What is Allergy?
Symptoms of Allergy
Hay Fever and Seasonal Pollen Allergies
Causes of Allergy
Home Remedies for All Allergies
Tips To Reduce Exposure To Allergens
What is Allergy?
Allergy also known as allergies (Scientific name), Elarji (Hindi/Urdu), Elarji (Marathi), Alarji (Tamil), Guomin zheng (Chinese), Alergia (Spanish), alergia (Portuguese), Elarji (Bengali), allergiya (Russian). Natural allergy home remedies for pollen, pets. Allergic reaction, seasonal hay fever, latex allergy, peanut, mites allergy and home remedies for other food allergies. There are various ways to tackle many of the allergic disturbances. Get natural allergy relief with relatively little expense or hassle. Runny nose, itchy eyes, and the infuriating sensation of not being able to sneeze? Do you have pollen, spring, dust, mites allergies?
Symptoms of Allergy
An ‘allergy’ can be described as sensitiveness of the body to a substance which does not normally affect other persons. There are innumerable substances in the environment which can cause mild to violent reactions in many people. These reactions range from true allergies due to intolerance of certain foods and substances, to those resulting from pollution. Allergic reactions may occur within a few minutes of the patient coming in contact with the allergen, or they may be delayed for several hours or even several days. Almost any part of the body can be affected by allergies. The portion of the body which is affected is called a shock organ. Common sites are the nose and eyes, the skin, chest, intestines and ears. Allergic reactions are caused by a wide range of substances and conditions. These include pollen, dust, cosmetics and animal hair ; poisonous plants, serums, vaccines and drugs; physical agents such as heat, cold and sunlight; as well as a variety of foods. Among the numerous allergens in the food department, the more common ones are oranges, milk, eggs, wheat, fish, chocolates, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries. Allergy is an indication of lowered resistance and internal disharmony caused by dietetic errors and faulty style of living.
Hay Fever and Seasonal Pollen Allergies
For many people, spring is the sneezing season. Other symptoms of hay fever (allergic rhinitis in the medical world) include nasal congestion and itchy and watery nose and eyes. If you only have these symptoms a couple of months, consider yourself lucky. Some people have a year-round condition called perennial rhinitis. Triggers include pollen, molds, dust mites, animal dander, and other airborne offenders. Allergic and perennial rhinitis tends to run in families, along with asthma and atopic dermatitis (eczema). In recent decades, the prevalence of all three conditions has risen. A warmer climate with longer growing seasons is expected to increase the pollen load for hay fever sufferers. The underlying problem is immune system hypersensitivity. The immune system detects a speck of ragweed pollen and reacts as though an army of streptococci had invaded. In response, white blood cells produce a type of antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE), which binds to mast cells, immune system cells involved in allergic reactions. Once IgE binds to mast cells, the latter release histamine and other inflammatory chemicals that cause those well-known symptoms.
Causes of Allergy
It is believed that the major cause of allergy is feeding babies such foods as cereals, meat, corns, whole milk, etc. before they reach the age of 10 to 12 months. The symptoms of allergy are as varied as the substances causing the reaction. These include recurring headache, migraine, dizziness, irritability, nervousness, depression, neuralgia, sneezing, conjunctivitis, diabetes, eczema, heart-burn, hay fever, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, gastric ulcer, asthma, overweight, high blood pressure, chest pain, heart attacks, a stuffy or runny nose, shortness of breath, swelling of the face and eyes, etc. The same food can cause different symptoms in different people. Many allergies are multiple and may be caused by multiple allergens.
Home Remedies for Different Kinds of Allergies
- It is important for individuals with allergies not to eat incompatible food combinations, such as milk and yogurt, meat and dairy, poultry and dairy, melon and grains, or fruits and grains. Avoid such things as banana milk shakes and “fruit smoothies” made with milk.
- Avoid Allergens: For most allergies, one should try to avoid the immediate cause: the allergen. People who are allergic to cats, dogs, hair, pollen, mold, and so on should simply try to avoid them. Also try to stay away from synthetic fibers such as polyester and rayon, which can cause pitta-type skin allergies. It is best to wear cotton clothing. Because of the large quantity of pesticides routinely sprayed on cotton, you might consider using only organic cotton products, though they tend to be more expensive.
