Hay Fever: What It Is and How It Affects You
September 28, 2009 by admin
Filed under Alternative Medicine
Raily Arena asked:
Hay fever, also known as Allergic Rhinitis, is a common form of allergy that people have been suffering from for many decades. Health experts estimate that about 50 million people chronically suffer from this type of nasal allergy. If you frequently experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, red, swollen eyes and frequent colds, you could have Allergic Rhinitis. Oftentimes, it takes only small particles such as pollen to affect the human body in many ways. Some of these effects include:
- Throat itchiness that may be intermittent or continuous
- Laryngitis or hoarseness due to pollen affecting the larynx
- RAD or Reactive Airway Disease, a prolonged respiratory irritation characterized by difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing
- Asthma attacks – often times, your doctor will diagnose RAD before he diagnoses asthma
- Postnasal drainage, which could lead to sore throat because of fluids flowing into and irritating the throat
- Nasal salute, particularly in young children; characterized by a red crease across the nose due to constant rubbing, wiping and scratching
- Allergic conjunctivitis, which can lead to redness, itchiness and teary eyes
- Darkened areas around the eyes
- Headaches
- General fatigue
Why symptoms occur
When exposed to foreign substances such as allergens, the immune system becomes hyper-sensitive and the body reacts. This is the same kind of reaction that happens when the human body is invaded by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Once the body is exposed to these types of allergens, it produces substances called histamines which causes inflammation, production of mucus and other symptoms associated with hay fever.
Causes of hay fever
Although pollen is the most common cause of allergies that lead to hay fever, there are other substances that can trigger symptoms as well. These include dust, molds, pet dander, insects and food. Although hay fever symptoms can easily be detected, proper diagnosis by a qualified physician is the best way for correct assessment of the condition.
Testing for hay fever allergies
The most common method of determining allergies is skin testing, wherein a minuscule amount of allergen is introduced into the skin to produce a reaction. The doctor will then try to determine if cross-sensitivity is present, such as when allergies are caused by varying substances with similar protein structures.
Controlling symptoms
As a first step, people with allergies are adviced to avoid or at least minimize contact with substances and items that may trigger an attack. It’s also important to be aware of your environment and to perform tasks necessary to reduce allergens, avoid work that might aggravate your sensitive skin and protect your body. With the correct knowledge and treatment regarding Allergic Rhinitis, there is no reason why it cannot be managed efficiently.
Hay fever, also known as Allergic Rhinitis, is a common form of allergy that people have been suffering from for many decades. Health experts estimate that about 50 million people chronically suffer from this type of nasal allergy. If you frequently experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, postnasal drip, red, swollen eyes and frequent colds, you could have Allergic Rhinitis. Oftentimes, it takes only small particles such as pollen to affect the human body in many ways. Some of these effects include:
- Throat itchiness that may be intermittent or continuous
- Laryngitis or hoarseness due to pollen affecting the larynx
- RAD or Reactive Airway Disease, a prolonged respiratory irritation characterized by difficulty breathing, chest tightness, wheezing and coughing
- Asthma attacks – often times, your doctor will diagnose RAD before he diagnoses asthma
- Postnasal drainage, which could lead to sore throat because of fluids flowing into and irritating the throat
- Nasal salute, particularly in young children; characterized by a red crease across the nose due to constant rubbing, wiping and scratching
- Allergic conjunctivitis, which can lead to redness, itchiness and teary eyes
- Darkened areas around the eyes
- Headaches
- General fatigue
Why symptoms occur
When exposed to foreign substances such as allergens, the immune system becomes hyper-sensitive and the body reacts. This is the same kind of reaction that happens when the human body is invaded by microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. Once the body is exposed to these types of allergens, it produces substances called histamines which causes inflammation, production of mucus and other symptoms associated with hay fever.
Causes of hay fever
Although pollen is the most common cause of allergies that lead to hay fever, there are other substances that can trigger symptoms as well. These include dust, molds, pet dander, insects and food. Although hay fever symptoms can easily be detected, proper diagnosis by a qualified physician is the best way for correct assessment of the condition.
