Do You Have Allergies or Food Sensitivities?

by Kevin Smith Author

Spring allergies and food sensitivities can make life miserable. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could avoid shots, sprays, mists, and pills when dealing with this issue? Allergy medications may help the allergies themselves but pose a risk in side effects. If you'd like to learn more about a more holistic approach to allergies and food sensitivities, search for natural and holistic medicine in Arlington Heights, IL.

What is Holistic Medicine?

Holistic medicine is a form of healing that treats the whole person -- body, mind, spirit, and emotions for optimal overall health. A medical provider who practices holistic health will look at factors in your environment and your diet that are possibly causing you distress. It could be you are eating too much sugar and refined foods and your gut is working overtime to try to balance itself but instead, you develop a food allergy or sensitivity. If a practitioner of holistic health can find what nutrients you're missing or some simple steps to achieving balance, isn't that a better way to heal allergies and sensitivities?

Chiropractic adjustments, infrared light therapy, biofeedback, acupuncture, and diet or lifestyle modifications have helped many patients who previously suffered from allergies to break the cycle without traditional allergy medication.

Is Stress Related to Allergies?

It's interesting to note that when you are stressed out, your body releases additional hormones and chemicals, including histamine, a powerful chemical that can lead to allergy symptoms. While stress may not cause allergies, it is thought increase allergy symptoms in some people due to the increased histamine. It pays to reduce stress not only for allergies but for the entire body, especially the heart and the endocrine and circulatory system. Some methods of reducing stress include:

Exercise
Yoga
Meditation
Relaxing music
Strolling through museums or other places of beauty

Keeping stress at a minimum can be difficult. Jot down some notes about what you find stressful and what you could do differently. If you're always running late and you're clenching the steering wheel, blowing your horn, tailgating, and trash=talking other drivers, become mindful of that behavior and teach yourself to leave a little earlier in the morning. If you have a friend who is always pointing out the negative in everyday situations, change the subject or limit your time around them. If your home life is fraught with noise and confusion and you're too busy to really enjoy each other, it may be time to drop an activity or cut back on phone conversations or taking work home with you. Call today for a consultation about natural and holistic medicine in Arlington Heights, IL, today.