Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine is a Toronto naturopathic clinic dedicated to providing safe and effective treatment of a wide variety of health conditions using natural therapies and the principles of naturopathic medicine.
Allergies are well treated using naturopathic medicine. Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a foreign substance such as a pollen or pet dander. This reaction is the result of the production of proteins known as IgE antibodies by the immune system, usually protective against harmful substances, mistakenly against benign substances. IgE triggers the release of histamines and other substances that cause allergy symptoms.
Common causes of allergy include airborne substances (e.g., pollens, animal dander, dust mites, mold), foods (e.g., peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy fish, shellfish, eggs, milk), insect stings (e.g., bee, wasp), medications (commonly penicillin or penicillin-based antibiotics) and latex or other substances that may come in contact with your skin. Having allergies is associated with increased risk of asthma, atopic dermatitis (eczema), sinusitis, infections of the sinuses, ears or lungs, and complications such as anaphylaxis.
Professional healthcare should be sought out if you have symptoms you think may be caused by an allergy, especially if you notice an environmental factor that may be responsible. If allergy symptoms occur after starting a new medication, contact the prescribing doctor immediately.
Seek emergency medical care if you have a severe allergic reaction (i.e., anaphylaxis), even if symptoms improve after an epinephrine injection. Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
• Airway swelling (obstructed breathing)
• Severe shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lightheadedness
• Loss of consciousness
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Skin rash
Symptoms of allergies
Allergy symptoms can involve your skin, sinuses, airways or digestive system, and severity of symptoms varies from person to person. Symptoms also depend on your particular allergy and may include:
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
o Congestion
o Itchy, runny nose
o Itchy, watery or swollen eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
o Itchy skin
o Red skin
o Flaking or peeling skin
• Food allergy
o Tingling mouth
o Swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat
o Hives
o Anaphylaxis
• Insect sting allergy
o A large area of swelling (edema) at the sting site
o Itching or hives over your entire body
o Cough, chest tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath
o Anaphylaxis
• Drug allergy
o Hives, rash or itchy skin
o Facial swelling
o Wheezing
o Anaphylaxis
Naturopathic treatment of allergies
At Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine, the goals of allergy treatment are to identify allergy triggers, reduce intensity and frequency of allergic episodes and manage associated health conditions and side effects of conventional allergy medications.
Conventional treatment for allergies may include a lifestyle modification (allergen avoidance) and variety of medications to reduce your immune reaction and decrease symptoms. Medications prescribed include over-the-counter or prescription medications, including oral medications, nasal sprays and eye drops depending on the nature of your allergy. Common allergy medications include corticosteroids, antihistamines, decongestants, cromolyn sodium and leukotriene modifiers. Immunotherapy may be used for severe allergies or allergies that do not respond to other treatments. These treatments may have short- or long-term side effects and for this reason, you may choose to try natural treatment to possibly avoid use of conventional medications, or together with conventional medications in order to decrease dosages of conventional medications required to manage your acute sinusitis symptoms.
Naturopathic treatment of any chronic health concern must be recognized as a process that involves identifying specific treatment goals, a thorough understanding by your naturopathic doctor of all factors affecting your health, including physical, psychological, emotional and lifestyle factors, development of a comprehensive treatment plan and execution of that plan through periodic monitoring and adjustment.
At Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine a typical approach to treating allergies may be to first identify and if possible eliminate allergy triggers (e.g., foods, pollens, etc.) laboratory testing, decrease symptom severity using botanical (herbal) medicines, decrease (and if possible eliminate) your reactivity to triggers using acupuncture, homeopathic or homotoxicological medicines, and manage associated health conditions.
Where appropriate, a number of therapeutic options are available, to be used alone, or more often in a complementary fashion, including:
• Diet therapy
• Nutritional supplements
• Botanical (herbal) medicines
• Homotoxicological medicines
• Homeopathic medicines
• Acupuncture
• Bowen therapy
• Hydrotherapy
References
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Allergies [Online]. [cited 2010 Jan 9]; Available from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergies/DS01118.