Much of what we have learned so far has focused on traditional therapies and treatments for allergies. Traditional treatments are a good start in the fight against allergies. There is a growing body of evidence and a growing community of practitioners however, focusing more on total body health and awareness, as well as allergy prevention.
Alternative or holistic medicine is a dynamic approach to healing that involves the mind, body and spirit. Many people find they rely more and more on holistic alternatives than traditional remedies to prevent allergies or treat allergies before they become severe.
In this section we will review the pros and cons of alternative therapies. Most people with sensitivities and mild allergies will benefit from the information in this section. If you have severe allergies, you will also benefit, but keep in mind if you have anaphylactic reactions to allergies your treatment choices may be limited to primarily traditional medical therapies. You may be able to consider, however, holistic or alternative therapies as adjunct therapy or as complementary therapy, so keep this in mind.
Types of Alternative Medicine
There are many types of alternative medicine available to consumers to treat many different disorders including allergies, asthma and more. Some of the more commonly known alternative therapies include:
- Herbal therapy
- Supplements
- Homeopathic medicine
- Desensitization techniques
- Ayruvedic medicine
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic medicine, and
- Hypnosis
We’ll go into a little more detail about some of the more commonly adopted alternative therapies used by patients with allergies, so you can decide whether complementary therapies may be suitable for your situation. When deciding to use any alternative therapy, including herbs or tinctures, it is important you talk with a trained specialist in herbal medicine and with your doctor, so you don’t take something that will conflict with any prescription medications you currently take.
Remember that herbs too are medicine, and they can have varying effects on people depending on the frequency of use and types of herbs used for treatment.