Testing for hay fever allergies
The most common method of determining allergies is skin testing, wherein a minuscule amount of allergen is introduced into the skin to produce a reaction. The doctor will then try to determine if cross-sensitivity is present, such as when allergies are caused by varying substances with similar protein structures.
Controlling symptoms
As a first step, people with allergies are adviced to avoid or at least minimize contact with substances and items that may trigger an attack. It’s also important to be aware of your environment and to perform tasks necessary to reduce allergens, avoid work that might aggravate your sensitive skin and protect your body. With the correct knowledge and treatment regarding Allergic Rhinitis, there is no reason why it cannot be managed efficiently.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Allergic Rhinitis
July 3, 2009 by admin
Filed under Alternative Medicine
Rajesh Nair asked:
Allergic rhinitis is used to describe an inflammation of the lining of the nose caused by an allergy. The symptoms include a ‘runny’ nose and sneezing, nose, roof of the mouth, and the ears, may be itchy.
Ayurveda believes in three doshas, which are vata, pitta, and kapha, an imbalance in which results in a disease. Ayurveda has the faith that allergy or Sheetpitta is variety of unwholesome condition of pitta. In this condition the pitta loses its natural warmth.
It can occur when you eat spices or hot food, drink caffeine, or are exposed to irritant chemicals, such as tobacco smoke or perfume. It also occurs due to airborne allergens, such as pollen of all types, house-dust mites and their faeces, mould spores, animal dander and feather and household sprays.
Allergic rhinitis can best be taken care of by taking certain dietary and lifestyle precautions. Some of them are:
Certain foods are more mucous producing and Ayurvedic medicine recognizes those foods as Kapha foods thus aggravating allergies like dairy, wheat, sugar, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, bananas, oranges, and grapefruits. Food additives like artificial dyes and different preservatives also play major factors
Home environment such as forced air, gas heat, pets and carpet which harbors dust mites, molds, bacteria along with many chemicals are certainly aggravating factors.
Dry grains like chickpeas, kala channa, corn, fish like salmon, trout, cod are better choices. Tea with cardamom, pepper and ginger, lemon juice and honey work effectively. Diet rich in lots of fruits and vegetable of different colors are recommended.
Carpets are one of the major contributors to allergies as they breed dust mites. The best choice is to remove the carpet, which eliminates the area for the dust mites to breed also use pillows with micro fiber.
Yoga -The Sheetpitta of respiratory system like Rhinitis can be cured by the regular practice of certain type of Pranayamas like Bhastrika, ujjai.
Panchakarma-Vaman (the emesis therapy) and Virechan therapy (the laxatives therapy) are very effective to detoxify the body.
Allergic Rhinitis from an Ayurvedic perspective is due to the toxins present in the body (ama) and due to the low immunity. Ama aggravates the levels of Pitta and Kapha in the body, giving rise to different symptoms of allergies. Ayurveda considers this as a Kapha-Pitta disorder.
Ayurveda believes in balancing the three doshas present in the human body thus treating the disease on the whole. Therefore it suggests the following approaches to get rid of allergic rhinitis:
1. A slice of ginger, pepper and cardamom can be added while preparing tea. Dried ginger can be also added to coffee without milk and taken.
2. Mix honey with half the amount of lemon juice and take the mixture early in the morning for few weeks.
3. Take two spoons of Apple cider vinegar and a bit of honey to a glass of cooled boiled water and take it early in the morning.
4. Have a diet rich in vitamin C and vitamin B.
5. Take chamomile tea twice a day.
6. Take one cup of Indian gooseberry and mix with two tsp of honey. Have it twice a day.
7. Pouring two to three drops of coconut oil into the nostrils at bedtime could provide relief.
8. Ayurvedic treatment procedure involves inducing therapeutic vomiting which helps in balancing Kapha.
9. Herbs like santalum, cardamom and licorice can be boiled in water (ratio 1:4) and reduced to quarter of the quantity. Drinking this often will help in preventing the aggravation of Pitta dosha.
10. Taking two tablets of guduchi thrice a day or consuming tea made of camphor, cloves and basil for about two weeks will help prevent the aggravation of Kapha.
