Allergy - Meadow Fescue Health Feed

Symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Cough / cold
• Shortness of breath
• Breathlessness
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Wheezing respiration
• Asthma
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Itchy, runny nose
• Itching, eczema and/or hives

Home remedies:

• Take 200 ml carrot juice, or a combination of carrot juice with beet and cucumber juices. In the case of mixed juices, 50 ml each of beet and cucumber juices should be mixed with 100 ml of carrot juice to prepare 200 ml of mixed juice. Drink for relief in allergies.
• Squeeze half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and sweeten it with a teaspoon of honey. Take it once daily first thing in the morning for several months. It not only flushes the system of toxins but also acts as an anti-allergic agent.
• Take 5 drops of castor oil in half a cup of any fruit or vegetable juice, or plain water on an empty stomach in the morning. Or mix one part turmeric and two parts of amla powder. Store in a glass bottle. Take one small teaspoon twice daily with water.

Other facts & information:
Allergy:
Allergies are an overreaction of the body's immune system to specific substances that it misidentifies as harmful. This overreaction of the body's immune system is known as an allergic reaction and the substances that cause it are called allergens. Allergic reactions manifest themselves in the form of commonly seen skin and respiratory disorders such as eczema, hives, hay fever, asthma and food allergies. In ayurveda, allergy treatment is done by first diagnosing the individual root-cause of every patient.

Causes:
Internal factors (factors that are based inside the human body itself) causing allergies include heredity, sex, race and age.
External factors (factors that are based in the surrounding or the environment) include alterations in exposure to infectious diseases during early childhood, environmental pollution, allergen levels and dietary changes.

Ayurvedic allergies treatment:
Ayurveda regards allergy as a disorder caused by impaired digestion, which is why preliminary symptoms may include indigestion, constipation or diarrhea. This dysfunction in the digestive process is the cause of the hypersensitivity to certain substances, such as dust and pollen that triggers the allergic attacks. Deposits of ama (toxins in the form of mucus) in the lungs and respiratory tract create obstruction in breathing and cause wheezing, coughing or sneezing.

Each time a person comes in contact with an allergen, the doshas are imbalanced, and toxins are released according to the imbalanced doshas, leading to specific symptoms. For example, if pitta dosha is imbalanced, it releases specific heating toxins that accumulate in deep tissues like rasa (nutrient plasma), rakta, (blood), mamsa (muscles) and lasika (lymphatic). These toxins cause contamination of deeper tissues leading to a host of symptoms of various skin allergies. If kapha is imbalanced, it gets accumulated in the respiratory channels, causing blockage and respiratory allergies.

Ayurvedic allergy treatment focuses on pacifying the imbalanced dosha, restoring digestion with herbal preparations, and advising supporting diet and lifestyle changes. Ayurvedic tonics are also administered to build up the strength of the lungs.

Diet & lifestyle advice:

• Eat at least 2 hours before going to bed.
• Drinking warm water or herbal teas throughout the day is beneficial.
• Heavy foods including dairy products, fried foods, cold foods, rice, beans and legumes should be avoided.
• Avoid spices, pickles, curd, banana, perfumes, agarbatti, cold water, cold air and chillies in cooking should also be minimized honey, nuts and seeds can be taken in moderate amount.
• Avoid excessive or physically demanding exercise.
• Yoga and breathing exercises (pranayama) can be helpful

Allergies, or allergic reactions, are common occurrences which are caused by unnatural reactions between your body's immune system and foreign substances which have gained access into the body. When these substances, known as allergens, enter your body, your immune system produces antibodies which are responsible for warding off unwanted substances like harmful viruses or diseases and helping in the body's overall resistance.

However, when your antibodies identify a particular allergen as harmful, when it really isn't, a reaction occurs which may lead to inflammation or infection of the skin, sinuses, the digestive tract and the respiratory tract, among others.
Allergies usually differ from individual to individual and can vary from mild skin irritations to fatal life-threatening emergencies.

Symptoms

Symptoms of allergies depend upon a wide range of factors which are subjective and vary from person to person and from allergen to allergen.
Depending upon the type of allergen involved and the nature of the allergy, symptoms may include any of the following:
1.Sneezing
2.Running nose
3.Severe itching
4.Swollen or red and watery eyes
5.Hives
6.Rashes
7.Facial swelling
8.Wheezing
9.Flaky skin which can peel off

These symptoms are common in mild to moderate allergies such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, drug or food allergies. There are certain rare cases (say, scorpion stings), however, in which the allergic reaction turns out to be potentially life-threatening. This type of reaction is known as anaphylaxis. Here are its 
 

Signs and symptoms:
1.Intense shortness of breath
2.Lightheadedness
3.Nausea and vomiting
4.Loss of consciousness
5.Skin rashes
6.Weak pulse
7.A significant drop in blood pressure

