HOW TO HANDLE SEASONAL ALLERGIES?
Suffering from seasonal allergy symptoms? It can be –
- Sudden copious discharge from the nose?
- Or is it the exasperating bouts of recurrent cough.
- Besides, you may be troubled with irritable watering of the eyes with burning sensation.
- Or else it may be your skin that seems to oppose comfort and has all of a sudden become rather sensitive.
It Is Common
Let me tell you that in case you are tormented by all or any of these maladies, these conditions are not rare. Rather due to environmental changes and factors like increased intake of unhealthy diet and leading sedentary lifestyles, these afflictions pose an unnecessary break in our well-being, especially during the time of seasonal transition.
What Triggers Allergy
Allergy may take up any form and normally their onset is abrupt. Many a times it is simply triggered by changes in the atmosphere, of which the pollen allergy is more commonly known. Then there may be factors like –
- some component of your diet,
- dust in your apartment,
- fur of your pet,
- intestinal worms,
- use of artificial fertilizers,
- some medicine you just started
- or simply a drug reaction.
The list could be endless and it is rather difficult to discover the precise perpetrator.
Array Of Signs And Symptoms
Nasal Allergy –
- inflammation of nasal mucosa leading to running nose,
- bouts of sneezing,
- mild pain
- and irritation in nasal passage,
- difficulty in breathing due to nasal block.
- These symptoms are analogous to Allergic Rhinitis.
Severe Allergy –
- It may further lead to more intricate conditions of breathlessness,
- sore throat with dry, irritable cough,
- headache
- and eye dilemma of watering, reddish, irritable and gritty eyes.
Skin Allergy –
- When the skin becomes allergic, you may come across indications like –
- forming of small eruptions
- or else there may be boils developing on the skin surface
- which may slot in pain or uncontrolled itching.
In other words, all or most of these symptoms tend to leave the impinged individual in a state of physical lethargy and discomfort, and mentally the anguish would keep him anxious.
When Allergy Becomes Anguish
As the allergic conditions advance or if they are suppressed with synthetic drugs they become all the more tough to handle. For instance, they may take form of grave diseases like –
- asthma,
- urticaria,
- skin eczema,
- ulcers,
- heart disease
- and even diabetes.
Ayurveda View
Ayurveda believes that other than the external factors, ‘ahara’ or the diet and ‘vihara’ or the lifestyle are surely the precipitating factors when you succumb to an allergic condition. Moreover, lowering of the resistance power makes you easy target to environmental allergies. Although, whenever an allergic reaction is produced, it is because of vitiation in one or all the three doshas or body humors viz. –
- Vata or the air,
- Pitta or the fire
- and Kapha or phlegm.
Try Some Herbal Remedies
- Start immediately with saline water gargles at the slightest perception of throat irritation.
- Gargles with alum mixed in water acts as an antiseptic for the throat.
- After that, in case of dry cough, it is essential to provide lubrication to the throat. For this, you can take a glass of milk with a teaspoon of ghee or 5 to 10 drops of ‘Badam-rogan’ or Almond oil drops added to it.
Herbs and Natural Herbals
- Freshly pounded raw turmeric may be taken with hot milk or water. This is believed to be one of the best known natural cure for combating allergies.
- Haridra Khanda is a classical medicinal made out of the herb that is known to bestow anti-allergic properties.
- As an easy home cure, take freshly ground leaves of Holy Basil along with a few drops of ginger juice for relief. Therefore, this helps to increase the resistance power to fight respiratory ailments.
- A powder prepared by pounding roots of the herb Liquorice (approx. one fourth of a teaspoon) can be taken two to three times mixed into half a teaspoon of honey.
- Similarly, a decoction prepared with boiling black pepper, thyme, liquorice root, cardamom seeds, basil and ginger proves helpful. Moreover, this can be sweetened with honey or mishri for better results.
- Vitamin C in any form enhances recovery. The fruit of Amla is a rich source of the same. In addition, the fresh juice or dried Amla powder (half a teaspoon) can be taken 2 or 3 times a day.
Diet Regimen
- The dietary regimen plays an important role in getting rid as well as for preventing the re-occurrence of the disease.
- For instance, the diet should consist more of light, warm and easily digestible foodstuffs like vegetable soups.
- Above all, the cold drinks, spicy and fried foods, chilled curd and sour eatables need to be avoided.
Supportive Lifestyle
- Steam inhalation is supportive to the recommended therapy as this result into a better expectoration.
- A local massage on the chest and similarly on the throat region with mustard oil is advised. However, any medicated oil or balm could prove helpful.
- Above all, the breathing exercises like ‘Pranayaam’ are extremely helpful as these help the body to not only combat the allergy, but also in the long run enhance your immunity levels.
Article Published Here.
Watch Video: Honey: Essential Health Benefits & Precautions
About the Author:
Dr Sonica Krishan is Author and Speaker in the areas of Healthy and Joyous Living through Ayurveda, Meditation, Yoga and other Contemplative practices. She is a leading Ayurveda Professional in India. She is also Health Writer, Columnist, Editor, Ayurveda Consultant and Holistic Healing Coach. Dr Sonica is open for National as well as International Collaborations with interested people / institutions in fields of Ayurveda, Meditation and Yoga.
Dr Sonica Krishan’s Books are available at Amazon
Related Blogs:
AYURVEDA HERBS AND HOME REMEDIES FOR URTICARIA SKIN ALLERGY
HOW TO HANDLE SEASONAL ALLERGIES NATURALLY?