Allergic rhinitis is also known as hay fever. It is an exaggerated response of the immune system to environmental triggers such as pollens, weeds and cat dander.
Allergic rhinitis is of two types
Seasonal Allergic rhinitis- It occurs only during that time of the year in which certain plants pollinates. In spring season, hay fever is commonly due to tree pollen. In summers grass and weed pollens cause hay fever. In autumn weeds are the triggering agents, while primarily from late march through November fungus spores cause hay fever.
Perennial Allergic rhinitis – It occurs throughout the year. People with this type of allergic rhinitis are found to be usually allergic to one or more allergens present indoors. These includes animal dander i.e. the tiny skin flakes of animals such as cats and dogs that is shed along with fur, feathers and house dust mites. They may be found on beddings, heavy draperies, pillows, carpet and upholstery. Mold is another common allergen which is usually found in damp areas such as basements and bathrooms.
These include the following:
Hay fever is found to be genetically determined. Majority of patients with allergic rhinitis have their parents or siblings who are also suffering from some form of allergy. Also people with eczema and asthma are more commonly found to develop hay fever.
Hay fever occurs when the immune system of the body views harmless agents like inhaled pollens as dangerous substances entering the body. The immune system then overreacts and floods the bloodstream with chemicals like histamines and leukotriens. These chemicals in turn inflame the lining of the nasal passages, sinuses and eyelids and thus produce symptoms associated with hay fever.
The various symptoms of hay fever are in fact meant to protect the body from the allergens either by trapping and expelling them or by swelling the body areas to avoid the entry of the allergens.
Hay fever can be diagnosed by the physician based on symptoms present and physical examination. If required doctors can advise skin and blood tests to see how the body reacts to certain substances. During the skin tests the doctor pricks the back or arm of the patient with tiny tubes containing common allergens. If the body is allergic to any of them then the skin at the test site becomes red, itchy or swollen.
In the blood tests when the allergen binds to the antibodies produced by the body in response to allergy in the nose, eyes or mouth, chemicals are released by the body that cause the above symptoms.
Although mostly an inherited trait allergic rhinitis can be managed with some simple steps.
A lot of sneezing and itching can be kept in check by steering clear of the things that trigger them.
Homeopathy provides the best solution for treating allergic rhinitis. Well selected homeopathic medicine not only helps to alleviate the present troublesome symptoms of allergic rhinitis in a patient but it eventually eliminates the very tendency of the immune system to produce such an exaggerated response to harmless allergens in the surroundings. For this a homeopathic physician takes a detailed case record of the patient and elicits symptoms pertaining to both the mental and physical sphere. The best selected homeopathic medicine is the one most similar to this symptom presentation.
Also unlike Allopathic treatment for allergic rhinitis that causes various side effects such as drowsiness and dryness of nasal mucosa, no side effects have been noticed from the prolonged use of homeopathic medicines that are prescribed by homeopathic physician to treat allergic rhinitis.
Commonly indicated homeopathic medicines to treat allergic rhinitis are:
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