Homeopathy for Hayfever and Seasonal Allergies

May 10 2011 Published by under allergies



May, 2011

The long-awaited spring weather has finally arrived (well—as of this writing spring seems to be hesitating!), and with it, suffering for people who are effected by seasonal allergies.

Hayfever (the commonly used generic term for seasonal allergy) is an allergy to proteins in the pollen of trees, grasses and plants. It effects the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, throat, and air passages, causing itching, watery secretions, irritability of membranes, fatigue, and in some, asthma and allergic skin rashes. There are three distinct hayfever seasons distinguished by the pollen present. Tree pollens appear first in early spring. The season that impacts most people is the time in late spring – early summer when trees, weeds, grass, flower pollens are all coming out at once. Fall is ragweed pollen season.  In a spring like the one we’re having this year, with everything late to bloom and then coming out suddenly, the incidents and severity of hayfever suffering is greater than usual.

Luckily, there are numerous natural medicine approaches that are effective in helping sufferers feel more comfortable.

The classical homeopathic approach is one that requires addressing the problem in the winter months – one of preparing the body to be less sensitive to allergens. This works well. In my experience people have less severe symptoms each year that they go through the homeopathic protocol in winter – until they have resolved their allergies altogether. Some people only need one winter of treatment to feel free of allergies.  If you have not had this sort of treatment, mark your calendars now – make an appointment to see your homeopath soon after the New Year to start a process of homeopathic allergy treatment. And then, read on, because there’s still lots you can do to ease your discomfort this season.

I suggest that people who suffer with seasonal allergies use both nutritional supplements as well as homeopathic remedies.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS, ETC
For many people, these approaches listed below will offer sufficient respite from symptoms.

·      Bromelain – reduces inflammation associated with hayfever. Take 200 mg 3 times daily between meals. Bromelain is a protease enzyme in pineapple.
·      Quercitin – a bioflavonoid that stabilizes the membranes of cells that release histamine which, in turn, triggers allergic symptoms. Take 500 mg three times daily before meals. Quercitin is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant flavonoid found in fruits, leaves, vegetables.
·      Vitamin C with bioflavonoids– 3000 – 6000 mg daily, spread out throughout the day. A good anti-inflammatory. Take Vitamin C in small doses frequently (no more than 500 mg) for optimal absorption.
·      Honey – get raw, unpasteurized local honey. This is truly ‘homeopathic’ as the bees that made the honey have feasted on the very same pollen that is torturing you. You will probably need to go to a farmer’s market to find raw local honey. Do not heat the honey. Take a teaspoon daily – yumm!!
·      Stinging Nettle Tea –3-4 cups daily, or 2 capsules 3 times daily.
·      Daily cleansing of nasal passages with a saline solution using a netti-pot can reduce many symptoms of allergy.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
As with most disorders, there are hundreds of homeopathic remedies that address the symptoms of seasonal allergy. Generally, I make a combination of remedies for my clients that is tailored to their particular, unique pattern of symptoms. There are commercially available combination remedies, but many of them have number of remedies that are completely inappropriate for any given individual, so I do not often recommend these products. However, Helio’s Pharmacy makes a Hayfever 30 remedy as well as a Mixed Pollens and Grasses remedy – both of which I think are good products. You can order these through Riverdale Homeopathic Resources (416-778-0085).

Below are three of the homeopathic remedies most commonly useful for seasonal allergies. If one of these remedies fits your symptom picture, give it a try, but if you see no improvement in a few days, discontinue use. It may be that you’ll need help from a professional to find a remedy (or combination) that is useful for you –but the results are worth it – it’s a terrible time of year not to feel full of the hope and joy of the season  — and being able to breathe helps!!

Sabadilla – hayfever marked by sneezing

  • Terrible violent paroxysms of sneezing with tearing of eyes  Itching and tingling inside the nose
  • Tearing, burning, and redness of the eyes, eyelids
  • Nasal discharge watery, copious, with plugged up nose
  • Itching of soft palate in mouth
  • Severe headache in forehead
  • Particularly sensitive to flower pollen

Euphrasia – hayfever that is centered in the eyes

  • Extreme irritation, burning, and itching of eyes – burning discharge from eyes leaves them red and sore and  very sensitive to light
  • Constant watering of eyes, sore eyes
  • Need to rub eyes, can be sensation of grain of sand in eye
  • Eyes stuck together in morning on waking
  • Lots of bland, watery, discharge from nose
  • Euphrasia Tincture can also be used as a local eyebath by diluting 5 to 10 drops in about ½ cup of cooled boiled water. It is very soothing for sore eyes at any time – even if using a different remedy internally. Apply using soaked cotton wool balls, throwing out after every swipe of the eye. If solution burns, reduce the ratio of tincture to water

Allium Cepa – hayfever with miserable running/stuffed nose

  • Nose dripping like a faucet – watery, profuse discharge that leaves nose and upper lip red, raw, and sore
  • Much tearing of eyes, but discharge is not burning as in euphrasia – does not leave eyes red and crusty
  • Nose completely obstructed – impossible to breath through nose
  • Violent sneezing, especially on entering a warm room
  • Hoarse voice often with hacking cough
  • Symptoms worse in spring and late summer
  • Often effects left nostril or eye first or with greater intensity

Dosing: I suggest you put 4 pellets of the remedy you select into 8 oz of spring water. Stir a few times and take one teaspoons 3-4 times daily, stirring a few times before each dose. Your water solution can be kept covered on the kitchen counter for up to a week.

HAPPY SPRING!!!

