Almost everybody has suffered from an
allergic reaction at least once in their life. It is difficult to
estimate how many millions of people are affected in the UK, because
allergies affect several parts of the body at the same time, manifesting
as asthma, food intolerance, eczema, dermatitis, hayfever and migraine.
Just one of these can ruin and limit your enjoyment of life. How
uplifting can spring be if you know it will cause you untold discomfort
and pain from hayfever; and how relaxing a treat is a meal out if you
are not sure if some of the ingredients within it might bring on a
migraine that lasts for days?
Allergies are an abnormal response of
your immune system, which overreacts to exposure to substances called
allergens. These allergens can be anything from food ingredients, drugs,
household dust or mites and cigarette smoke to animals. Basically, your
body misreads the substance and your immune system reacts as though you
have come into contact with a poison. It then tries to eliminate it
from the body, and in this process, your immune system creates
substances that irritate your tissues, substances bearing ominous names
such as histamine, leukotrienes, interleukins and tumour necrosis
factor.
The result is redness and inflammation
of the tissues, pain or itchiness of the skin, runny nose, sneezing,
itchy eyes, diarrhoea, joint pains, dizziness and even shock that may be
life-threatening.
The ageing process changes the way your
immune system works and so you may find that, as you get older, certain
foods you were allergic to when younger, don’t affect you as badly as
before. This is one of the good points of getting older: the allergy
symptoms become less frequent and less severe.
Conventional drugs can cause epilepsy, liver damage and even osteoporosis
Remember, with allergies, your body’s
enemy is literally your over-reactive immune system and the substances
it produces to fight off what it mistakenly thinks are dangerous
substances. Histamine is one of the primary culprits in the allergic
reaction, causing skin rash, itchiness and redness of the skin.
Conventional treatments such as antihistamines are taken following an
allergic reaction and work by reducing histamine levels within your body
and thereby reducing symptoms.
One of the main problems associated with
the use of antihistamines is drowsiness, but newer antihistamines (such
as loradatine, terfenadine and acrivastine) are less likely to cause
it. However these, as well as older antihistamines such as promethazine
and Piriton can cause a host of other side effects such as headache,
difficulty in passing urine, nausea and vomiting. Rarely, conventional
antihistamines may also cause palpitations, epileptic fits and liver
damage.
Another main conventional remedy used
against allergies is the group of steroid drugs (such as prednisolone
and betamethasone). These are used against skin allergies and also
against asthma. Treatment with steroids can be effective quite quickly
but the problem is that this treatment doesn’t address the underlying
cause of the allergy in the first place, and so, when steroids are
stopped, the allergy may well reoccur. Side effects of steroid treatment
include thinning of the skin and easy bruising, increased likelihood of
osteoporosis (if used long term) and increased risk of thrush.
Control inflammation naturally with fatty acids from fish
The good news is that the inflammation
process can be controlled by using natural supplements such as omega-6
and omega-3 fatty acids. These are the ‘good’ type of fats found in oily
fish, flax seed oil and perilla oil, and also in capsule form. One of
the best known of these anti-allergic and inflammation fighters is Gamma
Linolenic Acid (GLA). This belongs to the omega-6 family and it is
found in primrose oil, borage oil and blackcurrant seeds. The dose is
1,500mg a day.
Omega-3 acids such as docosahexanoic
acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) are also effective,
particularly if taken in combination with GLA. These are commonly
available in health food stores. The dose for DHA and EPA is a combined
dose of 3,000mg a day.
Reduce asthma symptoms with this amazing mineral
Magnesium is an essential mineral that
plays a part in reducing the allergic reaction and minimising the
effects of inflammation. Asthma sufferers have found that using
magnesium supplements may reduce their symptoms. One magnesium tablet
(500mg) should be taken daily. You can enjoy an even greater positive
impact on your symptoms by taking magnesium in conjunction with ginkgo
biloba. Research has also shown that ginkgo biloba may be effective in
reducing the symptoms of asthma, and may also minimise the damage caused
by allergies of the skin. The dose is 120mg of standardised ginkgo
biloba extract a day.
An antioxidant cocktail to strengthen your immune system
Certain antioxidants, such as grape seed
extracts, vitamin C and N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) can be used to fortify
your immune system and make it better able to cope with the onslaught of
allergens. Vitamin C is believed to be a natural antihistamine agent if
used at high doses, around 3,000mg to 5,000mg a day.
Grape seed extracts contain natural
plant chemicals called bioflavonoids, which work together with vitamin C
to reduce the allergic reaction Take 300mg a day in conjunction with
vitamin C. Finally, NAC is a strong antioxidant that works wonders
against allergies, particularly those affecting the lungs, such as
asthma. NAC is taken at a dose of 600mg a day, preferably in association
with vitamin C.
These treatments are mainly for
short-term use. If you have allergies all year round, you can also use
them over extended periods, in consultation with your doctor or health
practitioner.
Complementary Therapies Against Allergies
- Hypnotherapy helps you relax and reduces the need for medication. Hypnotherapy can also relieve itching in skin allergies
- Yoga improves circulation to the bowels and glands and so stabilises the immune system
- Psychotherapy reduces anxiety that is sometimes caused by allergies. Anxiety can also make allergies worse.
http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/allergies/natural-remedies-prevent-allergic-reactions-00010/
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