Combating Allergies

When you think of allergy problems,, you think of cats, nuts and bee stings. Sure there were people you went to school with who were allergic to everything, but now it seems like everyone around you has an allergy, or two. Perhaps it’s the combination of airborne issues in our daily lives including smoke, exhaust, byproducts of chemical and manufacturer production, not to mention all the artificial dyes, fragrances and additives in our food. Usually during the spring time pollen reports are a part of our lives, and people rush to the pharmacy for some relief.

Your body’s reaction to an allergen is the result of your immune system producing excess inflammatory chemicals, such as histamine, from mast cells. Your body is fighting back the allergen intruder causing watery and itching eyes, sneezing and runny nose.

Many people complain that when they move to a new area, they suddenly have allergy problems they never had before. People from older generations will tell you, it’s because they haven’t grown up in the area- eating from the land and the surroundings are not in their blood. In places where people still live off the land and someone becomes allergic to their surroundings, it is recommended to eat the honey from the area, or drink goat’s milk from goats that live and eat there. The reason being is that the goats eat the grass of the area and produce milk made with components of the grass. Like a vaccine works by giving your body a dose of the ailment itself to create an immunity in your body, so too does the goat’s milk. It works like a natural vaccine to build immunity within your body. Similarly, eating honey, produced by bees, that make honey from the natural pollen of flowers in the area, should kick start your body into thinking it’s immune to the surrounding plant or grass allergies.

More and more people are living in places they didn’t "grow up" in and farms are disappearing at a rapid speed and many times, honey and goat’s milk are just not going to cure your burning eyes, swollen throat or congested nose. That is when it’s a good idea to consult your doctor. Allergies can be as minor as a sore throat or life threatening.

Food Allergies
If your allergy is food related- you have to be so careful when going out to eat as it is easy to know if a menu item contains certain allergens, but the working surfaces like a cutting board or knife could have experienced cross contamination with your food without the cook realizing it. Especially if the cheese that you are not allergic to is stored next to cashews that send your heart into anaphylactic shock- it pays to know and be cautious.

Getting a doctor to check you out
allergy relief , depending on the severity of your allergy symptoms, can be as easy as wearing a cotton surgical mask while outdoors or taking an over the counter medication. For allergy relief:
• Nasal sprays with saline solution
• Pills that contain an antihistamine with a decongestant can be a saving grace.
• Nasal wash

Natural remedies for allergy relief
 Stinging nettle
 Ephedra
 Quercetin
 Echinacea
 Garlic

If your allergy is animal related, simply cleaning carpets regularly or removing carpet and installing hardwood floors are ways to eliminate pet dander. It also helps to confine your pets to a certain part of the house so those who are allergic can have some relief.

If you don’t feel like trusting the city goats, the best action to take to cure your aggravating histamines taking over your body is to consult a doctor or naturopath.

About the author: Melissa Peterman is a web content writer for Innuity. For more information about remedies for an allergy, allergy problems, allergy relief and allergy symptoms, go to www.xlear.com