Treating Seasonal Allergies with Naturopathic Medicine
Allergy season is upon us, and the symptoms patients experience can significantly impact their quality of life. I see many patients suffering from seasonal allergies in my NW Calgary Naturopathic Medicine practice, and this blog will discuss the treatment options I use most often with my patients. Keep reading to learn more!
From a Naturopathic Medicine perspective, signs and symptoms of seasonal allergies are caused by the body’s immune system reacting to an allergen (grass, pollen, etc) that it shouldn’t be reacting to. Symptoms can include itchy eyes, nose, throat, palate and ears, runny nose, and nasal congestion. Therefore as a Naturopathic Doctor I look at supporting my patients immune system, as well as their digestive system and adrenals (linked to stress) as a way of reducing their seasonal allergies. A body that is in a state of optimal health will not mount a response to these allergens and therefore the patient will not experience symptoms. This is the goal of a Naturopathic Doctor in treating a patients seasonal allergies.
Here are the main modalities I use in my practice to treat my patients seasonal allergies:
Nutrition for Seasonal Allergies- Vitamins and Supplements
This is one of the most powerful tools we can use to treat seasonal allergies. Vitamins and supplements can be used both to treat the symptoms of allergies as well as to balance the immune system as well as the digestive system and the adrenals. One of the most powerful things we can do is optimize a patients gut flora, and by doing so can contribute to a more balanced immune system. Eating a diet rich in bioflavonoids and quercetin can also contribute to seasonal allergy symptom relief.
Botanical Medicine and Herbs
This is another powerful modality for treating seasonal allergies and is used mostly to support the immune system and the respiratory system. A patient with a balanced immune system will not experience seasonal allergies.
Mesotherapy
I use this modality with great success in my practice. You can read my Mesotherapy blog here. By injecting homeopathics under the skin we can improve a patients symptoms significantly.
Food Sensitivity Testing
Although this may not be one of the first things I will do with a patient for their seasonal allergies, it is beneficial. My reducing the antigen load that a patient’s immune system is dealing with by removing positive foods, the immune system is more balanced and less reactive to other allergens such as pollen or grass.
As you can see there are many options that Naturopathic Medicine has to offer in the treatment of Seasonal Allergies, and thus in improving one’s quality of life during allergy season. Why suffer when you don’t have to? Feel free to call me at my NW Naturopathic Medicine practice at (403) 719-2594 if you have any questions about if Naturopathic Medicine is right for you!
Dr. Ramona Charikar BScH, ND
Naturopathic Vitality Acupuncture and Wellness Clinic
205-5403 Crowchild Trail NW
(403) 719-2594
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