Archive for the ‘Allergies’ Category
Eye Allergies And How The Body Reacts To Them
Friday, March 11th, 2011The most common notion about having allergies is they would occur mainly in the skin, or break out in some other form like having indigestion or something equally unpleasant. One thing that is often overlooked is the human eye, since it too contracts allergic reactions quite easily. There are often symptoms that can let you know you’re having an allergic reaction to a substance. Identifying whether it’s an allergy or something else creating discomfort and irritation in your eyes.
Itching in and around the eyes, redness, swelling and a burning sensation could all possibly be part of some other problem. One common sign is known as pink eye, which has the entire clear membrane of the white of your eyes turning pink, and possibly getting itchy as well. You can find out the source of the irritation if it’s from a viral, bacterial, or allergic source.
If only one eye is affected the most likely cause could be viral. A bacterial source of pink eye will also show because there is often a discharge coming out of the eye. However, if it’s not exclusively the eye that’s affected, then the source will most likely be allergic in nature. The doctor will most likely rule out all other possibilities once he or she finds out about the exact circumstances of the irritation.
Sources Of Eye Allergies
The eye, although protected from the outside by its lubrication, can still sometimes come into contact with possible allergens. The usual culprits in eye allergies include various types of pollen, which occur during the spring and summer months at its peak. An unpleasant reaction to chemicals that enter your eyes such as medication with side effects including eye drops can also cause an allergic reaction. Also quite common is having allergies associated with pets, so be sure to check these sources.
What You Can Do
Of course, being an allergic reaction, the best thing you can do to prevent an unpleasant reaction to your allergen is to avoid it. You should make sure you keep your surroundings clean from most airborne allergens, by vacuuming regularly throughout your house to keep dust, pollen, and pet hair from getting airborne and into your eyes. However you can’t avoid being exposed to other environments. If you’re allergic to airborne particles, you need to check with your doctor and see if you could benefit from using over the counter medications.
These may possibly alleviate the symptoms you have through their active ingredients. You might also find products that contain antihistamines lessening any allergic reaction and calming down things somewhat when symptoms manifest themselves as swelling and redness. A direct application to the affected site will have faster reaction time than if you were to take the medicine in oral form like capsules or tablets. However, consult your doctor on the effects of prolonged use of your medicinal treatments, your eyes could become dependent on the medication. You don’t want to have your blood vessels being dependent on eye drops to become small again when they swell up during an allergy attack.
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Baby Allergies And Signs Of Intolerance
Thursday, February 17th, 2011Any allergy, from whatever media it might come from, begins with the same reaction. The body mistakenly assumes that a particle, whether it’s pollen, or in the case of food allergies, a food protein, as a harmful threat. The immune system then releases immuneglobin E, otherwise known as IGE into the blood stream, triggering a chain of events that release histamines in the body to attempt to combat the foreign particle. A skin rash, runny eyes, sneezing, whatever the manifestations, they still have the same first steps.
Baby Food Allergies
A baby will typically have an adverse reaction toward a food product, and one can often easily see what these reactions are. An example of an intolerant reaction to a food product would be from lactose intolerance, where people who are intolerant cannot break down the sugar in dairy products.
Spotting Trouble Signs
A potentially dangerous allergy in infants can be seen because of the reactions from the food being eaten. A common example would be an infant having loose bowel s after eating, and may even vomit the food in an effort to expel it from the body. The throat may also close up or the lips and face may swell up. On the infant’s skin, rashes or hives may appear, among other unusual occurrences in the skin surface An intolerance is different than an allergy, and usually has more to do with intestinal trouble than reaction to any particular allergen.
How to avoid allergy troubles
When introducing a new food product to your infant, be sure to try only minute quantities at first so that you can see if there are any unpleasant reactions to the food, and afterward’s you can slowly increase the amount you are feeding when there are no apparent reactions. During the course of introducing new food to your child, you should be able to see as well if your child likes it. If there are no negative reactions present, then you can safely increase the quantity given to a normal level.
The timing of introducing new foods should also be considered, and you’ll want to feed your child with new food early in the day so that you still have ample time to take your child to the pediatrician during clinic hours and disrupt your baby’s daily routine the least.
Ninety percent of all allergic reactions come from just eight food sources, and they are common enough to be found in foods everywhere. These are the kind of food products that you’ll want to check up on for your child, just to make sure that there is no reaction whatsoever.
