When it comes to the causes of Allergies, you can forget the usual suspects. They are not infectious diseases, so viruses, bacteria can’t be blamed. Nor you can blame working too hard, standing in the rain, eating too much fat, or being attractive to mosquitoes. Instead blame yourself or more specifically your immune system, the same one that‘s designed to protect you from harm. To understand why your immune system sometimes goes haywire, your first need to understand how things are supposed to work.

A weak immune system can allow viruses and bacteria to proliferate in your body or make healing from injury difficult and slow. That is why the diseases that suppress immunity, such as AIDS are so dangerous.

Understanding how the immune system operates or differentiates between welcome and unwelcome cells is the key to understanding the causes of allergies. The immune system knows which are “Good” cells and which are “Bad” cells because the surface of every cell in your body sports special proteins. The cells doing the defect and destroy work are white blood cells. Millions of them circulate in blood and tissues helping to defend your body from infections. There are five main types:

1) Lymphocytes: Constantly circulating throughout your body on the lookout for antigens. When they find any, they develop plans for attacking the invaders and convey those plans to other members of the immune system team.

2) Macrophages: These engulf and destroy large particles such as bacteria or yeast

3) Neutrophils: The most numerous WBC’s and are the first to arrive on the scene after an injury occurs. Their favorite food is bacteria and one neutrophil can eat about a dozen of bacteria.

4) Eosinophils: These white blood cells secreats chemicals that trigger the inflammatory process and help to destroy foreign cells.

5) Basophiles: They release a host of chemicals that contribute to the inflammatory response, including histamine.

There is no place you can move to escape from allergies. Allergies are a serious problems and should be treated effectively. If left untreated they can lead to decreased quality of life, including impaired sleep and learning ability as well as absence from school and work.

Untreated allergies can result in other chronic respiratory problems such as Asthma, Sinusitis and skin disorders such as eczema and urticaria. Some allergies such as those to food, drugs and insect sting can even lead to life threatening. Anaphylaxis, a systemic allergic reaction that can sometimes be fatal.

There are 3 main types Allergic Rhinitis:

1) Seasonal Rhinitis: Rhinitis occurring at certain times of the year, primarily in the spring and fall, when pollens are at their peak. If you are prone to allergies, you will probably just become allergic to something ealse in your new environment.

2) Perennial Rhinitis: It is likely that you are allergic to Pet dander, dust mite and cockroach droppings. These allergies triggers no seasonality. They are of being miserable year round.

3) Occupational Rhinitis: It results from sensitivity to something at work. It may be the a chemical, plant in the lobby or the fibers in the carpet etc.

Clinical Picture:

You are sneezing, your throat is scratchy, your eyes itch, raised red wheels have appeared on your chest and back, wheezing etc.
Allergic Rhinitis usually shows up before age 20 years, but it can develop at any age. Today it affects 40% of children and 20 – 30% of adults. Allergic Rhinitis may lead to Ear infections, Sinus infections and asthma etc.
If allergies are not treated, they can also lead to nasal polyps or swollen nasal turbinate’s. Sometimes surgery is required to correct these problems. Untreated allergies can also cause dental and facial abnormalities and can affect speech development in children.
Sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes disturbs sleep, consequently ability to think, study and capacity to make decisions. Finally allergy sufferers may look as they are constantly tired, because of swollen adenoids.

Management:
1) Avoidance of Allergen
2) Desensitization
3) Symptomatic like antihistaminics, local and general steroids etc.
4) Surgical for nasal obstruction

Ayurvedic Management:
1) Shadbindu Taila Nasya
2) Dhoompana
3) Shirovasti
4) Shirswedana
5) Orally: Bruhana Chikista, Mahalaxmivilas, Chitrakharitaki, Chavanprasha, Sitopaladi, Talisadi, Haridra Khanda, Sudarshan Vati, Arogyavardhini, Shilajeet etc. are used to treat or increase the immunity power.

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