Allergies

See also :

• Overactive Immune System
• Rhinitis
• Rhinorrhea
• Hives
• Post Nasal Drip
• Asthma
• Gluten Sensitivity

Home remedies

• Stinging Nettle leaf : An herb called stinging nettle leaf reduces the amount of histamine the body produces, reducing sneezing and itching due to hay fever. Stinging nettle leaf extract in freeze-dried capsule form can be taken in a dose of 300 milligrams daily.
• Elderberry : Active ingredients in elderberry also support the sinuses by discouraging swelling of the mucous membranes. This benefit makes elderberry an excellent tool for supporting health while combating seasonal allergy symptoms. It naturally protects defenses by keeping bacteria in check, and it has also been used to deter sinusitis and nasal congestion
• Serrapeptase : This natural enzyme supplement offers help for allergies, asthma, arthritis, MS, and other inflammatory diseases.
• Spirulina holds some promise in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) and eating spirulina every day significantly improves allergy symtoms.
• Butterbur extract and spirulina may help treat hay fever symptoms.
• Eat Foods Rich in Anthocyanins : The phytonutrient group known as anthocyanins give foods their purplish-red color. They have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Anthocyanins are found in most dark red and purple-colored foods. Some food sources include: beets, berries, cherries, and dark purple and red grapes.
• Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a yellow-colored spice commonly found in Indian curries. It contains the active ingredient curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance.
• Hesperetin/Hesperidin for Hay Fever : Hesperetin and hesperidin are almost identical except that the latter is bound to a sugar molecule. Research shows that these potent phytonutrients have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and cholesterol-lowering actions, and also protect blood vessels against damage. These are just some of the therapeutic side-effects of hesperidin. Hesperidin is also beneficial for allergies and hay fever because of its antihistamine properties. Green vegetables are a source of hesperidin / hesperetin. You can also find them in their highest concentration in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges, especially the white part, or pith. Of course, avoid citrus fruits if you suspect that you are sensitive to them.
• Quercetin is a bioflavonoid, a phytochemical found in plant foods such as apples, onions, berries, grapes, teas, and red wine that supports the immune system and acts as a natural antihistamine. A normal healthy diet will provide about 25-50 milligrams of quercetin; if you choose to supplement this, be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the bottle.
• Amylase Possesses antihistamine properties amylase can relieve many kinds of skin problems, such as hives and rashes, contact dermatitis, and allergic reactions to bee stings, bug bites, and poison oak or ivy.
• Black Seed Oil : A paper published from Institute for Transfusion Medicine, Charité University Hospital, Berlin, Germany examined the results of four studies on the clinical efficacy of Nigella sativa in allergic diseases including in these studies, a total of 152 patients with allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, atopic eczema) were treated with Nigella sativa oil.
• Carotenoids : In a 2006 study from Public Health Nutrition, scientists found that allergies are less common among people with a high intake of carotenoids (a class of antioxidants that includes beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene).
• Capers are rich in the bioflavonoids rutin and quercetin (also found in apples, red onion and tea), both of which have antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties. Quercetin is particularly effective as an anti-allergy remedy when taken with bromelain; an enzyme found naturally in pineapple.
• Chamomile tea is reputed to relieve hay fever symptoms. Some herbalists suggest smearing chamomile and lemon oil on a tissue and inhaling to prevent hay fever symptoms.
• Ginkgo Biloba is a versatile herb that can be used for a variety of conditions, including glaucoma, bronchitis, asthma, seasonal allergies, tinnitus, and poor blood circulation. Some references also describe ginkgo as a natural antihistamine. It is considered a tonic herb in Ayurveda, meaning it helps restore balance in the body.
• Ginger tea and raw honey works to break up chest congestion and loosen phlegm. It strengthens the immune system and acts as a natural antihistamine.
• Green Tea blocks the production of histamine and is one of the best homemade remedies for building the immune system.
• Peppermint tea relieves nasal and sinus congestion. Drink it cold to sooth coughing associated with hay fever and allergies. Spearmint and peppermint help open up airways.
• Lavender has antiseptic properties in case infection creeps in (calendula is great for this too).
• Oregano : its carvacrol and rosmarinic acid content are natural decongestants and histamine reducers that have direct, positive benefits on the respiratory tract and nasal passage airflow.
• Collard greens Collard greens contain phytochemicals, specifically carotenoids. This component is well known for easing allergic reactions. To further boost the effects of carotenoids contained in collard greens, allergy stricken individuals should consume the vegetable with a fat source.
• Butterbur reduces inflammation, blocking histamines and leukotrienes. Studies suggest the herb is effective for relieving sneezing, itchy eyes, sinus congestion and headaches. People allergic to ragweed or chrysanthemum should avoid butterbur.
• Goldenseal(Hydrastis canadensis): Goldenseal may be helpful for seasonal allergies. Laboratory studies suggest that berberine, the active ingredient in goldenseal, has antibacterial and immune-enhancing properties.
• Eyebright is helpful for a whole slew of sinus issues and especially good for hay fever.
• Yerba Santa acts as an expectorant, reducing mucous and phlegm.
• Jewelweed has been used for centuries by Native Americans as a natural approach to poison ivy. The allergic response generated by poison ivy is what is known as a histamine reaction. The natural chemical constituents of jewelweed appear to act much like corticosteroids, compounds that inhibit or “block” this histamine reaction. This may also apply to other histamine reactions, such as those that occur with contact dermatitis and bee stings.
• Beta glucan not only helps ease seasonal allergies, but also perennial allergies. It works year round!
• Lemongrass and a pinch of stevia are there to help make the tea tasty.
• Stay Hydrated : It is recommended to increase intake of fluid so that the amount of histamine in the body is decreased while the antibody is increased, which can help in avoiding the effects of spring allergy.