Milk is one of the most common, and you should check with dairy products should there be an adverse reaction.
Eggs are the second on the list of allergen foods. Peanuts and tree nuts are some common allergens right up to adulthood, and they’ll have to manage these allergies all their life.
Fish and shellfish allergies can be outgrown, however. Soy and wheat are the last two materials that round out the list, and children can often outgrow these allergies as well
Having an allergic reaction is somewhat a bit of a bother, but with proper management, avoidance, or treatment, your child can outgrow these allergies, or manage to live with it at the very least.
Consult with your family physician when you aren’t sure of whether your child is allergic or not.
Skin Allergies: The Reason Behind The Itchies You Have
Thursday, February 17th, 2011The hardest part of having red, itchy skin, hives, or swollen spots on your skin is trying to concentrate on making your day as normal as possible while avoiding scratching the itchy parts. Sometimes you have to concentrate so much on that you sort of forget what’s the reason behind the itching, which would really be the thing you should focus your attention on, so that it won’t happen again.
Allergies are most often the cause of skin rashes and such, and some of them are quite common. Read on to find out what they are and what you can do to avoid them.
Diagnosing Skin Allergies
An allergist can test if you’re allergic to substances or if your skin reacts to different possible allergens by conducting a skin test. In a multiple-test method, the allergist will prick your skin to introduce various media in microscopic amounts, to see which pricks elicit a reaction from your skin.
The material type that your skin reacts on can be retested using different methods to confirm if the material in question is indeed your allergen. The allergist can also check to see how severe the reaction to your allergen is, and can range from mild to life threatening, using increasing concentrations of the allergen to measure reaction times.
Types Of Manifestation
Different forms of skin allergy reactions can be found in people. Occurring most often in small children, eczema, specifically known as Atopic Dermatitis, appears in the form of a red rash, and blistering of the skin is quite common. The skin can break from being scratched aggressively, and will usually cause scarring. Treatment usually consists of applying a topical solution on the site of the rashes to ease the itching, and your doctor will be able to prescribe treatment that is calibrated in strength to match your rashes.
Another common manifestation of skin allergies is the raised red colored bumps on the skin known as hives. While it is quite aesthetically disturbing to some , hives are not so itchy that you’ll break the skin by scratching really hard. Hives are common enough that people of all ages are affected by it at one point or another.
A third form of allergic reaction is called contact dermatitis, and this is a common reaction to a substance which will cause a similar reaction to a rash when you come into contact with it. The symptoms have more in common with Atopic Dermatitis, but the usual areas that the rash manifests itself are only where you’ve touched or come into contact with the substance. A good example of this is when you’ve touched poison ivy, and there are even common cases of people getting rashes because of their jewelry .
Once a rash breaks out on your skin, as much as possible, try not to scratch it, since scratching could break the skin and introduce dirt and bacteria to below the skin level and you’ll have more trouble if it gets infected. A common solution to allergic rashes would be to apply an allergy cream to soothe the inflammation and to remove the itchiness. But the most important thing is that in the first occurrence, you’d be better off consulting your doctor on what to do just to make sure.
Your Allergies Questions Answered
Monday, November 8th, 2010Have you ever stepped outside, snuggled up with a pet, or come across a perfume that suddenly had your eyes itching, your nose stuffy and a feeling that your head was going to explode?
You may suffer from allergies. Allergy sufferers must continuously watch where they go, what they eat and even who they can be around. It can be a life-long struggle revolving around different medicines. This article will address some of the common questions about allergies that you might have.
Are allergies dangerous?
In some allergy sufferers the worst symptom or reaction is itchy, watery eyes and maybe a stuffy nose. But there are some people who have immune systems that react very vehemently and the attack can become life threatening.
That is why it is very important to know what you are allergic to and know how to avoid it. Some of the more severe allergic reactions happen to bee stings, accidentally ingesting something or inhaling a huge quantity of the allergen and having a severe allergic reaction.
Most ingestible allergens can cause the throat to swell, thus restricting the airway. Airborne allergens can cause an asthma attack where the lungs struggle to intake oxygen.
If I am allergic to a certain food and accidentally ingest one, what can I do?
