Suffering From Allergies?

For many people Spring time is welcomed as an end to the cold weather and inwardness of winter. It is a time for trees (and people) to blossom once again. Seeds can be planted now to be harvested in the summer garden. But for others it is a time of intense suffering due to the common symptoms of a runny nose, red and watery eyes, and stuffy head. It is estimated that 20% of the population suffers from allergies of one type or another. Many people eventually develop more severe symptoms such as sinus infections, asthma, or skin rashes. Hay fever or Allergies can affect one any time of the year, but the Spring time often produces some of the year's most intense symptoms.

From the western medical point of view, Allergies are a biological defense mechanism gone wrong. It reacts to various substances (such as pollen) entering the body and responds to them like invaders. This reactivity to these allergens produce the common symptoms of hay fever or other respiratory complaints in the body's attempt to rid itself of unwanted guests.

Certain factors play a role in increasing one's chances of having an adverse reaction to substances in the environment such as: The quality of air, stress levels, toxicity levels in the work and living environment, and diet. Also repeated exposure to antigens found in: chemicals, pollens (from trees and grasses), dust, mites, animal danderuff, foods or molds. One or more of these factors can put significant demands on the immune system by constantly overstimulating its defense mechanism.

This overstimulation will eventually compromise the immune system and lead to an increased adverse sensitivity to the environment. The liver is often overwhelmed as it tries to neutralize the toxins resulting from this overload. When the liver's ability to break down toxins is reduced, they get dumped back in the blood system and are recalculated throughout the body. The immune system then attacks these foreign substances creates one or more of allergic response symptoms. Basically it becomes somewhat of a catch 22 problem unless there is an effective intervention to correct this problem.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Allergy symptoms as well as typical head cold symptoms are identified as Wind conditions. This is based on the way wind symptoms appear in our body (as well as in nature). Primarily, they are physical responses which appear and disappear suddenly or change location in a relatively short time. Wind symptoms tend to affect the upper and outer portions of the body.

So, you see symptoms such as swollen sinuses, excessive mucous, headaches, skin rashes and so on. The properties of herbs which treat these conditions are also described in similar terms, such as herbs to dispel wind. It is interesting to note that these types of herbs are often flowers, leaves, or twigs. In other words the top part of trees and plants correspond to the area of the human body affected by the Allergy symptoms. So wind is considered a cause as well as a condition relating to what we think of as Allergy symptoms.

It is another term used to describe the discharge of fluids induced by the immune systems response to the allergens. From the Chinese medical viewpoint, the only reason wind can cause a disturbance in the body is due to an internal weakness of our mechanism is known as the Wei Qi and Ying Qi. The approach, in Chinese herbal medicine, to resolving Allergy symptoms differs greatly From the western medical drug approach.

In western medicine the focus is on suppressing the symptoms. Drugs are administered such as antihistamines. Many people find only temporary relief and often with unacceptable side effects. Western nutritional medicine has some excellent supportive supplements to offer such as: Vitamin C, B3, Zinc, Bioflavonoids, and Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. They are usually quite safe to take and can often reduce the symptoms.

In Chinese herbal medicine, formulas are constructed to treat both the root of the conditions (causes) as well as the branches (symptoms). There are thousands of years of observation and experience with these formulas which can be incredibly effective when taken as needed. Contemporary pharmacological research on the herbs in these formulas often reveal that the herbs contain allergy inhibiting properties similar to many of the drugs (but without the side effects).

In China there has been extensive research on herbs and formulas. The results of their studies commonly support the traditional health claims, as well as the discovery of new uses for an old herb. You may look up any of the herbs in our Allergees formula. Simply click on any herb you want information about and a screen will pop up displaying that herbs functions and indications.