Natural Treatment For Allergies
An allergy is basically a problem with the immune system. The job of the immune system is to protect the body against invaders such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens. Sometimes however, the immune system goes into a sort of hyperactive mode, and starts reacting to normally harmless substances. These may be harmless fungi that are used to ferment wine, substances in food that the body is normally able to digest or discard, or even particles of animal fur (dander). Instead of ignoring these substances, the immune system responds in a way that is harmful for the body, such as by causing sneezing fits and nasal congestion, by causing the skin to break out in a rash, by causing the eyes to water or become inflamed, or by causing diarrhea.
You can develop allergies to almost any substance, and the reaction to these substances, known as triggers or allergens, varies greatly. In addition, the reaction is not always in the part of the body that came into contact with the allergen. For example, consuming a particular food allergen may not affect your digestive system, but may instead cause you to develop a skin rash.
The most effective and natural treatment for an allergy is to avoid the allergen. Medical treatment is available, but this is usually advisable only in situations where avoidance is difficult or impossible. For most allergies, avoidance works very well, and is of course natural and without any expense. However, you must of course first identify your allergens. This is usually the difficult part of handling an allergy. It is advisable that you maintain a diary in which you note down allergic reactions as well as your daily diet and other factors that may be involved. Some allergic reactions make their triggers very obvious, but others can take years to understand. If this is the case, it is better to visit an allergist and get yourself tested. This is a quick and reliable way to identify your allergens.
Avoidance, no matter how strict you are about it, is unlikely to be foolproof. There will be occasions when you need to handle an allergic reaction. For any type of skin rash, the best treatment is a cold compress, either an ice pack or a cloth dipped in cold water. Respiratory reactions are usually more dangerous, but you simply develop congestion and sneezing fits, steam inhalation should help. Digestive reactions can usually be waited out, unless the symptoms are very serious, in which case you should visit a doctor immediately.