Most people who suffer severe food allergies carry something called an Epi Pen in case they go into anaphylactic shock. It really isn’t a pen but rather is shaped similar to one. It is actually a one time shot of epinephrine that is administered as soon as it is realized that you are going into an anaphylactic shock and that you are in danger.
What types of medications are used to treat allergy sufferers?
Many allergy sufferers can get by with taking an over the counter medication to either help prevent an attack or help ease the symptoms. In some cases a doctor will prescribe a steroid based medicine in order to help strengthen the lungs and may include a prescription for an inhaler if an asthma attack were to occur.
How does an air purifier work?
All air purifiers work on the same basic principle. Contaminated air is pulled into the machine, a majority of the allergens are pulled out, and then the cleaner air is blown out. The differences in air purifiers come in how they filter the allergens.
Some units use ionized metal rods that attract the particles. When the rods become dirty, they are removed, cleaned off, and then reinserted. In other air purifiers there is a screen that the air passes through.
The multiple layers of paper or cloth help trap the allergens. When the screen is dirty it is then disposed of and a new one is put into place.
Can pets suffer from allergies?
Pets can suffer from allergies the same as we do. Some varieties are more prone to seasonal allergies than others though. What is the solution? Benadryl can work on humans and pets alike. Make sure you check with your vet before giving your pet any medicine to ensure the proper dosage and to find out what is causing the problems.
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What are Allergies?
Sunday, November 7th, 2010Allergies are one of the leading causes of diseases in USA. The annual amount spent on allergies in USA is $18 billion. Allergies could get complicated and even ruin a person’s life. Allergies generally mean over reaction or hyper sensitivity to a certain substance or product. The substance could make a person sneeze, wheeze or create rashes etc.
Allergies have also been linked to many respiratory diseases. Sinus, Asthma, Bronchitis are some diseases that are caused by allergies. Allergies can be managed by taking precautionary measures. Some allergic reactions can be very bad. Allergies can also be inherited like balding. Some people are allergic to specific allergens, some to soy, milk, fish etc. Like adults, children and infants are also allergic to certain substances. Cows milk allergy is very common in children. If a child is allergic to cows milk, as a substitute they are provided soymilk. More than 50% of children develop allergies to soymilk.
Allergies due to dust and pollution are very common nowadays. The dust particles enter the nose and make a person sneeze. It could also lead to other diseases like bronchitis and asthma. Allergies due to pollution, candle smoke, incense stick etc could create various upper respiratory problems. People with upper respiratory problems have itching in the throat and ear also. Breathing difficulty could also exist. At home, dust particles in the mattress, pillows etc could also lead to allergies. Even domestic cats and dogs hair could lead to allergies. Consult your physician if you are allergic to any substance immediately.
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Why Are Allergies On The Increase
Saturday, November 6th, 2010Allergies are on the increase – a third of the population believe that they suffer from allergies, and even though some of these people may be mistaken, everyone agrees that eczema, asthma, hay fever, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. are now more and more common. So, what has happened?
It is often unclear why a person has a tendency to be allergic or intolerant to a range of substances. Medical practitioners talk about ‘atopic individuals’ – atopic means ‘out of place’. To the unknowing this sounds like a medical diagnosis, but in fact all it means is: You have a tendency to have allergies; you may have several different symptoms caused by your allergic reactions; this often runs in families; we don’t know why. Describing someone as an atopic individual is not saying anything the person does not already know about themself!
Genetic Predisposition
Allergy problems undoubtedly do run in families, so there may be a genetic component, although the exact mechanism is not clearly understood. Some small genetic mutation can cause the immune system to be triggered more easily, so that family members sharing this mutation will all have a tendency to allergic reactions, although not necessarily to the same substances, but this does not explain the rise in the incidence of allergies in recent years.
Severe Virus Infections
A severe virus infection can lead to damage to the immune system, so that the individual is more likely to develop allergies in the future. Again, although this may explain why someone has allergies, the incidence of virus infections is not on the increase.
So we have to look elsewhere to explain the rise, and there are several completely different possibilities.
