If you are one of the unfortunate people that suffers from hayfever, you aren’t alone – in fact 1 in 5 Australians are affected by it. Symptoms that individuals experience varies from person to person however in addition to the obvious symptoms, a person may suffer with poor sleep, headaches, hives or rashes. It is one of the main triggers of asthma, commonly coexists with eczema and a risk factor for sinusitis. Individuals who are genetically predisposed to allergic rhinitis, hay fever and eczema experience symptoms when the immune system produces IgE antibodies after exposure to an allergen such as pollen or dust. The antibodies bind to mast cells containing histamine which is released upon exposure to the allergen (with other chemicals) causing the classic symptoms of allergy – itching, swelling and mucous production.
Relief of hay fever symptoms are often sought through over the counter medications such as anti-histamines/intranasal corticoids which are effective in the short term however do not provide a long term solution. Although you may have a genetic predisposition to allergy this does not mean you have to put up with the symptoms on a seasonal or year round basis. The naturopathic approach for treating allergy is to avoid environmental and dietary allergens whilst addressing the health of the digestive, immune and nervous systems which are involved in perpetuating the allergic process. Addressing the underlying causes of allergy with natural medicine is not a quick fix however by removing specific foods from the diet which contribute to inflammation and instead ingesting foods that are anti-inflammatory as a great start to experiencing symptom improvement.
If you would like naturopathic support for your allergies this spring, contact LifeForce health solutions on 82892800 to make an appointment with Melisa who will help you with this.
