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Natural Remedies for Allergies

I am suffering from allergies for many years, visited many doctors. I want natural remedies for allergies.
( 3 Aug 2009)

An allergy is a reaction that occurs when the body reacts in an extreme inflammatory response to harmless environmental substances. This reaction is caused by the hypersensitivity of the immune system. Some of the most common allergic reactions include hives, eczema and hay fever.




While most allergies are not potentially dangerous, some severe reactions can be life-threatening as they can cause anaphylactic shock and even result in death. It is very important to visit your doctor at the onset of a reaction so that the severity of your reaction can be gauged correctly. There are also several tests available to determine the specific allergen causing the reaction. A simple patch test is the most common method that is used to detect allergic responses.

The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction are itchiness and a runny nose and this can be irritating enough to disrupt your daily life. Allopathic treatments for allergic reactions include the use of anti-histamines, immunotherapy and steroids. These medications do not work to get rid of the problem itself- which is the allergy, but rather towards alleviating the symptoms. Most of these treatments are very effective in treating the reaction. Unfortunately, they work by suppressing the immune system and this would mean that you are also more vulnerable to infections and diseases. In cases of severe allergic reactions this may be unavoidable, but the use of these medications on a regular basis, can have serious repercussions.

There are several natural home remedies for allergies. Herbal teas made out of licorice have been used for many years to reduce the severity of allergic reactions. Relatively recent research showed that certain compounds in licorice enhanced the corisol produced by the body. Corisol is a hormone that reduces the inflammation and swelling of the tissues. Nettle leaves, angelica and Chili pepper are also helpful in treating allergic reactions. You should also include citrus fruits and berries in your daily diet as they are rich in vitamin C and help to reduce the amount of histamine produced by the body.  
 
One method that has been used with great success is the desensitizing of the body to the allergen. This method can take many months for complete results, but it offers a permanent method to cure an allergy and prevent its continued recurrence. This method has been found to be most effective in treating people with food allergies such as lactose intolerance, where the individual has a severe response when they consume dairy products. This method requires a person to consume extremely small amounts of the allergen so that your body gets accustomed to it. The amount of the allergen is slowly increased until your body no longer reacts to it. This method should be discussed in length with your doctor and should not be attempted on your own, since you do not know how severe your reaction would be or how small a dose of the allergen you will need to take.
answered by a on 3 Aug 2009, 7:56:10

 

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