One out of five people (and with the increase in air pollution even more so) face allergy outbreaks every spring. For some, you don’t have to wait until the blooming season for sneezing, itchy skin and eyes, runny nose, asthma symptoms and more. In order to understand how to combat the symptoms brought on by the allergy, beyond treatment with antihistamines, we contacted To Dr. Moti Levy, the chief physician of Klalit Complementary Medicine.
There is also a mask here: suffer from allergies? This is how you will cope correctly
“Allergy generally appears as a defense mechanism of the body, to an external source that it recognizes as an allergen,” he explains. “Allergens can be, among other things: dust, pet hair, plant and tree pollen, including substances carried in the air we breathe. Those who suffer from allergies often use medications and antihistamines recommended by doctors to deal with the side effects of allergies.”
Dr. Levy presents four methods that can be combined as a complementary treatment for those dealing with allergies:
1. Acupuncture: The Chinese claim that the flaring allergy is an expression of kidney weakness (which is typical of those who are sensitive to cold), so the acupuncture treatment will focus on strengthening the meridians related to the kidneys. Successful treatment can also improve the function of the body’s immune system and in some cases treat not only the symptoms, but increase the remission time – that magic time between one outbreak and the next.
2. Shiatsu: Similar to acupuncture, here too the treatment is designed to balance a system that is out of balance, in this case the respiratory system. The treatment includes hand manipulations to strengthen the respiratory system and kidneys.
3. Homeopathy and homotoxicology: the treatment with homeopathic medicines can work in two directions – to clean toxins that inhibit the body’s natural ability to deal with the allergy, and matching homeopathic medicines according to the guiding principle of the homeopathic method – “like cures like”. The intention is to isolate the cause of the allergy in the patient and give him very small, measured doses of that cause as medicine, and thus the body learns to deal with the situation. For allergens, one of these substances is “Opressia” which the therapists adjust to the symptoms of hay fever.
4. Naturopathy: using a holistic view, which examines the patients as a whole person, affected by all aspects of their life (stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, lack of physical activity, etc.) we will try to build a treatment plan that includes personalized recommendations for building an adapted menu in combination with nutritional supplements and herbs (Everything customized by a qualified therapist).
He adds that “general recommendations that are correct for the majority of the population include, among other things, avoiding foods that encourage phlegm such as corn, peanuts, bananas, avocados and, of course, processed and industrialized foods. Using ‘superfoods’ such as chia seeds, or consuming North Sea fish (such as salmon and tuna) which are rich in omega 3 along with other adjustments. Among the common medicinal plants we can mention the nettle which is so common in Israel and the turmeric (another super food) which can help dry up allergic runny nose, of course there are many more.”
Dr. Levy also offers four tips for self-care:
1. Install air conditioning in the house with suitable filters to absorb pollen.
2. Do not get close to trees and plants known to spread allergies: olive, pine and pecan for example.
3. Avoid eating foods that encourage inflammation and phlegm production (according to Chinese medicine) such as skim milk, and processed foods high in sugar and white flour.
4. At the height of the allergy period, prefer to stay in a closed place.