Allergies-what are they,exactly?

Before we are born we live in a sterile environment protected by our mother's immune ssystem.Once out in the cold cruel world we are immediately exposed to the dangers of infection. The immune system is ready and wating to respond .Antibodies in breast milk also help us to fight off infection and form part of this defence system..

Not only does our immune system have to recognise the enemy,it also has to recognise its own component parts as not being harmful. We are after all made up of complex chemicals which are hazardous in the wrong place.a transfusion with the wrong blood is potentially fatal.

This process of learning is known as immune tolerance .We develop tolerance for without it we would always be reacting either to our own body parts or to something we have eaten whether harmful or not. Our immune system is a wonderful invention.

.Allergy (meaning altered reaction) is simply an indication that the immune system has 'decided' to react to something. This could be pollen as in hayfever,metals as in some skin reactions,food additives or even natural substances such as aspirin which is found naturally in a number of foods. The immune system does not always react consistently-we can be allergic to something one year and not the next. Nature does not always get things right and sometimes the reaction the body makes is more harmful than the thing to which it is reacting.Allergies range from mild to life threatening. Those with severe life threatening allergies(such as to wasp venom or peanuts) should ensure they obtain and know how to use the adrenaline auto-injector in an emergency.

With spring on its way hayfever is very much in peoples minds. Homeopathic remedies can help those with mild hayfever.

If you get more severe symptoms and use a nasal spray or antihistamine tablets it sometimes helps to start using the treatment before your hayfever sets in.It is perhaps better to stop the immune system reacting in the first place rather than trying to 'put the fire out once lit.'

Drink plenty of fluids if you are unwell with symptoms. In any immune reaction water tends to leak into the tissues causing puffy eyes streaming nose and the other typical symptoms .Rest helps as does a calm quiet environment. If you are ill with a bacterial or viral infection generally speaking your allergy symptoms will be worse .When you are over your illness things will usually settlle down. Anything which helps your immune system will generally help with allergy. Vitamin C, a good diet,exercise, sunshine in moderation and rest when needed . Stress,coffeee alcohol, poor diet will all tend to make things worse.

GPs might reluctantly consider giving a steroid injection in those with severe symptoms if there is a once off reason This might be to cover a marriage for instance or exams or a driving test .Steroids are powerful drugs and should not be overused.

In spring before the hay fever season starts I ensure that I get stung a couple of times(mildly) by stinging nettles usually on the back of the hand.You dont need to be heroic and shouldnt do this if you are susceptible to severe allergic reactions.This seems to have reduced the severity of my mild hayfever symptoms. I'm not sure why but it works for me! Let me know if it works for you