Allergies (Food)

Allergic reactions are the immune system’s response to perceived invaders in the body such as mold, dust, or certain food. A food allergy is an allergic reaction to certain food such as milk, shellfish, nuts, chocolate, or soy, or food additives, such as preservatives and colorings. An allergic reaction can range anywhere from mild to severe and include skin rash, headache, hives, stuffy or runny nose, gastrointestinal upset, or shortness of breath. Certain people develop life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis in which there is a difficult breathing, rapid swelling of the throat or tongue, and a sudden drop in blood pressure, also the person may become unconscious. To deal effectively with food allergies a person must eliminate the offending food, but may find natural remedies helpful in reducing the severity of symptoms when the food is accidentally consumed.

Home Remedies

First try to identify the source. Second, once the sources are discovered, they should be avoided. Third, and most important, general health and resistance should be built up to establish immunity to them.
Use of five drops of castor oil in a little juice or water taken on an empty stomach in the morning , is highly beneficial for allergies in the intestestinal tract, skin and nasal passages.
Take equal quantity of cumin seeds, fennel seeds and white sesame seeds (25 gram each) and dry-roast each seeds separately. Mix the roasted seeds and 1/2 teaspoon rock salt. Store in a glass jar. Chew a handful of this mixture after eating any food which will aid digestion and help to prevent any kind of food allergy.
Make licorice tea made from 1/2 teaspoon licorice root powder and 1 teaspoon ghee. Add 1/2 teaspoon honey only after the tea starts to cool and drink this tea. (Note: People with high blood pressure should not drink licorice tea)

Do's

Keep to organic, untreated, unprocessed foods as far as possible so to eliminate pesticides and various sprays.
Take diet rich in vitamin B and E as it possesses effective anti-allergic properties. Eat one or two banana daily. If you are not sensitive to banana.
Drink 6-8 glasses of pure water daily.
If the allergen is airborne, clean living and working spaces frequently.
Wear a face mask when doing chores.
Get rid of dust, molds, and mildew.
Manage stress. Try deep breathing and relaxation exercise.
Do yogic asanas like yogamudra, ardhmatsyendrasana, sarvangasana, shavasana and anuloma-viloma, pranayama are also beneficial.

Don’ts

Avoid allergen triggering food which may include eggs, strawberries, berries, peanuts, nuts, chocolates, cheese, tomatoes, soy products, shellfish and many more.
Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, cola drinks, and chocolates.
Stop smoking, if you smoke. Smoking exacerbates allergic reactions.
Avoid foods containing any food additives, such as preservatives and colorings.

See Doctor

See doctor immediately if:

Develop breathing difficulties, swelling of lips and tongue, and a rash within a few minutes of eating a suspect food.

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