What is an Allergy?
Allergies are basically reactions by the body to certain stimuli in the environment, and are caused or triggered by allergens. The immune system mistakenly reacts, or overreacts, to an allergen and produces antibodies to fight the invader. This produces a range of responses in the body, espeically inflammation and swelling. Typical symptoms range from coughing, diarrhoea, headaches, irritated eyes, respiratory problems, skin irritations, sneezing and stomach pains; to vomiting and a runny nose. Some common allergies include hay fever, asthma, eczema, hives and food allergies. Allergies affect increasing numbers of people, with increased levels of personal hygiene believed to be one of the contributing factors – though it is also thought to be an inherited condition.
Common Allergens
There are a range of allergens, the most of which are proteins and can include:
- Alcohol
- Animal fur and skin
- Foodstuffs, including peanuts, fish and dairy products
- Household and industrial chemicals
- Insects, including dust mites and the sting of bees and wasps
- Medications, including aspirin and some prescription drugs
- Mould spores; and
- Pollen from grasses and plants
What is Naturopathy?
Naturopathy is a holistic approach to human health, utilising non-invasive therapies and treatments to help support the body and ensure it remains resilient to illness, disease and infection. An initial consultation with a naturopath will typically involve a lengthy assessment of patient’s health examining all elements in an attempt to identify the root cause of the problem. This is in contrast to the conventional medical approach which is most often concerned with medicating the obvious or apparent symptoms.
Naturopathic Treatment
Once a diagnosis has been made a range of treatment options are available, including the following modalities:
- Blood Analysis
- Counselling
- Herbal medicine
- Homeopathy
- Iridology
- Massage; and
- Nutrition
Naturopathy for Allergies
The naturopathic approach to treating allergies is often centred on supporting immune and digestive functions. The following natural therapies or treatments may be utilised to treat and alleviate a range of allergy symptoms:
- Herbal Medicine – herbal remedies with an antihistamine or anti-inflammatory effect can be utilised to good effect, and relive the symptoms of an allergy. Milk thistle and stinging nestles are especially effective in this regard.
- Homeopathy – a range of homeopathic remedies are used to relive runny noses and congested airways, and should be sourced from an accredited naturopath or homoepath
- Nutrition – the most common approach here is the use of elimination diets to determine the cause of an allergy, or exclusion diets to ensure a known irritant is not part of the patients regular diet. A balanced diet is also sensible to maintain overall health and immune function.
Locate a naturopath in your local area on the pages of this site.
Originally published on Sep 03, 2010
