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ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR ALLERGIES
Allergies (Respiratory-HOMEOPATHIC) REMEDIES LISTED IN CAPITOL LETTERS REPRESENT MORE FREQUENTLY INDICATED REMEDIES * Research has shown that homeopathic medicines are often effective in treating the acute symptoms of allergies, though professional constitutional care is usually necessary to achieve a deeper level of cure of the chronic allergic state. ALLIUM CEPA: Children who will benefit from Allium cepa experience a profuse, fluent, burning nasal discharge which is worse in a warm room and better in the open air. They have a profuse, bland (non-burning) tearing from the eyes with reddened eyes, and will desire to rub their eyes frequently. They experience a raw feeling in the nose with a tingling sensation and violent sneezing. A frontal congestive headache may be concurrent with their allergy symptoms. These symptoms tend to exacerbate after damp winds. Ambrosia: This is the primary remedy for hay fever after exposure to ragweed (Ambrosia is a homeopathic dose of ragweed). These children experience a watery nasal discharge and tearing and itching of the eyes. They may also have irritation of the throat and asthmatic breathing. Apis: Swelling of the throat which is worse by heat is a common allergic reaction of these children. They cannot stand anything around the neck and have a sense of constriction of the chest. They may also experience hives and have puffiness around the face, swollen eyelids, and swelling under the eyes. They can have intolerable itching, especially at night in bed, and their skin may feel full, tense, tight, and hypersensitive to touch. ARSENICUM: Burning tears and nasal discharge which are often worse on the right side characterize the symptoms related to this medicine. These children's symptoms are worse at and after midnight. They toss and turn in bed and become very anxious, frightened, and restless during breathing difficulties. They are very chilly and feel better in general in a warm room. They usually have a great thirst but only take sips at a time. These children are sensitive to light, have violent sneezing, and may develop asthmatic breathing. EUPHRASIA: Children who need Euphrasia have the opposite symptoms as those who need Allium cepa: they have profuse burning tears from the eyes and a bland nasal discharge. Their eyes water so much the children look awash in tears. The whites of the eye and the cheeks become reddened from the burning tears. The eye symptoms are worse in the open air. The profuse bland nasal discharge is worse at night, while lying down, and in windy weather. Kali bic: When children with an allergy experience a thick, gluey, stringy, yellow nasal discharge, this medicine is invaluable. They may also experience post-nasal drip with tenacious mucus, and pain at the root of the nose which is better from applying pressure there. There may be a constant inclination to blow the nose. The discharge, along with the sneezing, is worse from exposure to cold or in the open air. A cough may also occur concurrently, and sometimes these children get a swollen throat which is relieved by warm liquids. Natrum mur: This remedy is most often given to children who get recurrent hay fever attacks every spring and fall and who develop their symptoms after an emotional experience, especially after grief. Death, divorce, unrequited love, or homesickness often create feelings that are not fully expressed, eventually leading leading to various physical complaints that this medicine is effective in treating. These children experience frequent sneezing, a profuse watery discharge from the nose and eyes, and a loss of taste and smell. Eventually, the nasal discharge may lealead to a state of chronic nasal congestion and thick white mucus. Their symptoms are worse in the morning, at which time they usually hawk up much mucus. Dry and cracked lips or a cold sore may accompany the hay fever symptoms. NUX VOMICA: These irritable and chilly children tend to have a fluent nasal discharge during the day and congestion at night. Their symptoms tend to be worse indoors and better in the open air. They are sensitive to the cold and to being uncovered. Frequent sneezing may be experienced. Their symptoms sometimes begin after being irritated, vexed, or fatigued. PULSATILLA: These children have a nasal discharge during the day and congestion at night. Their congestion is worse in a warm room, hot weather, or while lying down, and is relieved in cool rooms, open air, or with cool applications. They tend to have itching at the roof of their mouth at night. These children are emotionally moody, weepy, and impressionable. They tend to be without thirst. SABADILLA: These children are worse being in the cold air. They have spasmodic sneezing, running nose, itching in the nose, and red, runny eyes. They may also have a headache in their forehead and a feeling of a lump in their throat with a constant desire to