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Homeopathy
and Allergies
We’re
in the middle of allergy season again, and if you are an allergy
sufferer, freedom from this dreaded condition is literally
nothing to sneeze at.
Allergies
can be imprisoning. They can make it impossible to go for a walk
in the country, and even make it difficult to go outside. Some
allergy sufferers can't visit their friends who have pets, and
many others can't eat their favorite foods.
What
Are Allergies?
Allergies
are inappropriate or exaggerated reactions of the immune system
to substances that, in the majority of people, cause no
symptoms. Symptoms of allergic diseases may be caused by
exposure of the skin to a chemical, of the respiratory system to
particles of dust or pollen (or other substances), or of the
stomach and intestines to a particular food.
In
some people, pollen, pet dandruff, chemicals, dust, certain
medicines, insect venom, latex, or foods can cause allergic
reactions. Some individuals may be allergic to some situations,
like; a negative reaction to some event, reaction to stress,
physical problems, or people in general.
The
allergic symptoms and their severity vary depending on the type
of allergen, the part of the body that is affected, and the
level of sensitivity and reaction of the individual to the
allergen. For example, Asthma, Bronchitis, Cyanosis, Fever,
Hives, Nausea, Vomiting, and Wheezing are all possible allergy
reactions. Nasal allergies manifest like the common cold or
sinusitis, food allergies produce nausea, vomiting and skin
irritation usually manifests as hives.
Allergies
and the Immune System
Normally,
the immune system protects you from invading agents such as
bacteria and viruses. If you have allergies, otherwise harmless
allergens can cause your body to react as if they were dangerous
invaders. In effect, the immune system is responding to a false
alarm.
The
immune system thinks it is protecting you by generating large
amounts of a type of antibody specific to the particular
allergen to which you are allergic. This antibody attaches
itself to certain cells in his body. The next time you come into
contact with the allergen, the allergen attaches to the antibody
like a key fitting into a lock. This lock-up causes the release
of inflammatory substances into your system. These substances,
including histamine, move into various parts of the body, such
as the respiratory system, to cause allergy symptoms like runny
nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing, among others.
Exposure
to allergens when your body's defenses are weakened (such as
after a viral infection, during puberty, or during pregnancy)
may contribute to the development of allergies. People with
year-round allergies are more likely to have developed them as
adults. Women are more likely to have year-round allergies.
Allergy symptoms can lessen as you get older, but they rarely
completely disappear.
Available
Treatment Methods
Conventional
medical treatment for allergies usually consists of
antihistamines, steroids, and desensitization shots. In
obstinate cases, laser surgery may be utilized to vaporize
mucus-forming nasal tissue. People with allergies know that
these treatments don't work. At best, they provide temporary
relief of symptoms, and at worst, they can create side effects,
which can be worse than the allergies themselves.
Homeopaths
instead prescribe a "constitutional medicine," a
remedy that is individually chosen to the totality of symptoms
that the person is experiencing, not just the allergy symptoms.
Finding a person's constitutional medicine requires the care of
a professional homeopath.
Homeopathic
Research into Allergies
Solid
research has proven the effectiveness of homeopathic medicines
in hayfever. Dr. David Taylor-Reilly, a professor and homeopath
at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, published an important
study in the Lancet
(October 18, 1986) that showed that homeopathically prepared
doses of 12 common flowers were very effective in reducing
hayfever symptoms when compared with patients given a placebo.
This
same researcher published in the Lancet
(12-10-94) another high caliber study on the homeopathic
treatment of asthma. This double-blind, placebo-controlled
randomized trial performed conventional allergy testing to
determine what substance asthma sufferers were most allergic.
Then, half of the subjects were given a homeopathic preparation
of this substance, while the other half were given a placebo.
Those people given the homeopathic medicine experienced a very
significant improvement in their symptoms of asthma.
“Jump-Start”
Your Health
Homeopathy,
because of its unique ability to act directly on a metabolic
level, is a vital first step for those who are interested in
tapping into a system of healing. You might call it a
"Jump-Start Your Health" program because of the
simplicity, ease and safety in which it can be implemented by
anyone wishing to overcome chronic dis-ease.
Homeopathy
will not only provide symptom relief, but will go a long way in
correcting the underlying causes of allergies, asthma and many
other states of chronic dis-ease. At any point in a jump-start
system like this, it is simple and safe to add any symptom
specific homeopathic remedy for your situation. Whether it is
simple hayfever, asthma or any number of nagging conditions,
there is a homeopathic remedy that can bring quick relief. The
true goal of Homeopathy is to bring relief through the treatment
of the whole person, while working with, not against, the
body’s own healing abilities.
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