• Eat Vegetables : Do not take just any vegetables; take fruity vegetables when you want to avoid the symptoms of spring allergy. Children who eat a diet rich in fish and “fruity” vegetables are less likely to suffer from allergies. Fruity vegetables have seeds and come from flowering plants, such as zucchini, eggplant, green beans, butternut squash and tomatoes.
• Take Probiotics : There is a current rage on probiotics these days. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are added in food products to provide health benefits to the host organism, such as human. In a study made by the Institute of Food Research, ingestion of probiotic foods has reduced the reaction of the body towards allergens. The molecules that are also implicated in the development of allergies are lowered with increased probiotic consumption. Allergic reactions are produced when there is increasing number of histamine in the body. Histamine production is triggered by the IgE, the immunoglobulin produced when pollen materials enter the body. While it is normal reaction for the body to defend itself, it is quite bothersome. Drinking high amounts of probiotics will inhibit the over production of histamine, in spite the increasing allergens in the environment that enters the body.
• Licorice : Eating licorice may cause allergy to some people, but licorice can also be helpful to those who are suffering from spring allergy. The component called glycyrrhizin, isoliquiritin, liquiritigenin and 18beta-glycyrrhetinic are what gives licorice the anti-allergic properties. Licorice can relive the symptoms that are commonly associated with the IgE reactions, such as asthma and dermatitis.
• Panax Ginseng : the ginsenoside compounds found in ginseng help to significantly reduce inflammatory factors that can trigger both allergies and more serious health conditions. This dual effect has also been shown to help prevent the development of cancer tumors.
• Reduce dairy consumption : One of the most effective ways to ease environmental allergy symptoms is to completely remove dairy from your diet. Dairy is a mucus-producing food and is considered quite inflammatory. Try completely eliminating cow's milk products from your diet for two months and see if it makes a difference.
• Other food allergies : Many health practitioners agree that seasonal allergies may be related to food allergies or sensitivities. If you've tried removing dairy products from your diet and found no relief, you may want to try an elimination diet. This will involve eliminating from your diet for a period of time the foods that most commonly create an immune reaction. In addition to milk, these include eggs, nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. A nutrition professional can help guide you through an elimination diet.
• Honey : Many allergy sufferers swear by eating honey that has been produced in an area local to them to help control hay fever.
• Omega-3 fatty acids : These help control inflammation and are available in a small number of foods, including cold-water fish such as wild salmon and tuna, walnuts, and flax seeds and flax seed oil. To be sure you're getting enough of this important nutrient, eat two servings of wild salmon each week, or supplement with cod liver oil or fish oil capsules.
• Reduce your intake of omega-6 fats – In addition to adding omega-3 fats to your diet, you also want to reduce the amount of omega-6 fats you consume because the ratio between these two fats is very important. If you eat processed foods daily, the balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fats will become distorted, which can cause the type of inflammation that leads to asthma.
• Avoid pasteurized milk products, which are notorious for increasing phlegm and making asthma worse.
• Limit your exposure : If you are a chronic allergy sufferer, avoid exercising outdoors, especially in the early morning, when pollen counts are highest. Avoid the outdoors particularly on windy days if your allergies are severe. Keep home and car windows closed, and wear a mask while performing yard work. You can take this a step further by limiting your exposure to toxins that may cause sensitivity, such as perfumes, household cleaning and laundry products, and scented candles and room deodorizers.
• Neti pots have been used in India for thousands of years to keep the sinuses clear and seem to be gaining popularity here in the U.S. They are shaped similar to Aladdin's lamp, inexpensive, and available and health food stores and many drugstores. Instructions will be included in the box, but basically, you'll fill the neti pot using a mixture of non-iodized salt and lukewarm water and, leaning your head over the sink, pour half the saltwater mixture into one nostril, let it drain, and repeat on the other side with the remaining mixture. Use your neti pot twice a day during allergy season, especially after you've been outdoors.
• Quercetin is a type of antioxidant called a flavonoid. Although there is still isn't enough research to conclude that quercetin is an effective allergy remedy, it is thought to prevent the release of the inflammatory chemical histamine, which is involved in allergy symptoms such as sneezing and itching.
• Carotenoids are a family of plant pigments, the most popular being beta-carotene. Although no randomized controlled trials show that carotenoids are effective remedies for allergies, a lack of carotenoids in the diet is thought to promote inflammation in your airways.
• Vitamin C : During allergy season, increase your daily intake of vitamin C, which enhances the immune system. Most people can safely take up to 2,000 milligrams per day for short periods of time.
• Essential oils : To ease congestion, add a few drops of an essential oil such as eucalyptus, peppermint, sage, lavender, or tea tree oil to two cups of boiling water and inhale the steam.
• Water and salt : If you find yourself in the middle of a severe allergy attack, try this home remedy: drink an 8-ounce glass of water followed by a pinch of salt on the tongue every 15 to 30 minutes until your symptoms subside.
• Bromelain : researchers found that bromelain (a mixture of enzymes available in some plants) may improve some symptoms of seasonal allergies. Bromelain can be found in pineapple and papaya.
• Cleaning everything in house thoroughly to remove dust, mold, and sap can help.
• Homeopathy
  • Allium Cepa
  • Arsenicum Iodatum
  • Ambrosia Artemisiefolia
  • Napthalinum
  • Sabadilla
• Auriculotherapy, also called auricular therapy (applying pressure on various points on your outer ear) is helpfull to fight stress, pain, allergies, High Blood Pressure, insomnia, excess weight, diabetes, Drug Abuse,...

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.