Pomlad je čudovito obdobje. Ves svet oživi po zimi, ko se vse zdi mrtvo. Svet napolnijo barve in vonj slastnega zelenja. Kljub temu pa ne uživa vsakdo v pomladi. Ko v zraku začutimo pomlad, vemo, da se bliža sezona alergij. Simptomi alergij so kihanje, zamašenost, nos, iz katerega teče, ter rdeče in srbeče oči.
Rinitis je medicinski izraz za nos, iz katerega ves čas teče. Lahko se kaže kot sezonski alergijski rinitis (seneni nahod, alergije na plesen, ki se pojavijo ob določenem času) ali kot celoletni rinitis, ki ga bolj verjetno povzročajo prah, notranje plesni, živalski prhljaj ali drugi onesnaževalci, ki jih vdihnemo. Konvencionalna medicina ponavadi predpiše antihistaminike, dekongestive ali zdravila, ki vplivajo na živčni sistem. Ta zdravila so lahko učinkovita pri zdravljenju alergijskih reakcij, vendar imajo pogosto nezaželene stranske učinke, kot so zaspanost, zadušitev imunskega sistema ali prevelika odvisnost od zdravil.
Zakaj nekateri ljudje trpijo za alergijami, drugi pa ne? Ne, ker bi imeli srečo.
Alergije so znak telesa, da eden ali več sistemov ni uravnovešenih ali jim primanjkuje energije. Najbolj napačna predstava o alergijah je, da jih povzročajo zunanji dejavniki, kot so cvetni prah, prah ali plesen. V resnici gre pri alergijah pravzaprav za znak motenj v delovanju imunskega sistema, kar pomeni notranjo težavo. V tem primeru se telo preveč odzove na alergene, kar povzroči močno vnetje. To lahko povzroči srbeče, vodene in otekle oči, kihanje, nos, iz katerega teče, zamašitev in v nekaterih primerih celo izpuščaje.
Tipični potek zdravljenja
Antihistaminiki se na splošno uporabljajo proti alergijam, a se posledično pogosto pojavijo stranski učinki, kot so zaspanost, povečan utrip srca, zadušitev imunskega sistema ali preveliko zanašanje na zdravila. Drug pristop je izogibanje, ki pa je – razen če ne živite v mehurčku – nepraktičen, saj je nemogoče izločiti vsa potencialna izpostavljanja alergenom.
Kaj naredi vzhodnjaški pristop tako drugačen?
Tradicionalna kitajska medicina (TKM) konvencionalni medicini ne nudi le alternativnega pristopa pri zdravljenju alergijskih reakcij, temveč zdravi tudi celotno osebo, da tako doseže dolgotrajno in celovito preventivo.
Kako TKM razume alergije?
Ljudje, ki imajo zdravo količino energije in uravnotežen sistem, se na cvetni prah in druge alergene ne odzovejo prekomerno. TKM verjame, da mora biti oseba notranje šibka, da lahko zunanji dejavniki tako enostavno vplivajo nanjo. Včasih simptomi nakažejo na povezavo z določenim sistemom. Npr. težave s kihanjem in kašljanjem – TKM povezuje nos in grlo s pljuči, zato ta vrsta alergije izhaja iz slabega delovanja pljuč; težave s srbečico in rdečico v očeh – ta vrsta alergij izhaja iz preaktivnega delovanja jeter. Tudi obdobje, v katerem se pojavijo vaše alergije, nakazuje, kateri sistem je vzrok zanje. Spomladanske alergije so povezane z jetrnim sistemom, medtem ko jesenske alergije povezujemo s pljučnim sistemom.
Načrt TKM za zdravljenje
V idealnem primeru se zdravljenje z izvajalcem TKM začne od šest do osem tednom pred začetkom obdobja alergij. Tako je mogoče zgraditi imunost na alergene. Če se je obdobje alergij že začelo ali če imate težave z alergijami celo leto, lahko takojšen začetek zdravljenja še vedno zagotovi precejšnje izboljšanje. Če trenutno jemljete zdravila proti alergiji, vam jih lahko akupunktura in zelišča pomagata opustiti.
Ne trpite več ob kihanju – pogostega zahodnjaškega problema se lotite z vzhodnjaškim pristopom.
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Prevod: Klara Lubej Vir fotografije: internet
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The Season of Sneezing: Rhinitis Remedies and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Spring is a miraculous experience. The whole world comes alive after the winter in which it seemed that everything was dead. The world comes filled with color and the scent of delicious greenery. However, not everyone enjoys spring. When spring is in the air, we know allergy season is fast approaching. The allergic symptoms include sneezing, congestion, runny nose and red, itchy eyes.
Rhinitis is the medical term for runny nose. It may manifest either as seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever, pollen or leaf mould allergies that come at a certain time of year), or perennial rhinitis which is year-round and more likely to be triggered by dust, indoor moulds, animal dander or other inhaled pollutants. Conventional medicine typically prescribes antihistamines, decongestants, or drugs that act on the nervous system. While these may be effective in treating the allergic response, they often have undesirable side effects, such as drowsiness, immune system suppression or over-reliance on medications.
Why is it some people suffer from allergies and others don’t? It’s not luck.
Allergies are a sign from your body that one or more systems are imbalanced or have an energy deficiency. The most common misconception about allergies is that they are just caused by external factors like pollen, dust or mold. The reality is that allergies are actually a sign of a malfunctioning immune system which is an internal issue. In this case, the body overreact to the allergens causing excessive inflammation. This can cause itchy watery swollen eyes, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and in some cases even hives and rashes.
Typical course of treatment
Antihistamines are widely used to combat allergies but side effects such as drowsiness, increased heart rates, immune system suppression, or over-reliance on medications often result. Another approach is avoidance. However, unless you live in a bubble, this is basically impractical and impossible to rule out all the possible exposure to allergens.
What makes the Eastern approach different?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) not only offer an alternative approach to conventional medicine in relieving the allergic reaction, it also targets at treating the whole person in order to achieve a long term and all-round prevention.
How TCM understands allergies?
People who have a healthy amount of energy and well-balanced system do not overreact to pollen or other allergens. TCM believes that one must first be internally weak then easily affected by external factors. Sometimes symptoms can show the relation to a specific system. For example, issues with sneezing and coughing--- TCM relates the nose and throat to the Lung so this type of allergy is rooted in the poor Lung function; issues with itchiness and redness in the eyes, this type of allergies are rooted in overactive Liver function. The season in which your allergies act up also offers clues to which system is the culprit. Allergies in spring related to the Liver system while allergies in autumn relates to the Lung system.
TCM treatment plan
Ideally, treatments with a TCM practitioner begin about six to eight weeks before the start of the allergy season. This allows time to build immunities to allergens. Of course, if your allergy season has already begun or if you are allergies all year round, then starting treatment immediately can still provide great relief. And if you are currently taking allergy medications, then acupuncture and herbs can help wean you from them.
So suffer through sneezes no more — with an Eastern approach to a common Western problem.
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