individuals, and injected or swallowed doses of medication. It is a

medical emergency, but it can be treated effectively. An injection of

adrenalin (administered under medical supervision) will usually end

the reaction promptly.

 

It is known that white blood cells (also known as lymphocytes) are a

fundamental component of the immune system that protects our bodies

from invaders. When they make a mistake, an allergic response can

occur. When a lymphocyte encounters a particle or cell and identifies

it as a foreign invader, it produces antibodies specifically

engineered to fight that particular threat. There are five basic

types of antibodies, called immunoglobulins, or Igs. Each is

classified by type with a letter suffix: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM.

The Ig known to be responsible for most allergic reactions to food is

IgE, although IgG is also commonly mentioned.

 

IgE allergies occur when the immune system, in an effort to reject a

certain food or other substance, creates an antibody to that food,

immunoglobulin E. In other words, the blood cells of an allergic

person are " misinformed' at the genetic level and cause the

production of large quantities of IgE antibodies. The antibody

becomes attached on one side to the food/substance molecule and on

the other side to a mast cell (mast cells are a type of cell

containing histamine and other allergy mediators instrumental in the

allergic response). When this happens, histamines and other chemicals

are released from the mast cells, causing such immediate responses as

runny nose, itchy eyes, skin rashes and indigestion. IgE can cause

anaphylaxis, an extreme, sometimes even life-threatening response in

which the airways swell, sometimes to the point where the person

cannot breathe.

 

The most common tests for food allergies are IgE skin tests, where

the skin is scratched or pricked and allergens such as wheat, eggs

and milk are applied. Within 15 to 30 minutes, local reaction may

occur. Other types of tests include blood tests and patch skin tests.

However, there are reports that blood testing for food allergies

provides more reliable results than skin testing. The latter are

problematic because of their tendency to yield false positives. This

means that people may show a positive result but are still able to

eat a certain food. To summarize this difficult and confusing field,

it appears that the efficacy of all allergy testing is under

suspicion.

 

 

Herbal Remedies

 

Herbs that are beneficial for allergies (if you are not allergic to

them) are Burdock Root, Dandelion, and Echinacea. These herbs help to

purify the blood, boost the immune system and improves organ

function. Bee Pollen can strengthen the immune system. Start with a

few drops at a time and work up to a dropper 2-3 times a day.

Coenzyme Q10 improves oxygenation and immunity. 30 mgs, twice daily.

In traditional medicine, some herbs whose pollen can cause symptoms

of hay fever have been used as a way to reduce symptoms of hay fever,

which is the homeopathic theory of " like cures like " . The most

important of these are Goldenrod and Ragweed (Ambrosia ambrosioides).

Eyebright and Elder also have a reputation for use as hay fever

remedies. However, an individual allergic to one of these plants

should avoid them unless under the care of a doctor of natural

medicine.

 

Bee Pollen - has been used to build up the immune system to to fight

colds and to counteract depression. Bee pollen has also been used

internally to increase antiallergenic properties to enhance the

immune system against allergies to pollen.

 

 

Burdock Root - Burdock root contains high amounts of inulin and

mucilage. This may explain its soothing effects on the

gastrointestinal tract. Bitter constituents in the root may also

explain the traditional use of burdock to improve digestion. It also

contains polyacetylenes that have been shown to have antimicrobial

activity.

 

Dandelion - Dandelion is a natural diuretic that increases urine

production by promoting the excretion of salts and water from the

kidney. Dandelion may be used for a wide range of conditions

requiring mild diuretic treatment such as poor digestion, liver

disorders, and high blood pressure.

 

Echinacea - Echinacea is another herb useful for the relief of

allergy symptoms. With a rich history of use in Native American

traditions, echinacea possesses natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Echinacea also helps relieve the symptoms of upper respiratory tract

infections and is useful for sore throats and even acne.

 

Green drinks - green drinks are filled with antioxidants and other

nutrients, which help to detox the body. Detoxification can calm

allergy symptoms by helping to flush out toxic build up in the

system. Made from spirulina, wheat and barley grasses, these drinks

are one of the best allergy medicines.

 

Nettle Leaf - Nettle leaf can help in the reduction in symptoms of

hay fever, including sneezing and itchy eyes. For help with hay fever

symptoms, consider taking 450 mg of Nettle Leaf capsules or tablets

two to three times per day, or a 2–4 ml tincture, three times per

day. Do not take this herb if you have high blood pressure.

 

Horseradish - The " heating " qualities of horseradish are a clue to

its most popular therapeutic use: clearing up nasal and chest

congestion. As well as helping to clear the respiratory passages and

eliminate excess mucus, this herb is effective for the relief of

cough symptoms and sinusitis.

 

Garlic - One of the oldest recorded culinary spices, garlic (Allium

sativum) is mentioned as a food in the Bible, and is known to have

been part of the diet of Egyptian workers as long ago as 2600 BC. It

is the dominant flavour in much of Mediterranean cuisine, but is also

a more subtle addition to many Asian dishes. But alongside its

popularity in food, garlic has a long history of medicinal use – a

traditional history that has gained increasing recognition from

science. Garlic preparations have long been used to relieve the

congestion of colds and hayfever.

 

Reishi Mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum, (Ling Zhi) is documented to have

great medicinal value. The reishi extract has been shown to be

effective in clearing up a large variety of skin allergic conditions

either due to food or airborne allergens. Ganoderma extract has been

found to be useful in detoxifying the kidneys and improving its

overall function.

 

Learn more about the natural treatment of allergies:

 

http://www.peacefulmind.com/allergies.htm

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Peacefulmind.com

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit