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Hay fever can be an agonizing condition for both children and parents. For those under six, the symptoms—such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion—can be especially challenging. Allergies are a daily issue for those of us and our children that suffer them. Anything from foods, grass, pollen, dust, cats, horses, nickel and more can cause really excruciating itching and worse. The four types of Allergic ReactionsThere are four types of allergic (immune system hypersensitivity) reactions as classified in 1963 by British immunologists R. Coombs and P. Gell. Type 1 – Immediate – Anaphylactic reactions – your body immediately produces IgE antibodies as an immune system defence to the offending allergen which causes life threatening swelling of the airways constricting breathing. Naturopath advice is to seek Medical care which may include carrying an EpiPen. Type 2 Cytotoxic type – symptoms appear minutes to hours after exposure. The immune system response by producing IgG and IgM antibodies. This type of reaction involves the immune system attacking healthy cells, causing irritation or damage. Sending in our immune cells to defeat invading particles causes damage to surrounding structures and sets off a cascade of molecular reactions that appear on the body as red, itchy irritation and can in the extreme, cascade into conditions such as Myasthenia gravis and autoimmune neutropenia (reduction in an important immune cell type). Type 3 – Immune complex-mediated reactions where the IgM and IgG antibodies react with the allergen molecules to form immunocomplexes such as in Lupus. Type 4 – Delayed Hypersensitivity – symptoms may not appear for hours or days after exposure to the allergen. These four types show us that not all reactions are immediate and while anaphylaxis is a medical emergency there are other allergens that do not cause an immediate affect. Seek medical adviceThese four types show us that not all reactions are immediate and while anaphylaxis is a medical emergency there are other allergens that do not cause an immediate affect. If your child has asthma and shows signs of wheezing, coughing, or shortness of breath, seek medical attention immediately. Asthma and anaphylaxis are life threatening conditions and time is crucial. Medical conditions such as Lupus, Myasthenia gravis and autoimmune neutropenia require medical diagnosis and an integrated approach with General Practiitioner, Specialists and a qualified Naturopath if looking for natural medicines to support optimal health and management. Develop an Allergy Action Plan
My Atopic family led me to study NaturopathyThere are natural, plant based and home remedies for less debilitation yet aggravating common allergies. I completely understand your struggles, as my own children inherited these allergies, which led me to study Clinical Naturopathy to find natural solutions. It never occurred to me in the honeymoon phase that my husbands severe hay fever and my severe asthma would result in two boys with asthma, eczema and hay fever to varying degrees. Hayfever, asthma and skin conditions or dermatitis – (Latin for skin irritated by an allergen) are often genetic and the whole family may be affected by one or more of these conditions. The daily agony of these conditions can have us reaching for a strong cure such as Phenergen but there are things to consider. Phenergen substitutesWhilst natural substances like pollen, grass, mould, animal dander and foods can cause these allergies there are also natural substances and attention to dietary intake that can reduce their occurrence or severity. Antihistamines are readily available and useful for peak periods but are not recommended for daily or extended periods without review and oversight by your GP. Reducing overproduction of histamine is a short term solution but Histamine is present throughout the body. The highest concentration in the lungs and immune cells – basophils and mast cells, which accounts for its action in allergies, causing runny nose, itching and sneezing. But Histamine also regulates sleep-wake cycles, cognitive (brain) function and gastric acid secretion so we don’t want to cancel all of our histamine production or activity. I have written about over the counter medicine and supplement safety in a previous article: Allergic to NatureFor nature exposure reactions such as pollen, grass, dust etc we can certainly try to reduce exposure but it is not feasible as nature is also very good for us human creatures and what’s left of it is necessary for life on this planet.
 Another option is to use physical, food or nutritional supplements or herbal medicines.A cool wet towel on itchy eyes is soothing and relieving. You can the age-old eye remedies cucumber slices or cold tea bags. Inhaling eucalyptus for congested nose and throat from trusty Vicks rub, steam inhaler or diluted essential oil in warm water with a towel draped to inhale the steam directly into your airways. Keeping hydrated allows your biochemical reactions to happen smoothly and irritants and wastes to move quickly through and out of your system Salt water wether in nasal sprays, ear washes, eye washes or gargles are a very simple and cost effective solution. Horseradish on sandwiches may be something that you can adopt as it is a powerful decongestant. Magnesium is a cofactor in the degradation of histamine thus reducing the amount of histamine circulating in your body. Magnesium rich foods are bananas, cocoa, almonds, cashews, figs, kelp, leafy greens, legumes, molasses and seeds. Increasing these foods in your diet or taking a supplement (with consideration of your medications and other mineral intakes) can help to alleviate allergy symptoms. Anti-inflammatory nutrients:
If you are not consuming these foods you can supplement your diet with nutritional medicines. L. Rhamnosus - Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosusProbiotics have been scientifically studied for their ability to reduce occurrence and severity of allergic reactions. It has been found that the allergic conditions themselves cause a change in the flora of our intestines and that there are probiotic strains which do improve structural integrity of our body and have a clinically significant affect at reducing allergic reactions and the associated damage. This article delves into allergic reactions and the role of probiotics and the microbiome: www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2022.821900/full There is a particular strain that has excellent evidence based research and is available in prescription only medicines in a dairy free supplement or ask for it at the chemist – L. Rhamnoses along with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosusLacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Herbal Medicine for AllergiesHerbal medicines can also be beneficial and a herbal cream can assist in managing skin irritations in daily life. There are some beautiful herbs that work to reduce the occurrence of hayfever and allergic responses including baical skullcap, elderflower and eyebright. With so many allergens being natural substances it is important to do a patch test on skin and single herb trials to ensure that the cure is not an allergen itself. Many species of plant are related and reaction to one will indicate an allergy to the rest of that species and plants that contain the same phytochemical compounds. A Skin prick test can be done to find your specific set of allergen triggers. Food Allergen StrategiesFor food related allergies that can present as type 4 hypersensitivity reactions, hours or days after consumption, a food diary is a fantastic tool. Keeping track of your food intake and symptoms over time will show which foods you need to limit or avoid and which you can continue to enjoy. An elimination diet where foods are pared back to basics and each food reintroduced individually with a four day period to detect any reaction is a good way to see what your body reacts to. You can retry foods after implementing probiotics and supportive immune foods or supplements (unless your reaction is potentially severe anaphylaxis). It is also Important to remember that avoiding a food or food group puts you at risk of nutrient deficiencies and care must be taken to ensure the full range of essential vitamins and minerals are being consumed regularly. Managing hay fever in children under 6 can be challenging, but with a combination of natural remedies, dietary adjustments, and professional guidance, it’s possible to reduce symptoms and improve your child’s comfort. Role of a Naturopath
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AuthorShairin - Naturopath and Usui Reiki Master/Teacher Ba. Health Science (Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Medical Systems - Naturopathy) is passionate about accurate natural medicine advice and teaching people how to enhance their natural health care in daily life. Categories
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January 2025
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