11. Consuming herbs like Evening Primrose, nettle and Butterbur are also useful in treating allergic rhinitis.
12. Amrutharishta, Sudarsanasava, Dasamoola kaduthryam qwath, Indukantham qwath, Amruthotharam qwath, Septilin tablet and syrup, Step syrup and tablet etc are the commonly used medicines.
Allergic rhinitis is used to describe an inflammation of the lining of the nose caused by an allergy. The symptoms include a ‘runny’ nose and sneezing, nose, roof of the mouth, and the ears, may be itchy.
Ayurveda believes in three doshas, which are vata, pitta, and kapha, an imbalance in which results in a disease. Ayurveda has the faith that allergy or Sheetpitta is variety of unwholesome condition of pitta. In this condition the pitta loses its natural warmth.
It can occur when you eat spices or hot food, drink caffeine, or are exposed to irritant chemicals, such as tobacco smoke or perfume. It also occurs due to airborne allergens, such as pollen of all types, house-dust mites and their faeces, mould spores, animal dander and feather and household sprays.
Allergic rhinitis can best be taken care of by taking certain dietary and lifestyle precautions. Some of them are:
Certain foods are more mucous producing and Ayurvedic medicine recognizes those foods as Kapha foods thus aggravating allergies like dairy, wheat, sugar, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, bananas, oranges, and grapefruits. Food additives like artificial dyes and different preservatives also play major factors
Home environment such as forced air, gas heat, pets and carpet which harbors dust mites, molds, bacteria along with many chemicals are certainly aggravating factors.
Dry grains like chickpeas, kala channa, corn, fish like salmon, trout, cod are better choices. Tea with cardamom, pepper and ginger, lemon juice and honey work effectively. Diet rich in lots of fruits and vegetable of different colors are recommended.
Carpets are one of the major contributors to allergies as they breed dust mites. The best choice is to remove the carpet, which eliminates the area for the dust mites to breed also use pillows with micro fiber.
Yoga -The Sheetpitta of respiratory system like Rhinitis can be cured by the regular practice of certain type of Pranayamas like Bhastrika, ujjai.
Panchakarma-Vaman (the emesis therapy) and Virechan therapy (the laxatives therapy) are very effective to detoxify the body.
Allergic Rhinitis from an Ayurvedic perspective is due to the toxins present in the body (ama) and due to the low immunity. Ama aggravates the levels of Pitta and Kapha in the body, giving rise to different symptoms of allergies. Ayurveda considers this as a Kapha-Pitta disorder.
Ayurveda believes in balancing the three doshas present in the human body thus treating the disease on the whole. Therefore it suggests the following approaches to get rid of allergic rhinitis:
1. A slice of ginger, pepper and cardamom can be added while preparing tea. Dried ginger can be also added to coffee without milk and taken.
2. Mix honey with half the amount of lemon juice and take the mixture early in the morning for few weeks.
3. Take two spoons of Apple cider vinegar and a bit of honey to a glass of cooled boiled water and take it early in the morning.
4. Have a diet rich in vitamin C and vitamin B.
5. Take chamomile tea twice a day.
6. Take one cup of Indian gooseberry and mix with two tsp of honey. Have it twice a day.
7. Pouring two to three drops of coconut oil into the nostrils at bedtime could provide relief.
8. Ayurvedic treatment procedure involves inducing therapeutic vomiting which helps in balancing Kapha.
9. Herbs like santalum, cardamom and licorice can be boiled in water (ratio 1:4) and reduced to quarter of the quantity. Drinking this often will help in preventing the aggravation of Pitta dosha.
10. Taking two tablets of guduchi thrice a day or consuming tea made of camphor, cloves and basil for about two weeks will help prevent the aggravation of Kapha.
11. Consuming herbs like Evening Primrose, nettle and Butterbur are also useful in treating allergic rhinitis.
12. Amrutharishta, Sudarsanasava, Dasamoola kaduthryam qwath, Indukantham qwath, Amruthotharam qwath, Septilin tablet and syrup, Step syrup and tablet etc are the commonly used medicines.