Parasites
One allergy theory now being proposed is that the lack of the proper enemies (liver fluke, tapeworms, etc.) has led to an idle immune system finding inappropriate work in allergic reactions. There are many antibodies produced in the body to protect it against invasion by harmful organisms. IgE antibodies deal effectively and quickly with the extreme danger of infection by large parasites, such as tapeworms. Parasites’ effect on health can be devastating, so over the years individuals with efficient IgE mechanisms have lived to reproduce and pass on their genes at a greater rate than people with a less efficient IgE mechanism. The IgE antibodies are also involved in allergic and hypersensitivity reactions, so people with these inherited efficient IgE mechanisms are more likely to suffer allergy problems than people who have inherited a less efficient system. This super-charged immune system was a plus for an asthma sufferer’s distant ancestors inhabiting a world with many life-threatening parasites, but now leads to a ‘trigger-happy’ immune system firing off inappropriately.
Other practitioners (notably Hulda Clark in ‘Cure For All Diseases’) take the opposite view, and see many allergy symptoms as being a reaction to an infestation of parasites.
Excessive Cleanliness
The obsession with the danger of ‘germs’ is thought to have led to an increase in allergies. Much of this obsession with cleanliness seems to be driven by the media and advertising. Headlines about ‘killer bugs’, and advertisements that claim a product kills even more germs have led many people to buy more and more products to wipe out these dangerous enemies. A view now gaining ground among many researchers and some doctors is that a certain level of dirt is good for us, particularly during infancy and early childhood when the immune system is maturing.
T-helper cells in the immune system recognise foreign antigens and then secrete substances to activate other cells to fight the invader. In pregnancy the T-helper cells that attack invaders directly without producing antibodies (Th1 cells) are less active, as these could lead the mother’s system to reject the foetus. This means that the T-helper cells that are responsible for antibody reactions (Th2 cells) are more prominent. These are the ones that are involved in allergic reactions. The new baby’s immune system has the same emphasis as the mother’s had during pregnancy. It is believed that the exposure of the very young to some level of ‘dirt’ is beneficial in that it helps to rebalance the immune system to emphasise the T-helper cells that are not involved in the allergy process.
In an excellent article (‘New Scientist’ July 18th 1998) Garry Hamilton talks about ‘the gentler side of germs’. If the young are not exposed to ‘dirt’, the immune system does not go through this rebalancing process, and a tendency to allergy can result. Linda Gamblin in ‘The Allergy Bible’ cites several medical research projects, which support the idea of allowing children to be exposed to dirt and minor infections to help protect against allergies.
Vaccination
Our children are now being vaccinated against a bigger and bigger range of diseases. While some of these are serious, many are mild illnesses that were once considered part of a normal childhood. Many alternative practitioners consider that these childhood illnesses help to prime the immune system so that it is better able to cope with a whole range of illnesses later in life. This view is not accepted by most of the medical profession, and indeed it would be difficult to prove. However, there is some evidence that vaccination alters the ratio of T-helper cells and T-suppresser cells. This would be likely to have an effect on the vaccinated child’s susceptibility to allergy reactions. It is also known that most vaccines stimulate the branch of the immune system that is concerned with the more extreme immune reactions to invaders such as parasites (‘New Scientist’ July 18th 1998).
Ubiquitous Presence Of Some Foods
Before the advent of freezers and airfreight most people ate local foods in season. Now most fruit and vegetables are available all year round, so that our systems are exposed to the same foods continually without respite.
There has been a dramatic increase in people experiencing soya allergy, since soya has become a common ingredient in many processed foods. In Europe and North America rice allergy is relatively uncommon, whereas in Asia where it is consumed more frequently it is much more common.
Technological Developments
Developments that make modern life more comfortable have also led to an increase in allergies. With the advent of air conditioning, central heating and wall-to-wall carpeting house dust mites and moulds such as alternaria have an ideal environment in which to thrive. Modern offices with sealed windows mean that everyone is exposed to the perfumes worn by other people. The increasing use of plastics, formaldehyde, benzene etc. have led to all of us being exposed to an amazing variety of chemicals.
Contamination By Environmental Pollutants
The chemicals in diesel fumes are known to damage the outer membranes of pollens. This means that when the pollen is breathed in, the pollen proteins are immediately in much closer contact with the delicate membranes in the mouth, nose and lungs than they would be if the pollen had not been damaged in this way.
It has now also been suggested that the immune system is reacting to some harmless substances because they have been contaminated by environmental pollution: the immune system does not recognise the food, for example, if it has molecules from tyre rubber attached to it. These molecules sometimes appear similar to enzymes produced by parasites and so the immune system attacks the ‘parasite’.
