Part 2- Three Top Allergy Treatments (continued from May) by Dr Elaine Cebuliak

Allergic pets may constantly scratch and bite at the skin. Some may chew or lick at themselves until wounds form. Other signs include:

• rubbing
• redness of the skin (especially on face and feet) ear infections or inflammation
• hair loss
• thickened or darkened skin may develop under the armpits, on the abdomen, inside the earflaps, or around the anus
• The irritated skin can easily become infected by bacteria or yeast which already exist on normal skin.

These types of allergies are often diagnosed by a combination of symptoms, examination findings, history, and response to treatment. Specialised allergy testing will usually reveal what is causing the reaction, that can be helpful in treatment and reducing reoccurrence of the outbreaks.

Here are some treatments that may assist allergies:

1.     Acupuncture can help reduce symptoms but usually doesn’t cure allergies. However, since some patients that appear to have allergies actually have weaknesses in their primary organ systems, in some cases great improvement can come from regular acupuncture. If we use Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and herbals along with this, the effect can be even greater.

Bathing and air filters can help reduce the amount of material present in the environment. Less allergens means less itching, but beware of indoor air purifiers that generate ozone as the presence of ozone can greatly worsen allergies and even cause asthma in sensitive patients.

2.     Mold in the house can be greatly reduced by cleaning the whole house with neat strength vinegar regularly (include drawers and cupboards) and diffusing Thieves essential oils from Young Living range. This is a blend of essential oils that have anti-inflammatory and antifungal actions, which coat the walls and furniture when diffused and prevent mould from growing. Using Thieves cleaner and vinegar steam mopping will enable asthma sufferers, allergic skin conditions from mould to improve.

Also be sure to change filters regularly as mold can grow in your air purifier’s filter and this can make the whole thing that much worse.

3.     Give a small amount of LOCALLY grown organic honey daily- the pollens are converted by the bee to honey and will act as a desensitising hypoallergenic “shot”.  Given orally.

I will continue on next month with more treatment options and also cover sulfite allergies found in foods and how to treat.

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