No responses yet

Homeopathy for Flu

Jan 11 2011 Published by under acute illness, applied homeopathy

It’s January and the flu is here – with record numbers of people falling ill, according to news reports. There’s lots you can do to protect you and your family from getting sick this season.

 

PREVENTION
1.    EAT WELL — The best way to keep your immune function healthy is through diet.
•    eliminate all white sugar — This is probably the most important thing you can to for your immune system.
•    eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables – the phytochemicals and vitamins in fruit and vegetables act as excellent antioxidants – helping your immune cells fight toxins in your body.  In particular, use lots of garlic – it is a powerful immune booster that stimulates white blood cell multiplication, boosts natural killer cell activity, and increases the efficiency of antibody production. .
•    eliminate caffeine and alcohol  (or at the very least, reduce it dramatically). Green Tea is a fabulously healthy alternative to coffee and black tea – and will give you a gentle energy lift as well. Drink lots of water, with lemon juice preferably.
2.    SLEEP LOTS — Be kind to your body and listen to it – excessive tiredness may be your body’s way of alerting you to the fact that illness may be on the way. You need more sleep in the winter, you need more caloric intake to stay warm, and you probably need a generally gentler schedule
3.    WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
4.    TAKE YOUR VITAMINS –  These are your daily essentials and will go a long way in keeping you from getting sick in the first place:
•    vitamin D — If you haven’t had your 25 Hydroxy D levels checked, ask your doctor to do so next time you have some blood work done. In the meantime, 4000 IU daily for adults and 2000 IU daily for children is a reasonable daily amount.
•     Vitamin C is crucially important in winter– I suggest at least 1000 mg daily for children, 2000 for adults, increasing that up to 4 fold during times of illness.
•    daily multi-vitamin (be sure Selenium is included as well as a good range of vitamin Bs),
•    Omega 3 fish-oil
•    Daily probiotic
5.    STAY HOME IF YOU DON’T FEEL WELL — I believe that we all need a bit of hibernation to get through these short, cold, harsh days. Be kind to yourself, and those around you.

HOMEOPATHIC FLU PREVENTION PROTOCOL:
•    Influenzinum 30 can be taken as a prophylactic three times weekly during the peak of flu season/ flu epidemic

AT THE FIRST SIGN OF ILLNESS:
start taking an immune boosting supplement – there are  ones to keep your body’s response vital.
•    “KI” Immune Defense consists of astragalus, shitake mushrooms, and olive leaf – a good combination. You can use products that have these ingredients, also Echinacea and Bee Propolis
•    Reishi mushrooms are especially potent immune boosters
•    Oregano oil is an excellent anti-infectious agent, one I recommend during times of suspected incipient illness, or during illness, but should not be used as a daily supplement over a long period of time. If you are taking Oregano oil, be sure you are also taking a probiotic or acidophyllus.
•    Finally, if you start to feel ill, increase your vitamin C levels and start taking supplemental vitamin E and Zinc to further boost immune activity.

HOMEOPATHIC REMEDY FOR FIRST SIGN OF FLU:
Oscillococcinum 200: This remedy is sold as a cure-all for flu, but doesn’t work once the illness is established. Use during the prodromal stage (the time between the first appearance of symptoms and the development of fever or full blown illness) – once every 12 hours.  

IF YOU ACTUALLY CONTRACT FULL-BLOWN FLU:
Continue with accelerated supplement program, and sleep and drink fluids copiously. In addition, there are a number of homeopathic remedies that can be useful in helping you get through your illness quickly, with no long-lingering effects:
•    Gelsemium 30 – useful for flu with slow onset. Marked symptoms are extreme weariness and heaviness, chills up and down the spine, and general aching and soreness. Face looks dull, sleepy. Usually has an intense throbbing headache, with feeling of engorged, teary eyes. This remedy is also useful for weariness that lingers long after the flu is done.
•   Eupatorium 30 – useful for flu marked with violent aching, bone-breaking pains all over the body. This flu has a rapid onset, patient is very chilly with violent shivering and extreme sensitivity to draughts.
•    Rhus Tox 30 – slow-onset flu with generalized aching in bones and joints with extreme restlessness and inability to find a place of comfort. There is usually profuse sweating all over the body (except the head). Patients needing this remedy are usually better after some slow, gentle movement such as a walk. A bright red tip of the tongue is often seen in people needing this remedy.
•    Bryonia 30 – slow onset flu with generalized, aching pains. Any movement hurts – patients are irritable, hard to please, worried, and tend to grunt their responses. They often have a hard painful cough and intense headaches. They are extremely thirsty patients who want large quantities of cold drinks.
•    Baptisia 30—extreme flu symptoms with fast onset. Rapid prostration and general foulness. Every movement is agonizing. Patient appears scattered and confused. There is heavy, foul-smelling sweat and a deep thirst, although drinking water causes nausea.
•    Arsenicum 30 – Flu with gastroenteritis, vomiting, diarrhea. Marked chilliness and restlessness alternating with extreme weakness and collapse. Patient is generally terribly anxious about their condition. They are thirsty for small sips of water. Patient has a hot face and chilly body, craving warmth and fresh air all at once.

DOSING:
My suggested pattern of dosing is as follows: take one pellet of the indicated remedy every 15 minutes for 4 doses. Assuming there is an improvement, repeat a single dose of the remedy once the symptoms worsen – probably about every 4 hours. If there is no improvement in 24 hours, you may have the wrong remedy. Do not continue taking a remedy that is having no positive benefit for more than 48 hours.

Call your friendly local homeopath for help if you are not getting benefit from your own attempts at prescribing.  It can be rewarding to care for your own, but frustrating if you have not found the correct remedy.

No responses yet