Allergies: Herbal remedies, causes, symptoms, prevention.

What is Allergy?

Allergies are a doshic reaction to certain allergens. For instance, one can be allergic to pollen, dust, chemicals on a rug, ragweed, or any strong chemical stench. As per the Ayurvedic samprapti (pathogenesis), there can be several factors that cause this condition in the human body.

What are the Symptoms of Allergy?

Typical: Sneezing, itchy, runny or blocked nose, itchy red watering eyes, wheezing, chest tightness, Vomiting or diarrhea, dry red and cracked skin.
Might Experience: Skin rash, hives, nausea

What are the Causes of Allergy?

There are different factors that can cause allergies. It can be airborne or it can be from any food. You also may experience allergies while taking some medicines. So when it comes to airborne allergens it can be caused by pollen or animal dander and also from dust and molds. Foods like peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, eggs, and fish can also cause allergies. Those who are prone to allergies should avoid taking penicillin-based antibiotics.

When to see a Doctor?

If you have symptoms like watery eyes, Running nose, Cough and cold then you can wait for a month and then see a doctor if it doesn’t go away or worsen. However, It is advised to seek immediate medical attention in case you are experiencing severe symptoms like ear infection, sinus infection, and headache.

Regular screening: The most common allergy test is known to be a scratch test. In this test, the doctor places a tiny tad of an allergen on the skin and then pierce the outer coating of the skin.

Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Allergy

Identifying the cause of an allergic reaction is the most important part when it comes to lifestyle prevention, as it can be caused by many factors. However, there are some common lifestyle changes one can follow to prevent allergies.

Keeping a watch on your food intake and combinations can prevent allergies. Some food combinations are not suitable for people having allergies. Combinations like milk and yogurt, meat and dairy, poultry or dairy, melon, and grains, etc should be avoided. It is also advisable to avoid any banana milkshakes or fruit smoothies made with milk. But most importantly identifying the source of the allergy and then avoiding the cause is the key to prevent suffering from this condition. Those who are prone to allergies should avoid any interactions with cats, dogs, pollen, mold, and so on. Staying away from any synthetic fiber is advisable. Materials like polyester and rayon can cause pitta-type skin allergies.

Using natural and herbal remedies is very much advisable for any kind of disease. Herbal products like neem oil are very effective when it comes to preventing any environmental allergen. Applying neem oil to the exposed parts of the body is suitable as it has disinfectant properties. Also taking Triphala ½ to 1 teaspoon at night can have a good effect on all three types of allergies.