Alternative Medicine is the practice of medicine without the use of drugs or conventional medicine. It focuses on holistic and natural aspects rather than evidence-based medicine. Here are some suggestions for alternative allergy remedies.
Yoga – Cures for Allergies and Asthma
Yoga is derived from the Ayurvedic system of medicine that has been used for over five thousand years in India. It emphasizes treatment of the whole body rather than the symptoms.
According to Dr Earl Mindell, author of Allergy Bible, the practice of yoga typically consists of three components. Firstly, postures or asanas that promote strength, flexibility, and stamina. Secondly, breathing exercises called pranayama that strengthen lung function and promote relaxation. And thirdly, meditation which helps to relieve stress, clear the mind, and achieve the spiritual goals.
Many studies suggest yoga works for asthma. According to a study conducted at the University of Colorado, an allergist studied seventeen adults with asthma — half the group did yoga, while the other half did not. The result was that the patients who did the yoga became less likely to use their inhalers than the other group.
Breathing Therapy as a Seasonal Allergy Treatment
In the 1940s, Russian physiologist Konstantin Pavolovich Buteyko started researching the possibility that hyperventilation or breathing too deeply was the underlying cause of numerous chronic health problems such as ashma. He developed the Buteyko Breathing Technique (BBT) that retains the body to adopt a shallower breathing pattern that prevents the exhalation of excess carbon dioxide. This technique is commonly practiced in Europe.
Treatment for Allergies with Homeopathy
Founded by German physician Samuel Hahnemann two hundred years ago, homeopathy uses the “Law of Similars,” which means a homeopathic preparation for allergy would not be an antihistamine that blocks allergic symptoms but pollen or another plant part could cure the problem in very low homeopathic doses – just like how a vaccine works. In homeopathy, any plant, mineral or animal substance can be used as a remedy.
Alternative Medicine Treatment – Hypnotherapy
In hypnotherapy, a practitioner guides a patient into a meditative state. According to Dr Mindell, a couple of studies found that patients can desensitize their allergic response to a substance when they are under hypnosis. For example, when an allergen is injected into both arms, and the patient is told that only one arm will have an allergic reaction, the designated allergic arm typically shows a much greater allergic response later than the other arm. Hypnotherapy is often used for a wide range of conditions such as anxiety, stress-related illness, pain management and personal development.
It is increasingly common for hay fever or allergy suffers to rely on alternative medicine to reduce symptoms. When pursuing any of these alternative treatments, make sure to understand the practice well and find the experienced and well-trained practitioner.