Complementary Allergy Treatments
Alternative Therapies to Relieve and Prevent Allergy Symptoms
Complementary treatments can play a valuable role in helping people to live with allergies. While these therapies cannot claim to offer a complete cure, allergy sufferers can gain relief from symptoms as well as improve their psychological response and ability to relax.
A Holistic View for Allergy Sufferers
Complementary therapies are empowering for allergy sufferers, giving them the opportunity to do something helpful for themselves in the face of often frustrating, limiting conditions. Unlike brief doctor's examinations, complementary therapists take the time to thoroughly discuss the allergy sufferer’s background and lifestyle. This is because complementary therapies look at the whole person, not just the illness or symptoms.
Self-Help Complementary Approaches to Allergies
Yoga, T’ai Chi and other martial arts offer the opportunity to combine physical movement with a focus on breathing and relaxation, as well as a greater awareness of one’s body. These practices are now shown by many studies to be beneficial. For example, doing yoga can reduce the presence of cortisol, a stress hormone.
The field of psychoneuroimmunology studies the connection between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems. Since allergies are linked to the immune system, this suggests that any practice that strengthens the mind-body connection and helps relaxation and stress relief, could well be beneficial to those living with allergies.
Muscular relaxation, meditation and visualization are also very helpful for alleviating and preventing tension, which can be a key factor in, for example, asthma, says Chris McLaughlin in Asthma and Allergies (Octopus Publishing, 2000).
Acupuncture and Shiatsu to Treat Allergies
Acupuncture and Shiatsu are based on the idea that energy, or ‘chi’, moves along invisible meridians, and that physical disorders result from a disruption in this flow. With acupuncture, originating in China, restoring the natural flow and balance of chi in the body is achieved through the insertion of fine needles into specific areas of the skin, corresponding to these meridian points.
Shiatsu, a Japanese therapy, involves the therapist manipulating the acupuncture points with pressure of the fingers and thumbs. Acupuncture may stimulate the production of pain-relieving endorphins, and also prevent narrowing of the airways associated with asthma, according to some Western scientists mentioned by Chris McLaughlin.
Massage Relieves Allergy Symptoms
Massage can help relieve allergy symptoms by allowing the sufferer to achieve total relaxation, and by releasing muscular tension that is often associated with asthma attacks. Aromatherapy massage techniques use essential oils which have particular properties, with the selection of oils tailored to the client’s health conditions.
Asthmatics or rhinitis sufferers should, however, use these oils with caution, as their strong scents can be irritating to the lungs or nasal passages.
Osteopathy and Relieving Allergies
Osteopathy uses gentle manual manipulation to work on the bones, joints, muscles and soft tissues. As well as releasing tension and re-aligning parts of the spine, osteopathy helps the body to return to an overall state of health. This is because of the inter-relation of bones, tissues and the nervous system, as Chris McLaughlin explains.
Homeopathic Treatment of Allergies
Homeopathy works on the principle that ‘like cures like’. Remedies are prepared using substances that would cause the same symptoms the allergy sufferer now experiences, and are prescribed after a detailed examination of the client's life and personality. Therefore, two people with similar allergy symptoms may well be prescribed different remedies.
Treating Allergies with Herbal Medicine
Herbs can be just as potent as allopathic (orthodox) medicines, and in fact can be dangerous, which is why it is important to consult a trained, experienced herbalist. Stinging nettle and chamomile are two examples of herbal antihistamines, according to Wilhelm Williams in Natural Herbs for Allergies: Treat Allergies without Medication,
The key idea behind complementary therapies is to treat the whole person, helping to prevent allergy responses rather than merely treating symptoms, as allopathic medicine does. Courses of treatment can involve self-help measures, or require consulting a practitioner.