Although more and more evidence is accumulating for a role for environmental pollutants, this does not explain why New Zealand, which is relatively unpolluted, has one of the highest incidences of asthma in the world.
Electro-Magnetic Pollution
An increase in electro-magnetic pollution has run parallel with the increase in allergies. The scientific jury is still out on the danger of mobile phones, power lines, etc., but many people are becoming more concerned about our constant exposure. People who are sensitive to computers, etc. often also show many symptoms typical of allergic individuals. In some cases correcting this sensitivity to electro-magnetic sources, results in all or most of the adverse reactions disappearing. (I recommend health kinesiology for this.)
Stress
The pace of life is quickening all the time: modern technology gives us more possibilities and many of us want to experience as many of these as we can. A survey found that half of the 950 young people in their 20′s interviewed said that they would feel a failure if they did not own a home by 26, were not married by 27 and not both rich and parents by 29. Many of the interviewees said they were prepared to sacrifice a healthy diet and way of life to achieve this. These expectations and pressures are not conducive to long-term health and can also lead to stress and allergies. Pre-packaged, processed foods eaten in front of the television, too much alcohol, too little fresh air and exercise all take their toll.
Sometimes particular traumatic events can explain a particular allergy. One of my clients was allergic to wool and tea. She told me that when she was a small child she had pulled a cup of hot tea on to herself. At the time she was wearing a wool sweater, and the tea soaked into the sweater and burnt her very badly.
Diet
It is now well known that bottle-fed babies are more likely to be prone to allergy problems than breast-fed ones. Sudden or early weaning can contribute to the problem too.
Sadly the modern diet may be abundant in calories, but there is more and more evidence that it is low in some important nutrients. People are eating more pre-processed foods, which may be nutritionally compromised.
Soil is becoming depleted of some minerals, because they have long been taken up by plants grown in the soil. If the mineral is not in the soil, it cannot be in the plant, and so it is not available in the foods we eat either.
It is unlikely that there is one simple answer as to why people are allergic, intolerant or sensitive in general or to particular substances. Research is still being carried out in this fascinating area. Fortunately with the tools that are available it is not necessary to know why someone has allergy problems in order to be able to detect and correct them.
Jane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, alternative medicine, and happiness. Visit her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com for tips and information on how to live a happier, healthier life no matter how busy you are.
What Exactly Are Allergies Anyway?
Saturday, November 6th, 2010The countless people who suffer from allergies know that they are a real inconvenience that can prevent you from living your life. Maybe you’re the person who is miserably sneezing and wheezing at the dust mites, while everyone around you feels just great. For a person who suffers from allergies, small things like dust, pollen, and food become the enemy.
Allergies can be tough to live with, but there is one weapon that can do more to defeat them than anything else: Knowledge. Knowing a few basic tips and making some minor lifestyle changes can truly make a world of difference in your war on allergies. Here are some of the basics on allergies, and how to battle them and emerge victorious.
What Exactly Are Allergies?
An allergy is an abnormal reaction from a person’s immune system. The substance that triggers the reaction is not typically a damaging one, but the body reacts as if it were. The triggers of allergic reactions can be many different things: House dust, pet dander, pollen, and various foods are some of the more common allergens. Allergies may change over time, and new allergies may develop as well.
An allergic reaction is triggered when three factors combine: First, an allergy prone person is exposed to an allergen. This can be as simple as breathing in one time, if the irritant is in the area. Second, the body’s natural defense against allergies, Immunoglobulin E, starts trying to fight off the antigen by attaching to the body’s mast cells. The third part of the process is what leaves you with watery itchy eyes, breathing problems, and sneezing.
In an allergic reaction, the mast cells start releasing massive amount of chemical irritants. These irritants will bring on the allergies. Then, to compound the problem (as if the beginning of the allergy attack were not enough!) the chemical irritants in the body start attracting white blood cells called eosinophils. The function of the eosinophils is to bring even more fun (not!) to the party since they bring additional inflammatory chemicals along with them.
What Causes Allergies?
We know how allergies happen, and we even know the steps involved in an allergy attack. The question that most allergy sufferers want to know: Why me? What is it that causes one person to be severely allergic while another is able to blissfully ignore allergens with nary a problem? It is still not completely clear why some people have allergies and other do not.
