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Allergies and allergy problems

The following article gives information about allergies and some insight into how allergies can be controlled.

It is possible that allergic reactions can be overcome and the body educated into changing this allergic phenomena.

What are allergies and is there relief?

An Allergy is your immune system's abnormal reaction to contact with a specific substance. It's your body's reaction and the chemicals it releases, that cause the sneezing, rash, or irritation etc. It is not the foreign substance or organism itself that causes this but your body's own immune system overreacting. Usually this is an overreaction to histamine, a chemical that the body releases to fight microbial invaders.

One of the most common allergies is to pollen - Hay fever. But many people react to many different everyday substances. The reactions include sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, swelling or puffiness around the eyes, skin rash, hives, asthma or headaches.

The conventional handling of allergies is by taking decongestants and antihistamines. Decongestants open clogged nasal passages and have a drying action. Antihistamines suppress the body's release of histamine. But both of these are handling only the symptoms of the allergies, not addressing the cause, which is a confused immune system. And both have side affects: Decongestants can cause insomnia and raise blood pressure, Antihistamines may cause drowsiness.

Another important factor to allergies is malnutrition and the food you eat. If your diet is lacking basic and vital nutrients you are more susceptible to allergies. Persons suffering from allergies have been found to be woefully deficient in every body requirement except carbohydrates, and when the missing nutrients are supplied, the allergies often disappear. A healthy cell can prevent harmful substances from entering them. A lack of almost any nutrient, however, increases cell permeability, so valuable nutrients can leak from the cells and toxic material passes into them. Ensure a well balanced diet is followed, high in raw and unprocessed foods, fresh fruit and vegetables especially those high in vitamin C.

Vitamin C is very important to a healthy diet and one becomes particularly susceptible to allergens when Vitamin C is undersupplied Vitamin C decreases the permeability of cells, has an powerful antihistamine action and detoxifies foreign substances entering the body. Dosages can be up to between 1.000 milligrams of vitamin C with Bioflavanoids three times a day, or more if needed. The only know side effect of Vitamin C is Diarrhoea, so if you develop diarrhoea, cut back on your dosage until you find the correct level for you. Recent scare stories in the press have warned of mega high dosages of Vitamin C. I know of dozens of other stories which strongly recommend taking vitamin C supplements. I suggest you try it and decide for yourselves.

Don't confine yourself to supplements. Garlic, fresh papaya, fresh orange juice, bell pepper, cayenne pepper, poke weed shoots, guava and watercress are all high in vitamin C. Food supplements of Nettle tincture (Urtica dioica) are an excellent idea. For centuries, cultures around the world have used this herb. The leaves of the young plant, best harvested from May to June and before flowering begins, can be used fresh or dried, as a tea. The tea also tastes quite nice and can offer great relief.

Garlic and Onion should be added to the diet in generous amounts. These plants have high concentrations of compounds such as quercetin, which retard inflammation reactions so may be of benefit Garlic is a wonderful boost and fights off infection and helps maintain a healthy heart. Many people prefer to take Garlic supplements.