swallow. Like Pulsatilla children, they will have a dry throat but do not have a thirst. They are very chilly. Sulphur: Aggravated by heat and sun, these children have hay fever in the summer. They have nasal obstruction when indoors and a fluent nasal discharge when outdoors. The nose and eyes are reddened, and the nasal discharge burns. As the condition develops, the nasal discharge becomes offensive smelling. The allergy can develop into asthma, especially after exertion. Wyethia: The distinct symptom that these children experience is an irrritable itching behind the nose and/or at the roof of the mouth. They also have a tickling sensation that creates a dry, hacking cough. Their throat feels swollen. They have a constant desire to swallow saliva but have difficulty swallowing. The information provided here is not only applicable to children but to most people with allergies. Excerpted from Homeopathic Medicines for Children and Infants. Copyright 1992 by Dana Ullman, M.P.H. published by Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam. For further information about homeopathic medicine, contact: Homeopathic Educational Services2124B Kittredge St.Berkeley, CA. 94704(510)649-0294(510)649-1955 (fax)Email: mail@homeopathic.com Copyright © 1992
Allergy Relief (HERBAL) © Emily Kane N.D.Published by American Association of Naturopathic Physicians 'tis the season to be sneezing. Is there ANYTHING I can do about my pollen allergies?In general, the best way to escape the miserable effects of 'hay fever' and other reactions to airborne allergens is to avoid them. "Great... that's a big help," you're probably thinking to yourself. It is very difficult to avoid things that fly through your front door, through the car window, even into the bedroom. But all is not lost, and I'm not talking about resorting to antihistamines. If you work outside, such as construction work, you may want to consider wearing a light paper nose and mouth mask to filter out the bigger particles. Also, it may be well worth your money to invest in a home air filtration system. Many folks with dust allergies have discovered Rainbow vacum cleaners which work with a water filtration system and not a bag for collecting the house dust. Try to wash your hands frequently. If you're allergic to airborne pollens and/or dust you may also be sensitive to cat and dog dander. Don't pet the animal then rub your face. Anytime you touch a surface that is likely to be sprinkled with whatever ails you, wash your hands as soon as possible afterwards. The fact of having allergies may signal a weakened immune system. You can never go wrong enhancing your immunity by minimizing toxic input (refined sugar, refined flour, caffeine, tobacco, alcohol, exposure to solvents, exposure to burning hydrocarbons, etc). Also, get the basics every day: fresh air, pure water, adequate rest, adequate exercise, and dark green vegetables. Depending on your individual situation, if you suffer from allergies you may benefit from seasonal supplementation with extra Vitamin C (up to 10 grams daily), Vitamin B5 (up to 800 mg daily) and Zinc picolinate (up to 150 mg daily). Potent anti-inflammatory substances derived from food sources include bromelain from pineapple, papain from papaya and quercitin from the spice Turmeric. Turmeric (also known as curcumin) is a major ingredient in curry and used throughout Far Eastern cuisine not only for flavor, but for its medicinal properties. The agents of inflammation in your body (cytokines, leukotrienes, etc.) are derived largely from something called arachadonic acid which is generously supplied by red meat. While a small amount of arachadonic acid is crucial for life, it can be synthesized internally so it is best to eliminate red meat from your diet entirely if you are prone to hay fever or other allergies. There is a class of fats, called the Omega-3 oils, which are extremely beneficial in decreasing inflammation in the body. These oils are found in the pressed evening primrose flowers, in cold-pressed flax seeds, and in fish. Eat fish generously during hay fever season, and take one tablespoon of Flax oil or Evening Primrose oil daily all year around. Some folks have been greatly helped by taking "desensitization" drops which are a very dilute mixture of whatever substances they are allergic to, taken under the tongue in dropper form during allergy season. This can be thought of as a kind of "vaccination" and is usually available through a natural health-care provider. Rainbow in downtown Juneau and Ron's Apothecary in Mendenhall Mall may carry some homeopathic anti-allergy remedies. Anti-histamines tend to make you drowsy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as aspirin, ibuprofen) MUST be avoided to combat allergic reactions because they will ultimately damage the mucous membranes of the gut and lungs, thus setting you up for chronic hypersensitivity to all sorts of things to which you are regularly exposed.
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