Allergies are so common for which 20% of Americans have some kind of allergic reaction or another to certain external stimuli whether food, water, or air. This probably isn't the first time you've heard of them. Allergy is categorized as different types, but perhaps the most common is food allergy. As its name suggests, this type of allergy is triggered when a reaction occurs after contact with a particular food to which you are sensitized. sensitized means that you have taken this food before. As the food enters the body, your immune system your body's natural defense ?sees the food substance as harmful foreign substance and mounts an attack against the protein. It produces a specific type of antibodies called IgE to right off?the proteins. This action of your own body's immune system is what triggers an allergic response. Practical Tips to help & manage Food Allergy:

1. Plan ahead. If you can, write a list of foods that you can tolerate and try to get some recipes that incorporate these. You may also consult your dietician and discuss or ask for any advice/help about special dietary alternatives or recipes that won't trigger your allergy. Also, try your local libraries for recipes or contact allergy specialists for more information on sensitivities or recipes.

2. If you are eating out, telephone the host or chef in advance and explain your needs. See if they will allow you to supply your own food. If not, perhaps they can adapt the menu for you. Always make it a point to discuss everything beforehand so you won't get tempted to eat anything you shouldn't.

3. Take extra supplies whenever you go out. You might take longer than you originally planned so carrying a spare packed lunch or goodies with you can be a big help not only to stave off your hunger but also to keep you away from restaurants selling foods that may trigger your food allergy.

4. It helps if you keep a food and symptom diary so when you have a reaction, you can pinpoint what triggered your symptoms. This also helps when you make your list of tolerable foods.

5. Make everyone aware if you have a life-threatening allergy. That way, you don't have to rely on yourself whenever you find yourself in a situation where you extremely tempted to eat foods you're allergic to. Also, in case you unknowingly ingest foods that trigger your allergy, there would be someone there to help you.

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With the huge accessibility to OTC and prescription drugs for allergies, it may come as a surprise why someone would need an alternative remedy at all. Well, the truth is there are various reasons why one would want a natural or home treatments for allergies. Reason One: Well-known synthetic medicines have disagreeable side effects. Sleepiness is a familiar side effect of many allergy medications, and an assortment of others including wheezing, fatigue, nervousness, stomach pain and many more.

Reason 2: Price - OTC and prescription medications can be expensive... sometimes more expensive than their herbal and natural counterparts. Getting something more affordable is always tempting to almost anyone.

Reason Three: Drug Interactions – Persons who currently take prescription medications of some sort sometimes cannot have allergy medicines due to the complications or negative drug interactions that take place. Herbal medicine and remedies can have this same impact too, most of the herbal remedies do not get in the way of other medications.

Reason 4: Accessibility - This is a major reason for herbal or natural allergy remedies. Some people don't have access to a viable synthetic medication. Reprieve for these individuals requires them to find a natural or herbal cures for allergies.

Reason 5: Natural Remedies Work Better - Just like few medicines work better for allergies than others... some natural remedies and herbs work better than some drugs. The chemistry of every person is unique, and this is why natural remedies can mostly work better, longer, or faster than synthetic meds.

Reason Six: Personal Liking - For personal reasons, few people favor holistic, natural medical treatments to synthetic medications. It can be for religious reasons, earlier dreadful experiences with western medicine, cultural anxieties…whatsoever. Everyone has their reasons, and they are equally relevant and significant as any other.

The good news is for people who come under one or more of these groups is that there are some natural remedies that work better for allergies. Now, not all remedies will work for all people, but almost all will find some respite from a some of these effective natural remedies for allergies stated here.

Natural Cure One: Use a saline solution for a nose congestion. Saline solutions (salt water) can help clear up a sinus passageway that is congested. You can either get a readymade solution in the commercial store, or you can prepare it yourself. Put a teaspoon of salt into a pint of distilled, warm water. Add a pinch of baking soda, and you are ready to do. Spray the prepared solution into your nose, and allow it to ooze out. It can bring out lot of the particles that are causing the allergy and even histamine-inflammed cells with it.

Natural Treatment 2: A warm face towel cover can clear out sinuses as well. Just get a warm face towel or wash cloth and relax by lying down with it on your face. As the water vapors rise from the towel into the nasal passageway, it can help decongest mucus.

Natural Remedy 3: Keep dry household environment. It is advisable to either a dehumidifier, or an air conditioner to do away with humidity from the air. A damp area helps the dustmites to breed, and the dustmites are a very common allergen. Dry air is an enemy of the dustmites, and hence your ally.

Natural Treatment 4: Drink a tea made of peppermint. Tea itself can lessen allergy symptoms such as congestion and the burning, itchy sensations that occur during hay fever attacks. Peppermint is a mild anti-histamine and antibacterial. Just add 1/2 an ounce of leaves of the herb for every quart of hot water, and let the leaves to be in water for around 5- 6 minutes. The steam from the tea itself also has an extra benefit on treating allergies.

Natural Cure Five: Horseradish or Wasabi to clear sinuses. These roots are really HOT! Therefore, take pure grated horseradish or a blob of wasabi… about 1/3 a teaspoon, and eat it. It will be tasting funny for the mouth but it will work well on the sinus. Do NOT use this procedure if you are sensitive to spicy foods or any of these two roots.

Remember, please consult a doctor or other medical professional before using these or any other great natural remedies for allergies.

Alternative remedies and herbs for allergies are always increasing in favor, partially due to the publics increasing awareness of pharmaceutical drug dangers and side effects. This isn't to say that all herbal and homeopathic remedies are completely safe... but usually side effects and dangerous drug interaction are less severe and they can be less expensive than man made prescription medications.

Furthermore, most people around the world have a hard time obtaining prescription allergy medications, but still desire some sort of medicine that can clear up the sneezing, burning eye, runny nose symptoms that are connected with a histamine attack... aka hay fever or seasonal allergies.

Luckily there are some good herbs for allergies that work as antihistamines. Histamine is an organic compound in the human body that is produced in response to what your body believes is a foreign invader, or allergen.

Now, in rare cases of excessive histamine release, your body can go into anaphylactic shock, and death is possible. In these situations, herbal remedies for hay fever probably won't be effective, and it is necessary to adhere to the one treatment that works for too much histamine: an epinephrine (adrenaline) shot.

However, for nearly all of histamine related allergy responses, the symptoms are fairly typical and include the normal responses associated with allergies. burning, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sinus pain, etc. These problems can usually be treated with a few

Stinging Nettle For Allergies - This herb is an effective antihistamine. In fact, a controlled study was conducted in the 90's with 69 people who have seasonal allergies being given nettles for their allergies. over half found good benefit from the herb, and almost half found that it was effective on more allergy effects than the OTC lab created allergy medications. More studies have been undertaken and corroborate this herb works for allergies.

Eyebright - This is an herb that is often used by herbalists for the past 100 years. Even though lab research has not yet documented clinical, controlled studies on eyebright, science knows it to be made up partially of flavonoids. These compounds are commonly believed to be an anti-inflammatory with regards to membranes such as optical and nasal areas.

Quercetin - This pigment compound has some great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. When studied in a beaker, quercetin reduces histamine levels that immune cells produce. while this hasn't been proven to operate the same in a living organism yet, it is proof that quercetin MAY be a great herbal allergy remedy.

Now, a lot more research should be undertaken to corroborate the efficacy and the safety of these herbs for allergies. Furthermore, it is very important you consult a medical professional before using these 3 natural remedies for allergies. Nursing or pregnant women shouldn't use any medication, synthetic or natural without expressed permission from a licensed family doctor. However, for people who need an effective, natural allergy remedy these three can be just what knocks your hay fever out! =]