Heredity appears to play a big role in many cases, however (Thanks so much, mom and dad!). If you have parents or siblings with allergies, your own chances for having them are much higher. In some cases, allergy sufferers have no hereditary link, and it is just uncertain why the allergies happen. It is possible that air pollution, and the increasing use of recycled indoors air may be contributing factors. It has also been theorized that the widespread use of antibiotics may be a factor. Since the immune system is not occupied with fighting off serious infections thanks to the antibiotics, it may be more susceptible to less harmful substances like the typical allergens.
Allergy Prevention
Allergy prevention has to begin with allergy recognition. Once you have determined exactly what you are allergic to, you can practice prevention based on the problem. For environmental allergies such as pollen, simply avoiding exposure is one of the best preventative methods. This will require tracking of the pollen counts, and staying inside if they are unusually high. Keeping all windows closed and running the air conditioner is also a helpful pollen allergy prevention.
For those who suffer from dust allergies, there are several small changes you can make inside the home that will help prevent attacks. Using airtight plastic covers that will encase your pillows, mattress, and box spring will keep the dust mites away and allow you to sleep far more peacefully. If you have carpeting in your home, very frequent vacuuming with high efficiency filters will help keep the dust from building up. Changing furnace and air condition filters frequently can help as well.
Pet allergies can be prevented by isolating the pet if at all possible, bathing the pet very frequently (Nobody said this part would be fun!), and the use of HEPA filtration air cleaners. The best, and in fact the only, prevention for food allergies is avoidance of the food that causes the allergy. This takes a lot of diligence, and careful analysis of all foods you or your child eats.
Taylor Knight
Fellow Allergy Sufferer and Founder of AllergyNut.com
A Blog Dedicated to Recognizing, Preventing and Easing Symptoms for Allergy Sufferers.
Visit www.AllergyNut.com to learn more and/or ask questions about allergies.
Allergies in holistic healing medicine.
Friday, November 5th, 2010Allergies have become very common in our modern culture. They appear in the form of environmental allergies, chemical sensitivities or food allergies. Allergies can be annoying at best and life-threatening at worst. However, there are natural and holistic treatments to discover the cause of your allergies and cure for good.
Where come from allergies? Most often the cause can be found in liver and bowel dysfunction. Among many liver important jobs are; blood screening, removing toxins and distribute hormones. When liver function is stagnée, toxins are not removed blood faster and slows the flow of bile. Bile is important for proper digestion of food enter intestinal hail. When food is allowed to rot in the intestine that partially digested because of insufficient bile, intestinal mucosa may be corrupted. Biofilm (pockets of infection) form and damage the cells of the small intestinal brush border. These cells create barrier between what one intends to remain in the intestinal wall and blood and tissue located outside the wall. When intestinal permeability is increased due to damage to the lining of protection, tiny traces of foodstuffs or toxins, parasites, and intestinal bacteria can enter the blood stream causing immune response of the body. This damage is often called Leaky Gut Syndrome.Immune response will often cause allergies, as well as various autoimmune diseases and neurologiques.dommage cells border brush also inhibits the absorption of nutrients necessary keys to optimal health, slowing the ability of the body to heal.
Cure allergies requires the healing of the intestinal mucosa, removing bacteria, viruses and parasites and cleaning the liver. Reconstruction of intestinal integrity will be protect you against the reoccurence of allergies or other responses related immunitaires.Toutes these functions may be supplemented by the use of nutrients and herbs for several months.Holistic healing treats allergy symptoms and the cause by eliminating allergies for good.
Appropriate choice of life must be taken to preserve the health of the intestine and the foie.afin avoid common causes include:
~ Using antibiotics without probiotics to restore healthy intestinal flora
~ Diet of processed foods and refined sugar
~ Use of anti-inflammatory (aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen), control of births.
antacids, steroidal and drugs Temo.
~ Too drink alcohol.
~ Bad digestion (lack of digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid)
~ Lack of dietary fiber
~ Parasitic and bacterial infections
~ Lifestyle high stress
For more information on how you can cure your allergies to the right and achieve optimal health, please contact the Office at 407-328-6711
Kathy is a board certified and licensed doctor of Eastern medicine and acupuncture doctor being graduated with distinction of Florida College of Integrative Medicine.
