Healing QA: What Do You Recommend For Allergies?

05/16/2013 | 09:47 PM

If we're talking about allergic rhinitis or hay fever, then Ayurveda teaches us a number of useful things. Given its association with inflammation that then leads to mucus, congestion and other afflictions of the respiratory system, Ayurveda considers hay fever and other forms of allergic rhinitis to be an aggravation of both the Pitta and Kapha energies that sit in the stomach and head/chest regions, respectively. In Ayurveda, the immune system’s strength is directly related to the strength of the digestive system: With weak digestion, we have a weak immune system. When our immune system weakens, our body then produces moisture, with the intention of reinforcing the body’s tissues for the duration of the body’s vulnerable and weakened state. This moisture is indicative of the aggravation of our Kapha element, and with this imbalance comes the congestion indicative of hay fever symptoms.

In avoiding symptoms of hay fever, the first step is to strengthen digestion with proper food choices and eating habits. This will balance the digestive fire associated with the Pitta element and lead to a lessening of inflammation in the affected areas. It is also important to utilize therapies that, along with stabilizing the digestive fire in the stomach, lessen the incidence of mucus in the head and chest region. It is important to reduce the intake of foods that create more heat in the body and aggravate Pitta energy, like spicy foods, caffeinated beverages like coffee, alcohol, and sour foods like yogurt and pickles. It is also important to avoid heavy foods that are difficult to digest and produce more Kapha energy in the body, such as red meat, dairy products like cheese and ice cream, sweet fruits like strawberries and raspberries and sugary sweets like candy and cake.

Healing QA: What Do You Recommend For Allergies?

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