- Dust Allergy: Generally, the respiratory passage is open to dust and other allergens. One way to minimize the effect of allergens that you can’t avoid is to lubricate the nasal mucous membrane with ghee. This prevents direct contact of the allergen with the mucous membrane.
- Neem Oil: Another way to reduce or avoid the effect of environmental allergens is to apply neem oil to the exposed part of the body. The presence of the oil on the skin, as well as the disinfectant properties of neem, will minimize contact with the allergen.
- Stress Management: Most allergies are stress related. Because of stress, imbalance is created in mind and body. The practice known as Empty Bowl meditation helps to restore balance and thus helps take care of stress-related allergies. For allergic conditions in which an element of stress is present, it is essential to employ such methods as relaxation, exercise, meditation and mind control. These methods will reduce or remove stress and thereby contribute towards the treatment of allergies.
- Respiratory Exercises: Alternate Nostril breathing is effective for respiratory allergies such as hay fever, wheezing, and sneezing. Bhastrika (Breath of Fire) is good for kapha-type congestive allergies. Also, ujjayi pranayama helps to improve immunity and is beneficial for all types of allergies. Yogic asanas like yogamudra ardhmatsyendrasana, sarvangasana, shavasana and anuloma-viloma, pranayama are also beneficial.
- Extra Clean: If you have allergies that are causing congestion, they can make snoring much worse. Wash your sheets frequently in hot water, and zip up your pillow in an allergen blocking case. Vacuum and dust your bedroom at least once a week. And keep your pets off the bed.
- Turmeric: Try including turmeric in your everyday recipes. A key component of curry mixtures, turmeric’s golden-yellow color is familiar to all who eat Indian food. Turmeric root has traditionally been taken to heal allergic and inflammatory conditions and research has established that it has extensive health benefits, due in particular to its strong antioxidant activity.
- Saltwater Nasal Rinse: The saltwater literally washes away allergens of hay fever. Furthermore, solutions that are saltier than your own body fluids (including mucus) help draw out extra moisture. A recent study in children with hay fever found that this so-called hypertonic saline rinse twice daily was more effective than a less salty rinse (closer to the salt concentration in bodily fluids), which was more effective than no nasal wash at all. This recipe is recommended by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. You’ll need a sterile syringe – either a soft rubber ear bulb syringe or an infant nasal syringe, or neti pot (nasal irrigation pot sold in natural food stores). In a clean bowl, mix 1 tablespoon (18 g) iodide-free salt and 1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda. Add 1 teaspoon (6 g) of the mixture to 1 cup (235 ml) lukewarm distilled or boiled water. (Store the remaining dry mixture in an airtight container.) Draw the saline solution into the syringe bulb or pour into the neti pot. Tilt your head downward over the sink and rotate to the left. Gently squeeze (or pour) about ½ cup (120 ml) of the solution into your right nostril. Breathe normally through your mouth. After a brief lag, the solution should come out through your left nostril. Rotate your head to the right and repeat the process on the left side. Gently blow your nose to remove excess water and prevent the solution from going into your ear. After using the rinse, fully clean the syringe. Repeat two to three times a day during hay fever season.
- Castor Oil: For allergies in the intestinal tract, skin and nasal passages, try five drops of castor oil in a little juice or water taken on an empty stomach in the morning.
- Lemon: For all kinds of allergies lemon is very effective. In a cup of lukewarm water add juice extracted from 1/2 lemon and 1 tablespoon of honey. Drink this every morning with empty stomach for several months. This helps to remove harmful substances from your body.
- The best way, however, to prevent or overcome allergies is to strengthen the overall physical resistance so as not to fall an easy prey to every allergen that comes along.
Tips To Reduce Your Exposure To Allergens
- Always use air purifiers with HEPA (high efficiency particular air) filters.
- Vacuum at least once a week with a vacuum cleaner equipped with an Hepa filter.
- Favor bare floors (i.e., easier to clean) over rugs and carpets.
- If you’re allergic to pollen, close your windows. consider exercising indoors until the season passes. Leave your shoes at the door.
- If you’re allergic to a pet you own and love, wash him or her once a week. in between, wipe down his or her fur with a damp cloth.
- To reduce dust mite exposure, cover pillows and mattresses with impermeable covers. Wash bedding weekly in hot water.
- Exterminate cockroaches.
- Call in a specialist to remove household mold.