An allergy is an excessive immune response triggered by the ingestion of certain foods, the ingestion of certain substances, or the inhalation of irritants such as pollen or animal hair. Allergies to pollen, spores, mold and dust (also called hay fever or allergic rhinitis) affect the respiratory system and are usually the most difficult to control.
Symptoms of hay fever include sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, watery eyes, itchy eyes and nose and headache. Hay fever is often seasonal (when pollen is in the air), but if it is constantly exposed to a noxious substance (such as animal hair), the symptoms may persist throughout the year.
From a naturopathic point of view, allergies are often associated with weak adrenal, immune and digestive functions. Natural treatments are used to support and improve these functions and to relieve the symptoms of hay fever. For seasonal allergies, starting natural treatments (such as stinging nettles) 1-2 months before the start of the season can help lessen the severity of the symptoms. Good health can alleviate allergy symptoms, and good nutrition begins with good health. People who are sensitive to allergens in the air may also be sensitive to certain foods. Identifying and removing these foods from the diet can significantly improve your health and reduce allergy symptoms. This is best achieved through the elimination and challenge diet.
nutrition
To reduce allergy symptoms, you should take a moderately low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Drink 1/2 of your body weight daily in ounces of water (for example, a person weighing 150 pounds would drink 75 ounces of water).
Add many of the following foods to the diet:
Dark green leafy vegetables
Deep yellow and orange vegetables
Stinging nettles, bamboo shoots, cabbage, beet tops, beets, carrots, yams
Onions, garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, horseradish
Eliminate the following from the diet:
Alcohol, caffeine and dairy products
Bananas and citrus fruits
chocolate
Food colors (Tartrazine)
peanuts
Red meat
sugar
wheat
Supplements, vitamins and minerals
Bioflavonoids (eg quercetin, catechin and hesperidin) - Take 2-3 grams daily. For serious symptoms take up to 6 grams. Bioflavonoids are natural antihistamines and highly antiallergenic. Bromelain and vitamin C can increase the effect of bioflavonoids. Combination products are available.
Linseed oil - Take 1 tbsp daily.
Probiotics (such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidus) - Take one in the morning and one in the evening. Probiotics are intestinal flora organisms - microscopic bacteria that normally live in the gut. Buy a quality product with 1 to 4 billion organisms per capsule.
Multivitamin - High potency and individually if possible.
Vitamin A - Take 25,000 IU daily.
Vitamin C - Take 1-3 grams 2-3 times a day or for intestinal tolerance. (Intestinal tolerance is the amount of vitamin C that can be taken without causing diarrhea, which varies for each person and can change as the need increases because the body is stressed, injured, or ill.)
Vitamin E - Take 400 IU daily.
Zinc - Take 30 mg daily.
Herbalists
Herbal medicines rarely have significant side effects when used as directed and at recommended dosages. Occasionally, an herb in the prescribed dose causes upset stomach or headache. This may reflect the purity of the formulation or ingredients added, such as synthetic binders or fillers. For this reason, it is recommended to use only high quality products. As with all medications, nothing is better and overdosing can lead to serious illness and death.
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