Unfortunately, most people who suffer from allergies and asthma simply mask their symptoms with drugs rather than seeking a treatment for the root cause. Both of these conditions involve an overreaction by the body’s immune system to what it believes is a foreign invader. When you are exposed to an allergen (e.g. ragweed, pet dander, etc.), your immune system produces an abundance of inflammatory hormones, which subsequently causes the symptoms of allergies and asthma to manifest.
A neti pot is another other option that can be very helpful for allergy symptoms. It is used to flush salt water through the nasal passages to physically wash out any particles of different irritants from the sinuses.
Of course, herbal medicine is a time-tested alternative treatment for allergies and asthma. Some of the most popular herbs used to treat these conditions include stinging nettle (a natural antihistamine), ginkgo biloba, and reishi (anti-inflammatory), and green tea (which contains high concentrations of antioxidants). These antioxidants are believed to fight harmful chemicals in the body known as free radicals, which if left unchecked, may irritate existing conditions like allergies and asthma. Chinese herbal formulas like Yu Ping Feng San can also be used with the appropriate presentation of symptoms.
Acupuncture is another treatment modality known to improve the symptoms for allergy and asthma sufferers. This form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involves stimulating the body’s life force (Qi) by placing small, thin needles directly into the skin. When a person’s Qi grows stagnant or experiences other problems, he or she is more susceptible to disease and illness. Therefore, correcting this problem through acupuncture will naturally deter allergies, asthma and other common problems.
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Sources:
http://acaai.org/news/facts-statistics/allergies
http://acaai.org/news/facts-statistics/asthma