Causes
The main cause of allergies is the uncontrolled reaction between the immune system's antibodies and harmless allergens. Allergic reactions are triggered when antibodies, like histamine, come into contact with particular types of allergens. These may include:
1.Airborne allergens - pollen, mold, or dust mites
2.Insect stings - bee stings or scorpion stings
3.Certain eatables - peanuts or sea food
4.Medications - penicillin or penicillin-based antibiotics
5.Latex or other substances which are responsible for causing allergic skin reactions

A change in weather bring about changes in the composition of dust and pollen and induce seasonal allergies, which a huge number of people fear. The good news is that there are a number of common food substances which can help control these seasonal allergies. There are specific ingredients in these foods which improve immunity and provide antihistamine-like effects (which is what most anti-allergic drugs do). Some of these foods are mentioned below:

1. Green tea: With its natural dose of antihistamines, it prevents you from developing allergies. A hot cup in the morning acts as a good shield against sneezing, which is common with pollen and dust allergies.
2. Oranges and strawberries: Vitamin C is very essential in controlling allergies and it is always recommended to reach for a couple of fresh oranges or strawberries than popping a vitamin pill. They also contain other substances like traces of Omega-3 fatty acids and Quercetin.
3. Garlic: This blocks the production of chemicals that can cause allergies. Eating a couple of cloves in the morning daily will do wonders for the allergy prone people.
4. Turmeric: This miraculous Indian spice has strong anti-inflammatory properties and helps prevent all kinds of allergies.
5. Nuts and seeds: For the vegetarians, eating walnuts and flax seed is a good alternative. A handful of walnut is equal to 3 ounces of salmon. Flax seed also contains selenium which has anti-allergic properties.
6. Cabbage and broccoli: The flavonoid called quercetin helps by reducing inflammation that is usually associated with allergies and reduces the amount of histamines during allergic reactions. Other sources include apples, onions, berries, and cauliflower.
7. Fatty fish: These contain a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids, and work better than the supplements any day. Take your pick from mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna, trout, bluefish or herring. These have two types of Omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) which are known to prevent people developing allergic symptoms. This anti-allergic property provides great relief in people who see seasonal allergic changes.
8. Local honey: For those who suffer from pollen allergy, a morning dose of honey helps build tolerance to this kind of allergy.
9. Wasabi: This pungent green paste helps breathing by opening up the airways and is very good for blocked nasal passages. It also is rich in antihistamines and helps prevent you from developing allergies.
10. Yoghurt and Kefir: These and other dairy products are rich in probiotics which contain a lot of friendly bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are generally found in the intestines. They also help build immunity and increase body’s ability to fight allergens better.

So, for those prone to seasonal allergies, there are few things that are easy to find and well within the reach of regular kitchen and can shield against allergies.

Allergies, or allergic reactions, are common occurrences, which are caused by unnatural reactions between your body's immune system and foreign substances, which have gained access into the body. When these substances, known as allergens, enter your body, your immune system produces antibodies, which are responsible for warding off unwanted substances like harmful viruses or diseases and helping in the body's overall resistance.

However, when antibodies identify a particular allergen as harmful, when it really isn't, a reaction occurs which may lead to inflammation or infection of the skin, sinuses, the digestive tract and the respiratory tract, among others. Allergies usually differ from individual to individual and can vary from mild skin irritations to fatal life-threatening emergencies.

Symptoms
Symptoms of allergies depend upon a wide range of factors, which are subjective and vary from person to person and from allergen to allergen. Depending upon the type of allergen involved and the nature of the allergy, symptoms may include any of the following:

1. Sneezing
2. Running nose
3. Severe itching
4. Swollen or red and watery eyes
5. Hives
6. Rashes
7. Facial swelling
8. Wheezing
9. Flaky skin which can peel off

These symptoms are common in mild to moderate allergies, such as atopic dermatitis, hay fever, drug or food allergies. There are certain rare cases (say, scorpion stings), however, in which the allergic reaction turns out to be potentially life-threatening. This type of reaction is known as anaphylaxis. Here are its signs and symptoms:

1. Intense shortness of breath
2. Lightheadedness
3. Nausea and vomiting
4. Loss of consciousness
5. Skin rashes
6. Weak pulse
7. A significant drop in blood pressure

Causes
The main cause of allergy is the uncontrolled reaction between the immune system's antibodies and harmless allergens. Allergic reactions are triggered when antibodies, like histamine, come into contact with particular types of allergens. These may include:

1. Airborne allergens: Pollen, mold, or dust mites
2. Insect stings: Bee stings or scorpion stings
3. Certain eatables: Peanuts or sea food
4. Medications: Penicillin or penicillin-based antibiotics
5. Latex: Latex or other substances,  which are responsible for causing allergic skin reactions