by Sue Prickett
Allergies are a major feature of Modern Life. With approximately 1,000 new chemicals being launched on the Market every year and our processed diets, it’s hardly surprising that our bodies occasionally protest! However it is the world we live in, so how do we learn to cope with, these sometimes fatal, but always distressing episodes?
My training as a Health Practitioner is in the field of Homeopathy.
Homeopathy can be life saving for a severe Allergic Reaction but we always get the person to Hospital as well as giving remedies. The most common Remedy, which you can administer in water every few minutes, is Apis.
On the other hand, if it is an ongoing allergic response, such as Hay fever, Eczema, Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma or Urticaria (hives and or nettle-like rashes) you have time to investigate the case and see what the underlying problem might be.
The kind of triggers you are looking for instance might be; has there been a change of school, home, job? If it is a small baby have they recently been weaned, vaccinated, or changed to a room of their own? You will be checking out times where the person is most irritated , what relieves them etc .on the Physical side you check for different types of discharge; burning, watery, thick –lovely stuff really!
Your Homeopath will be looking at the whole person. The difference in Conventional Medicine and Homeopathic Medicine is sharply pointed up in the treatment of Chronic Diseases.
Doctors concentrate more on the Disease and Homeopaths concentrate on the Person with the Disease. Doctors want to eliminate the Symptoms of the disease; Homeopaths want to eliminate troublesome symptoms as well, but regard the symptoms as more of an ally in the search for health.
I think its good to realise the body doesn’t always produce the best reaction; an allergic response to a little bee sting that goes so overboard that it can actually kill the person, doesn’t exactly point to an all-knowing wise body! But it was the best the body could do at the time.
An allergic reaction would be like having an Army on constant battle stations; a minor incident would set the whole army off! Whereas what was required was a more judicious response….. What allergic responses point to is an underlying weakness in the person’s immune system, which over time can be corrected with Homeopathy. You don’t dampen it down artificially, but strengthen the person’s own immune system, so they are gradually less and less reactive to the Allergen.
1. What constitutes an Allergic reaction?
2. What is happening during an Allergic reaction?
3. How can you help someone?
4. What are well-known triggers?
5. Why are some people more prone to Allergic Reactions?
1. An allergic reaction is an excessive response between an allergen and an antibody. An allergic reaction is characterised by swelling, itching, rashes, sneezing, streaming eyes or nose, stomach ache or headache whenever the offending allergy is encountered.
2. Some people, either genetically or acquired, will have antibodies that cause the release of lots Histamine which in turn causes large quantities of fluid to leak out of the blood vessels and tissues, occasionally leading to anaphylactic shock.
3. You can see if they have an Epi Pen, call 999 if necessary, and keep them warm.
4. Well known triggers are the house dust mite, pollens, paints or solvents& animal hair.
5. Some people are born with a lot of antibodies in their blood. Breast feeding babies is an excellent way of avoiding allergies. Cow’s milk is just more difficult for babies to digest and can cause dilatation of the bowel, leading to Leaky-Bowel Syndrome. An emotional shock can bring on an Allergy; I’ve treated several such cases successfully!
One important thing to remember is NEVER GIVE a child under 5 peanuts if there is a history of Allergies in the Family.
I would guard against everyone rushing off to get allergy tested after reading this! You really are the best judge of what you are allergic to! And you can easily test yourself with elimination Diets. NEVER ELIMINATE MORE THAN ONE FOOD AT A TIME. Stop it for 4 days and then re introduce it after 12. If you feel better off it, you could be allergic; eat it less frequently but don’t give it up altogether. Balance is everything!
addition to the Clinic.