Allergy & its Homeopathic treatment

Almost every one of us know this word “Allergy” because it has become most common diagnosis made by the doctors. Allergies are abnormal reactions of the immune system that occur in response to otherwise harmless substances.It is estimated that more than one in every five people, suffer from some form of allergy.

An allergy is a type of immune reaction. Normally, the immune system responds to foreign microorganisms or particles by producing specific proteins called antibodies. The reaction between antibody & antigen sets off a series of chemical reactions designed to protect the body from being damaged. Sometimes, this same series of reactions is triggered by harmless, everyday substances such as pollen, dust, milk, peanut, nuts, gluten, etc. When this occurs, an allergy [inability to tolerate] develops against the offending substance (an allergen.)

Allergies can be against many substances, e.g. wheat [Gluten], milk & Dairy, soy, eggs, Nuts, Peanuts, sea food; Pollens, Ragweed, animal f, house mites, house dust, mold spores, poison ivy, Medicines [penicillin, sulfa, antibiotics, vaccines], pesticides, etc. the list is endless.

Allergens enter the body through four main routes: the nose, skin, mouth & blood.

Cause: Medical science has not yet been able to diagnose the reason of developing allergy. There is detailed explanation about the changes that occur while the reaction is taking place, the chemical changes taking place in cells & immune system. But there is no explanation that a person who has not had any allergy all his life but all of a sudden he starts reacting to a particular substance, to which he is not aware because he never did in past & on close observation he is able to identify that substance to which he is allergic.

From observation it has been presumed that the factors probably responsible for the allergy response to develop, e.g. mental stress; improper treatment of various day to day problems with medicines which do not cure but suppress the diseases; by medicines which have many side effects; self medication; vaccinations; use of preservatives in food; etc.

Symptoms of allergy depend on the substance to which one is allergic, but in general following symptoms are commonly seen: Sneezing, runny nose, stuffy nose, difficulty in breathing, & itchy bloodshot eyes (allergic rhinitis), asthma, or conjunctivitis (pink eye), itching & swelling of the lips & throat, cramps & diarrhea, hives (urticaria) or more severe reactions involving recurrent, non-inflammatory swelling of the skin, mucous membranes, organs & brain (angioedema), reddening, itching, & blistering of skin, Some allergens may cause anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening condition marked by tissue swelling, airway constriction, & drop in blood pressure.

Diagnosis:Allergies can best be diagnosed by a careful medical history, matching the onset of symptoms to the exposure to possible allergens. Following tests are usually carried out to diagnose the allergen: Skin tests; Allergen-specific IgE measurement; Total serum IgE.

Treatment:Avoiding allergens is the first line of defense to reduce the possibility of an allergic attack.But this is not practically possible all the time.

Modern medicine normally treat allergy by Antihistamines, decongestants, corticosteroids or immunotherapy (allergy shots). All these have side effects like: drowsiness, dry mouth, tachycardia, blurred vision, constipation, increased heart rate & blood pressure, headaches, insomnia, agitation, & difficulty emptying the bladder. Swelling of nasal passages, nosebleeds, unpleasant taste sensations.

Immunotherapy, also known as desensitization or allergy shots, alters the balance of antibody types in the body, thereby reducing the ability of IgE to cause allergic reactions. Immunotherapy is preceded by allergy testing to determine the precise allergens responsible. Injections involve very small but gradually increasing amounts of allergen, over several weeks or months, with periodic boosters. Full benefits may take up to several years to achieve & are not seen at all in about one in five patients. Individuals receiving all shots have to be monitored closely because of risk of anaphylaxis.

Homeopathic medicines on the other hand  are extremely safe, having no side effects, does not try to suppress the symptoms, but rather try to resolve the disturbance that has taken place due to which body is not able to tolerate the substance which is ‘normally harmless’ & by doing this it also strengthen the immunity.  We have seen ‘Allergies’ get cured in patients & are confident that homeopathic medicines can help patients with different kinds of allergies mild or severe.

Homeopathic medicines are not simply prescribed on the diagnosis of ‘allergy’, but a homeopathic practitioner takes a detailed history of the patient which includes past sufferings, family hereditary diseases, patients personal details, mental emotional state, etc. by doing this homeopath is able to understand the health status &  functioning of the body, constitution of the patient. Then a homeopathic medicine is prescribed.

For how long the treatment is to be continued? This is judged by the homeopath, but from my experience I can say it is anywhere between 8 months to 3 years.

If the patients give proper detailed history, if they follow the instructions given by the homeopath & if the medication is continued for the time period specified by homeopath, then Homeopathy can surely help getting rid of the problem.

Lastly, remember, you can become free from allergies, have patience & continue homeopathic treatment till the homeopath asks you to.