Ayurveda's Take On Allergies!

With the constantly changing environment, too many people are sensitive to various things. Allergy is when the body produces what are known to as antibodies to substances that it is not able to consider as own. The substances which cause this reaction are known as allergens. A person can have allergies due to various substances, and the list is only growing. From food substances to metals used in jewelry to pollen to animal dander to medications, various things can cause allergies.

Ayurveda believes that good health is a result of a balance between the three doshas or elements – vata, pitta, and Kapha. According to it, allergies are caused by different items which can increase any of these. The type of allergy a person develops would depend on the person’s overall constitution, depending on what predominates in his system.

1. Vaata-increasing allergens: These cause symptoms in the digestive and respiratory tract (related to gas) and include pollen allergy, uncooked meat allergy, etc.
2. Pitta-increasing allergens which cause hives and rashes include citrus fruits, jewelry metal, eggplant, etc.
3. Kapha-increasing allergens often affect the mucous membranes and include pollen and dairy products. These include asthma, hay fever, sinusitis, etc.

If the imbalance is what causes the problem, Ayurveda believes that restoring the balance is the key to restoring health to normalcy. This requires bringing back the balance between the three doshas.

Ayurveda believes that allergies should be treated in a multi-pronged manner, starting from avoiding the allergen to cleansing the body as a whole. Read on to know more.

1. Avoid the allergen: Whether it is peanuts or pollen, nickel or milk, once the allergen is identified, the person should try to avoid exposure to the allergen. This is the most important step in preventing an allergic reaction.
2. Balancing the diet: As diet imbalances lead to an imbalance in the doshas, the diet needs to ensure the dosha is not aggravated further. A person who has pitta-increasing allergies should avoid foods which increase the pitta further. The doctor will be able to help in guidance on this. This also talks about food combinations, both to avoid and to encourage.
3. Cleansing the system: Periodically cleansing the body helps in improving immunity, which then can help in fighting the diseases on its own. Therefore, fasting, juice cleansing, and mono-diet are some preferred ways to cleanse the body. This again needs to be done under supervision.
4. Stress management: It has been shown that allergies are aggravated by stress, so it is very important to manage stress. This could be through various techniques like pranayama (breathing exercises), music, meditation, exercise, etc.
5. Ayurvedic products like Triphala, Ashwagandha, and Chyawanprash are known to improve immune and very useful in controlling allergies. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!