Kathy has trained intensive in acupuncture, Chinese and Western herbology, nutrition, Acupoint Injection therapy, Mesotherapy, cosmetic acupuncture, QRA (Quantum Reflex Analysis), NeuroEmotional (NET) technique, emotional Repolarization therapy technique (ERT) and other modalities holistiques.Elle received specialized training in addiction and detox therapy and is certified as a specialist of detoxification of acupuncture (ADS) through the national acupuncture (NADA) detoxification association.
Visit his website for more information: http://www.cfpreventivemedicine.com
Allergy Treatment – What to Know
Thursday, November 4th, 2010If you suffer from allergies and are looking for allergy treatment, then you likely know that allergy treatment comes in a variety of forms. For one, allergy treatment can come from small lifestyle changes, such as a commitment to eating different foods or to avoiding certain situations. Allergy treatment can also come in the form of medicine, such as a shot or a pill. Here is a brief overview of these two most common types of allergy treatments:
Lifestyle change:
If you suffer from allergies, chances are good that the allergy is treatable if you change certain things about your lifestyle. While changing your lifestyle is not a long-term solution to allergy treatment, it can provide some relief to you. For example, if you suffer from an allergy to your pet, then you can easily cut out any interaction with the pet, or you can put the pet up for adoption. Likewise, if you suffer from an allergy to a certain food, then you can begin to avoid any encounters with that food.
Medicine:
You can use medicine as part of your allergy treatment if you suffer from a chronic allergy, such as an allergy to pollen, food or other airborne stimuli. The two types of medicine that are available for allergy sufferers are allergy shots (which are taken once a month in most cases) and allergy medicine, such as Claritin or Benedryl. Allergy treatments help to alleviate the symptoms, but cannot reverse the allergies within your body permanently.
Again, changing your lifestyle to suit your allergy will not act as a substitute for true allergy treatment., In fact, allergies, unlike some illnesses, are not permanently treatable. Instead, you must find solutions that will make you more comfortable. Some of these solutions do involve lifestyle changes. Others involve carefully monitoring some of your behavior, such as your food intake.
About the Author
Tamra Cantar is a freelance writer on topics of interest. To visit her blog on language development tips and ideas please visit SpeechTherapyWeb.com. To visit her aromatherapy blog, visit Aroma-Oil-Essentials.com.
Homeopathic Allergy Remedies – What Makes Them Different?
Thursday, November 4th, 2010Homeopathy is not like any other medical practice. Even its name states the difference right up front: “Homeo” is derived from the Greek word “homoios,” meaning similar. Allopathy-or the common, Western form of disease treatment-is derived from the root “allos”, meaning other, different, opposite.
The words are only the beginning of the difference. They define the manner of practice and often the results one can expect.
Allopathic practitioners treat their patients by inducing a “different disease” in the patient’s body in the hopes of warding off those symptoms that are afflicting them. Another way of saying it is that they introduce the “opposite” force, thereby suppressing the presenting symptoms, but not effectively curing the disease. An example is the use of an aspirin to force down a fever. It accomplishes the task of eliminating the symptom, but does not cure the disease process or heal the predisposed weakness of the organism. Another common occurrence is the suppression of a rash with cortisone. It may make the rash disappear for a time, but it does not cure the cause for it.
Homeopathic practitioners treat disease in a way that intends to facilitate a natural healing of the individual at the most elemental level and as gently as possible by using infinitesimally minute doses (often imperceptible to the microscope) of a substance. The way a practitioner chooses a remedy is via the principle of “like cures like.” What that means is that the remedy is composed of a substance or group of substances in very minute doses. When the remedy is given to a healthy person in a process called “proving,” it will produce a set of symptoms-such as tearing, sneezing, itchy eyes and a scratchy throat. When that remedy is given to a person WITH those symptoms, those symptoms clear up. It is a practice that was esteemed as far back as Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine.
One fellow, Brett Brunner, who runs a website on word etiologies, describes the beautiful ease of the law of similars with a personal story:
“Homeopathy is a way of treating a disease or ailment by etymologically giving a “similar disease” but in very small doses to the patient, in the hopes that the patient will develop a healthy immune response, and thereby be able to ward off the disease; for instance, I was once highly allergic to cats, and so, before I visited people’s homes who had cats, I used to ingest drops that mimicked cat dander to allow my immune system to build up a homeopathic response. At times this appeared to be highly effective, and it is true that I am no longer allergic to cats!”
