Allergies of various kinds affect a significant proportion of the global population and may manifest as reactions to food, airborne

allergens or substances that may come into contact with the skin. Concerns regarding the side-effects of common medical treatments for allergies and a general increase in interest in natural therapies lead many sufferers of allergies to the doors of natural therapists. Homeopathic medicine has the advantages of speed, a low risk of side effects and the ability to tailor the treatment to the individuals specific needs. Where the homeopathic simillimum is difficult to find, or the where the prescriber feels ill-equipped to pursue it, a number of authors1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 have made some useful recommendations about general and specific remedies that may provide symptomatic relief from allergies. These remedies should be used in 6C potencies, half hourly or three times daily, only while the symptoms that relate specifically to the remedy are present. For any issues that dont resolve in a reasonable period of time, or those that increase in severity or where new symptoms arise, the services of a qualified and experienced homoeopath should be sought. Allergy in General These may be worth considering for general allergy symptoms. Remedy Allium cepa Comments / Modalities Sneezing, profuse, fluent burning acrid nasal discharge with conjunctivitis, itchy eyes, photophobia, a bland lachrymal discharge, ticklish throat and a dull frontal headache are often seen here. Symptoms are worse in a warm room and in the evening, and are better in open air and cold. Dyspnoea, a chesty cough, nausea and fatigue respond well to this remedy. Symptoms are worse for warmth and better for motion and belching. Commonly used for bites and stings by insects, those with hives, swelling of the throat, and general swelling and burning symptoms may benefit from Apis. Skin symptoms are better for cold application. Violent sneezing, photophobia, burning tears and a thin, watery, excoriating nasal discharge appear here and there may also be swollen eyelids, dyspnoea, restlessness and anxiety. Symptoms are worse after exertion, after midnight and are better in a warm room Catarrhal headaches, profuse burning tears, conjunctivitis and a bland nasal discharge characterise this remedy. Symptoms are worse in the cold air, in sunlight or wind, for warmth and during the evening and better in bed and

Antimonium tart

Apis mel

Arsenicum alb

Euphrasia

from coffee. Nat mur Weakness, photophobia, itchy eyes, lachrymation, swelling of the eyes and migraine headaches that are worse from sunrise to sunset, numbness and tingling of the tongue, sneezing and coryza may be seen here. Symptoms are better for open air and rest and are worse mid-morning and from mental exertion. Cough associated with bursting headache, fluent nasal discharge by day and nasal congestion at night with sneezing and irritability will often respond well to Nux vom. Symptoms are worse in the early morning and in cold, open air. Occipital or one-sided headache, shortness of breath, bland, yellow, nasal discharge during the day and congestion at night may indicate the need for Pulsatilla. Symptoms are worse in a warm room, at twilight, at night and while lying down and better for cool and open air. Restlessness, swelling and oedema of the eyelids, photophobia, drowsiness after eating, occipital headache, sneezing with fluent coryza, hives, extreme itching and joint stiffness characterise this remedy. Symptoms are worse for exposure to cold and better for hot applications. Erythema, hives and contact allergies resulting in Itching and burning skin symptoms which may alternate with arthritic symptoms are often seen here. Symptoms are worse for exposure to cold or from touch.

Nux vomica

Pulsatilla

Rhus tox

Urtica urens

Allergy Specifics The authors noted in the bibliography have also made mention of a numbers of remedies that correspond to specific allergies. These may be miasmatic or symptomatic in action but in all cases the characteristics of the remedy should be matched to the presenting symptoms. Allergy to Animal Dander Asparagus Bananas Remedy Tuberculinum Carcinosin Phosphorus

Bees Butter Buckwheat Carrots Castor Bean Cats Celery Chocolate Cod Liver Oil Dogs Dust Eggs Fats, Animal Feathers Fish Flour Flowers Fruit Glutamate Grass, Freshly Cut Grass Pollens Guinea Pig Hair Hair Dyes Hazelnuts Honey Hornets

Apis mel Sulphur Pulsatilla Phosphorus Alumina, Antimonium ars. Phosphorus, Tuberculinum Apium grav Sulphur Pulsatilla Phosphorus Blatta orientalis Ferrum met, Nat mur, Sulphur, Tuberculinum Pulsatilla, Sulphur Sulphur Sulphur, Tuberculinum Aspidosperma Sanguinaria Arsenicum alb, Pulsatilla Nat mur, Phosphorus Allium cepa, Dulcamara, Pulsatilla, Sabadadilla Medorrhinum, Nat sulph, Phosphorus, Senega Kali carb, Lycopdium Sulphur, Tuberculinum Phosphorus Nat mur Vespa crabro

Insect Bites Meat Metals Milk Mosquito Onion Oranges Oysters Pollen Pork Ragweed Sardines Shellfish Starch Strawberries Sugar Tamarind Seed Wasps Weevils Wheat

Carbolic acid Nat mur, Sulphur, Tuberculinum Sulphur Calc carb, Homarus, Nat mur, Sepia, Sulphur, Tuberculinum, Urtica urens Culex Nat mur, Thuja Pulsatilla Lycopodium Blatta orientalis Pulsatilla, Sepia Ambrosia Sulphur, Tuberculinum Arsenicum alb., Terebinthina, Urtica urens Nat mur Carcinosin, Fragaria vesca Saccharum officinale Blatta orientalis, Carbo veg Vespa crabro Grindelia, Ipecac Nat mur, Psorinum

Specific Desensitisation Another more direct, but not necessarily homeopathic method of dealing with allergies, is by desensitisation using the specific material associated with the generation of the allergy symptoms. The normal method here is to isolate the causative agent (allergen) and treat the sufferer by using 10 drops of a 15c preparation of the allergen every second day for 16 days (therefore 8 doses), then use 10 drops of a 9c preparation of the allergen every second day for 16 days. This cycle should be repeated on alternate months for 4 to 6 months if the situation requires it, although regular challenges via muscle testing etc may

need to be made to monitor the patients progress. In acute episodes, 10-15 drops of the 9c preparation of the allergen may be used along with 10-15 drops of Histaminum 30c, 35 times daily or as required.