What are the Alternative Treatments for Dust Allergies?

What is Dust Allergy?

Dust allergy is an allergic reaction that is caused by tiny bugs that live in the house. The mites that cause dust allergies are related to ticks and spiders but they are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Types of Dust Allergy

There are types of dust allergy depending on the causative agent. These are:

Hair and Feather of animals: The body droppings of pet animals when combined with the household dust can cause allergic symptoms.
Pollen: Pollen grains from different plants can cause allergic reactions in some people.
Cockroach: The tiny body particles of the cockroach may get mixed with dust and result in allergy.
Hair and feather of animals: The droppings of pet animals when combined with household dust can cause allergic symptoms.

Causes of Dust Allergy

In dust allergy, the immune system makes antibodies that identify the particular allergen as something which is harmful, even though it isn’t. When a person comes in contact with the allergen, the immune system produces an inflammatory response in the nasal passages or lungs. Prolonged exposure to allergens can result in chronic inflammation that is associated with asthma.

In Ayurveda, it is believed that when Agni (digestive fire) in the body becomes weak, there is an accumulation of toxins in the body. These toxins weaken the immune system and the body is not able to fight against allergic reactions. Our immune system is a complex system, when it is in a balanced state, it does a seamless job of identifying and eliminating the potential threats to our health, such as bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, etc. but sometimes our immune system responds too vigorously to a substance in the environment that is harmless. When the body acts to eradicate the perceived threat, a person experiences the symptoms of an allergic reaction. When this condition continues for a long time, the allergy from dust becomes a chronic condition.

Some signs and symptoms of dust allergy are similar to those of the common cold. Sometimes it is difficult to know whether a person is suffering from a cold or an allergy but if the symptoms persist for longer than one week, a person might be suffering from a dust allergy.

Symptoms of Dust Allergy

The symptoms of dust allergy are similar to those of pollen allergies. These include:

Clear nasal discharge with sneezing and itching of the nose
Ear and sinus congestion or fullness
Itchy ear canals, itchy skin, or hoarse voice
Eye allergies such as itchy, red, watery, or puffy eyes
Coughing
Tightness in the chest
Shortness of breath

If dust allergy contributes to asthma, the symptoms include:

Difficulty in breathing
An audible whistling sound while inhaling
Tightness in the chest or pain
Bouts of coughing or sneezing that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as cold or flu
There is trouble in sleeping due to shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing

Treatment of Dust Allergy

The first line of dust allergy treatment is to avoid dust mites but it is impossible to completely eliminate dust mites from the home or environment. Therefore, medications are required to control the symptoms.

Modern treatment of dust allergy includes the prescription of allergy drugs such as antihistamines, corticosteroids, decongestants, leukotriene modifiers, etc. to relieve itching, sneezing, watery eyes, etc.

Taking anti-histamines in a long run can have certain side effects such as drowsiness, heart palpitations, dry mouth, difficulty urinating, constipation, etc. So many patients look for alternative treatment for dust allergies.

The science of Ayurveda helps in eradicating the problem from the root cause in a natural way. The Ayurvedic treatment for dust allergies includes strengthening the digestive fire is to eliminate the Ama (toxins). Ama includes both physical as well as mental toxicity that accumulates in our physiology and it interferes with our natural healing.

For getting relief from dust allergies, take light and lukewarm foods and avoid dusty, cold, and humid places.

Institute of Applied Food Allergy (IAFA) provides effective herbal remedies prepared from the best quality herbs for ayurvedic treatment of all types of allergies. All the herbal remedies are prepared under the supervision of Dr. Sahil Gupta (BAMS, MHA) and strictly followed the principles of Ayurveda. With years of experience, IAFA becomes the Ayurvedic leader in allergic disorders management. IAFA has successfully treated a number of patients suffering from various allergies.

Conclusion