Homeopathic allergy remedies are quite different than the typical allergy vaccination even though on the surface they may appear the same. Regular vaccines introduce a gross quantity of the offending material into the system and, as a result, overwhelm rather than strengthen the organism.
Homeopathic allergy remedies, such as the ones now introduced by Allergena, use such radically diluted and succussed substances that they are able to gently induce the desired response in the individual and promote overall health without the overload on the immune system.
Statistics for Allergies and Hope With Allergy Remedies Prepared by Region
The principle of the treatment of the individual is critically important in homeopathy and equally so when it comes to alleviating the discomfort of allergies. What ails someone in New York is not the same as what discomfits a fellow in Houston. The triggers are different, thus the remedies must be different. For instance, junipers grow all over the country. Just as cedars and shrub oaks do. But the specific species are different. Thus the pollen produced in a New Mexico juniper is not the same as the pollen produced in New York. A geographical approach is not just neat and tidy. It is good science.
And, as the statistics show, there is a great deal of discomfort to alleviate and more than a few triggers for allergy sufferers. The most recent data from the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America estimates that more than 50 million Americans suffer from one or more allergies. That’s more than 20 percent. This number has been growing every year.
It is the fifth leading chronic disease in the United States for all ages and the third most in children under 18 years of age.
There are indoor allergies, outdoor allergies, skin allergies and chemical (or food and drug) allergies. Traditional medicine considers all allergies (see aafa.org documents) “incurable” and that they are just “manageable” with certain medications. For the 40 million Americans who suffer from air-born allergy triggers (trees, grasses, mold spores, dander, etc…), that does not offer much help or hope.
Homeopathy takes a different view and offers considerable hope of relief from the oppressive symptoms of allergies.
Allergena products, for instance, offer allergy relief in combination homeopathic form that is tailored to meet the needs of individuals with allergies in each of the nine geographic zones in the United States.
Let’s say you live in the Southwest. That would be zone 6 and would include Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. It’s hard for some people to imagine what could give someone allergy symptoms in a desert…but there are over 120 different extracts of trees, weeds and grasses that Allergena has homeopathically prepared to minimize a person’s sensitivity to any or all of those triggers. And there are a great many allergies (and allergy sufferers!)-even in the deserts of the southwest.
According to pre-market testing of these homeopathic allergy remedies that have been crafted for use by region, people are experiencing relief during the first two weeks of use, while others experience relief during the first six weeks.
How Do Homeopathic Allergy Remedies Work?
Very simply. You would start either with a private practitioner for a classical remedy prescription based on a comprehensive constitutional assessment or you could choose an allergy remedy over the counter like Allergena which is prepared for use by geographic region. When using combination remedies like Allergena, the process usually involves taking the remedy repeatedly over a course of weeks. For severe and long-term allergy sufferers, manufacturers recommend that you begin two weeks prior to allergy season taking 15 drops under the tongue, three times a day. Two weeks after the season has ended, they recommend reducing intake to 15 drops under the tongue, twice daily. Some experts recommend year-round usage for people living in more temperate, milder climates who are sensitive to plants growing and therefore pollinating all year. In colder climates where plants go dormant, the allergy remedies can be stopped during the winter.
The allergy remedy, chosen properly for your region and needs, should begin to show results fairly quickly. For some extreme sufferers, a heightened allergic response may immediately ensue following administration of the product. Manufacturers and practitioners of combination homeopathic remedies assure users that the response can be normal and that there is no reason to be alarmed. If a person experiences a headache after taking an Allergena allergy remedy, he may reduce his dose to a tolerable level (fewer drops, fewer times given over the course of the day), then slowly increase over a period of a couple of weeks. It’s always advisable to read the label carefully and remember that tinctures contain alcohol.
These regional allergy remedies may be taken along with any allopathic medication you are required to take. There are no known adverse reactions when taking Allergena remedies along with other medications for allergies so that people can feel safe as they move toward feeling overall more vital and healthy.
Steve Karr works as a consultant to Progena Professional Formulations to help inform the general public about immune health products that have in the past been available only to medical professionals. To learn more about Progena’s homeopathic allergy remedy, Allergena, please visit http://bestallergyremedies.org




