Keep seasonal allergies and hay fever at bay with Ayurveda

Allergic rhinitis: prime cause of seasonal allergies as per Ayurveda
While a healthy immune system is able to cope with the billions of particles and impurities that float in the air we breathe, a weakened immune system is hypersensitive to this seemingly normal invasion. Rhinitis or hay fever is a result of the body’s over-reaction to pollen or dust. It causes an inflammatory response by the sensitive mucus membranes that line the inside of the nasal passages.

Hay fever is characterized by headache, itchy eyes and throat, running nose with excess water discharge and sneezing. These common allergies are caused due to hypersensitivity of the nervous system.

Ayurveda recommends the long-term boosting of your immunity system to find a permanent cure for this condition.

Some of the causes that triggers seasonal allergic rhinitis include indigestion, inhalation of smoke and dust, sleepless night, lethargy, exposure to cold and chilly weather, increased sexual activity, not being in balance with the season and the suppression of natural urges.

According to Ayurveda, Ama or undigested toxins clubbed with low immunity are the prime cause of allergies. Ama can settle at the digestive level or in various tissues with different symptoms at each level. When improperly digested, Ama is carried through channels into various tissues in the body, in turn the resulting toxin accumulation imbalances the tissues.

Ama toxicity aggravates pitta or kapha, and in each case, the symptoms may vary. In fact, you may be a kapha, pitta or vata person, but an allergy when it occurs in any constitution, may encourage various symptoms.

Cure of hay fever through Ayurvedic treatment

Ayurveda believes in balancing the three doshas present in the human body, thus treating the disease as a whole. Treatment involves clearing the sinuses and expelling phlegm, alleviating the relevant dosha and detoxification.
To permanently resolve this disorder, dietary and lifestyle adjustments is necessary, apart from the strengthening of the immune system. Panchakarma is an effective means of treating hay fever.

In Ayurveda, allergies can be treated through shodhan or detoxification treatment in the form of Nasya where the drop of medicated oil is instilled in the nostrils. This helps lubricate the mucus membrane while allowing the oil to drain up in the sinus cavity. If Nasya therapy is carried out effectively, Kapha related toxins from the Paranasal sinuses are eliminated.

Allergies can also be treated through shaman or pacification treatment in the form of medicines, where Kapha pacifying herbs are used. Herbs that can pacify Kapha include mulethi, vasa, pushkar mul and kantakari. Powders like sitopladi churna, lakshmivilas ras tablets and vyoshadi guggulu are surefire medications to pacify Kapha.

Tips to combat seasonal sickness with home remedies
- Prepare a decoction by boiling half a teaspoon of licorice or mulethi root powder, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper powder, and 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger along with 8-10 basil leaves or tulsi, in a cup of water. Reduce the liquid to a half. Add half a teaspoon of sugar and drink lukewarm in morning and evening in place of tea or coffee.

- Boil half a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger in milk and make it a habit to consume daily.

- Consume one-fourth teaspoon of turmeric powder in hot milk. May take 2-3 times a day as turmeric is a natural immune booster.

- Mix half a teaspoon of Indian gooseberry (amla) fruit powder with 1 teaspoon honey. Take twice a day to keep seasonal sickness at bay.