| What are allergies? Allergies are a response of the | | | | The fourth and most major step is immunotherapy, |
| immune system to outside influences, whether | | | | that is, a program of allergy shots. |
| environmental or ingested. In an immune reaction, the | | | | Natural approaches to treating allergies: Again, the |
| body mobilizes itself to fight off a perceived threat. | | | | first step in treating an allergy - or even reducing the |
| This reaction generates inflammation. Approximately | | | | chance of developing one - is determining what |
| one third of Americans suffer from allergies, although | | | | generates the response. The second step is |
| immune system responses vary from mild, as in | | | | avoidance. Limit the potential allergens in your |
| sneezing or coughing, to severe, as in an anaphylactic | | | | environment with purified air, purified water, |
| reaction (affecting one's lungs). Allergies can be | | | | non-allergenic, environmentally friendly household and |
| exacerbated by both physical and psychological | | | | clothes cleaning products, etc. Check your car and |
| stress. | | | | your ventilation system. Remove yourself from those |
| Things that cause an allergic reaction in one person | | | | things, which are known allergens for you. |
| cause no reaction in another person. Almost anything | | | | Along with the idea of detoxifying your environment |
| in the world can cause an allergic reaction for | | | | is the idea of detoxifying yourself through fasting, |
| someone somewhere in the world. There are a | | | | hydrotherapy or other methods. Also avoid stress |
| common set of "allergens", however and these | | | | and stimulants. |
| include pollen, dust, mold, animal fur, insect venom, | | | | For allergies affecting the respiratory system, |
| chemicals found in household products, chemicals | | | | breathing exercises and relaxation techniques can be |
| found in foods, certain medications and various foods. | | | | helpful. Most of us think that breathing comes |
| Types of allergies: Allergies can be classified by the | | | | naturally - that we don't need to focus on it or do |
| body part or function they affect. Some allergies | | | | anything special. Yet as anyone knows who |
| affect the respiratory system, causing difficulty | | | | meditates or does yoga, one of the first steps is to |
| breathing or generating coughing and sneezing. Other | | | | learn how to pay attention to the breath, how to |
| allergies cause external inflammation such as skin | | | | take deep, and cleansing breaths. This kind of |
| rashes or eruptions or eye irritation. Finally, others | | | | relaxation and deep breathing can help to open-air |
| disturb the gastro-intestinal system, causing bloating | | | | passageways - and can reduce the stress that |
| or distension or other intestinal distress. What these | | | | intensifies allergic responses. |
| three types of allergies have in common is that all are | | | | For food allergies, a helpful step is to vary the diet - |
| the reaction of an overly active immune system to | | | | do not eat the same foods repeatedly, day after |
| substances external to the human organism. The | | | | day. Another step is to engage in an elimination diet, |
| inflammation that results, even when mild, adds | | | | a systematic approach to eating in order to identify |
| stress to immune functioning and makes people more | | | | foods that cause allergic or proto-allergic responses. |
| susceptible to other illnesses. | | | | A program of immunotherapy with an environmental |
| The role of inflammation in degenerative diseases of | | | | physician might include vaccines to help the body |
| aging a system response that causes inflammation is | | | | make antibodies against particular allergens. |
| the primary characteristic of an allergy. We now | | | | Another step is to take supplements, especially those |
| recognize that inflammation contributes to earlier | | | | supplements that help build the immune system: |
| onset and more rapid progression of many diseases | | | | vitamins A, C, D, E, B Complex, selenium and others. |
| of aging, including diabetes, Alzheimer's, some forms | | | | Essential fatty acids play an important role in |
| of cancer, heart disease - and even, according to Dr. | | | | restoring immunity. Magnesium relaxes the bronchial |
| Perricone (The Perricone Promise), skin wrinkling. A | | | | tubes so can be helpful in respiratory system allergic |
| person who is striving toward good health must | | | | responses. Astralagus and ecchinacea increase the |
| therefore pay attention to any systemic issue that | | | | number and activity of immune cells. |
| results in inflammation and find ways to eliminate, | | | | Conclusion Allergies can be somewhat annoying and |
| reduce or control that inflammation. Many medical | | | | inhibit one's lifestyle minimally - or they can be |
| specialists and health advisors, one of them Dr. Irwin | | | | dangerous, as in asthmatic attacks or anaphylactic |
| Weil, are now recommending and outlining | | | | reactions. There are many steps a person can take |
| "anti-inflammatory diets" as part of basic good health. | | | | on his or her own to determine what environmental |
| Western medical approaches to treating allergies: The | | | | or food factors are acting as allergens and to |
| first step, and this step is common to both medical | | | | eliminate them from one's environment. It is good |
| and alternative natural approaches, is to figure out | | | | general health practice to make the surroundings and |
| what generates allergic responses. This can be done | | | | foods one eats as allergen-free and toxin-free as |
| in consultation with a doctor and/or by keeping a | | | | possible. As we reduce sources of inflammation that |
| diary of negative physical reactions. | | | | surround us in today's world and in the food supply, |
| The second step, another common to both medical | | | | we improve our health and longevity. |
| and alternative natural approaches, is avoidance. | | | | On the other hand, at some point and in some cases, |
| Increasingly potential toxins and allergens surround us. | | | | it may be necessary to consult with a physician, |
| Reduce exposure as much as possible by examining | | | | either a western-trained medical doctor or one who |
| every aspect of your life with particular attention to | | | | offers alternative and/or natural therapies. You will |
| those substances, which you know are troublesome | | | | know when the time is right for this and the |
| to you. Be aware of what is in the substances used | | | | information you have gained through observing your |
| to clean clothing, clean your home, in the air and | | | | own reactions and cleaning up your environment and |
| water in your particular location and at various | | | | lifestyle will help when you see that doctor. |
| seasons of the year, added to foods that you eat, | | | | Whether your allergies are mild or severe and life |
| especially processed foods. Become a label reader. | | | | threatening, identifying them, monitoring them and |
| The third step is medication, whether prescribed or | | | | reducing or eliminating the inflammation that |
| over-the-counter. Of course any prescription is done | | | | accompanies them will prolong your life. |
| in consultation with a doctor, possibly an allergist. | | | | |