So are allergy shots considered bad if you're a "natural" person?

[HappyGrace]

We keep to natural stuff as much as we can-organic food, natural supplements, try not to medicate much, etc. I would have done selective vaxing or none at all, but dh at the time didn't get the whole problem with it so we vaxed. (now he understands more.)

 

We're not crazy with it-tylenol, etc. when necessary.

 

Dd9 is getting some allergies and I'm wondering what the "natural" party line is on allergy shots? If not acceptable, what are the reasons against it? Do the shots contain the same bad stuff as vaccines? I haven't researched anything about them yet.

[Lolly]

Don't know anything about the shots, but the natural alternative is local honey.

You want the honey to be as close in location to you as possible in order for the pollens in it to be replicated as closely as possible. Be aware that depending on how sensitive she is to pollens she could have a reaction to the honey. (This is why you have to stay at the doctor's office for a set amount of time after an allergy shot. It might trigger a reaction.)

[HappyGrace]

Lolly, thanks! We are fortunate to have the head of the beekeeping association living two miles down our road, and we get all our raw honey from him and have for over a year. I do think it has helped with seasonal allergies, but dd seems to have other allergies too (not even sure exactly what yet-but maybe dust, etc.) Thank you!

[smrtmama]

We keep to natural stuff as much as we can-organic food, natural supplements, try not to medicate much, etc. I would have done selective vaxing or none at all, but dh at the time didn't get the whole problem with it so we vaxed. (now he understands more.)

 

We're not crazy with it-tylenol, etc. when necessary.

 

Dd9 is getting some allergies and I'm wondering what the "natural" party line is on allergy shots? If not acceptable, what are the reasons against it? Do the shots contain the same bad stuff as vaccines? I haven't researched anything about them yet.

 

I don't think "natural living" is about toeing some arbitrary party line. It's about making health-conscious decisions that involves as few unnatural substances as possible for your life and your needs -- the key being AS POSSIBLE. Allergy shots certainly have the potential to be better for your long term health, and involve the ingestion of fewer substances, than taking OTC or prescription medications every day.

 

As far as I know, allergy shots (immunotherapy) do not contain formaldehyde or mercury. There are different methods of extraction (glycerinated, lyphilized, acetone-precipitated, and alum-precipitated) and suspension (in glycerine, phenol/saline, and human serum albumin with phenol and saline). Make of that what you will. You can find more information about how the shot substances are made and mixed here.

 

Before making the leap to shots, you might consider working with a naturopath, accupuncturist, or herbalist to see if you can find treatments that don't require a monthly injection. Some people have even had success with chiropractic treatment.

[Jen500]

Have you had her tested for specific allergies? We replaced the bedroom carpet with wood flooring, wash bedding in hot water weekly, use allergy covers, etc. because ONE of my son's many allergies is dust mites. This has helped so much, and he only needs allergy meds every once in a while instead of daily.

[LaxMom]

I don't think "natural living" is about toeing some arbitrary party line. It's about making health-conscious decisions that involves as few unnatural substances as possible for your life and your needs -- the key being AS POSSIBLE. Allergy shots certainly have the potential to be better for your long term health, and involve the ingestion of fewer substances, than taking OTC or prescription medications every day.

 

As far as I know, allergy shots (immunotherapy) do not contain formaldehyde or mercury. There are different methods of extraction (glycerinated, lyphilized, acetone-precipitated, and alum-precipitated) and suspension (in glycerine, phenol/saline, and human serum albumin with phenol and saline). Make of that what you will. You can find more information about how the shot substances are made and mixed here.

 

Before making the leap to shots, you might consider working with a naturopath, accupuncturist, or herbalist to see if you can find treatments that don't require a monthly injection. Some people have even had success with chiropractic treatment.

 

I agree with all of that. I think allergy shots are great when you're talking about profound allergies - life threatening or really decreasing the quality of your life so that you have to take several meds to even marginally control the symptoms.

 

That said, in *my* world, they would be a measure of last resort. (Frankly, just the PITA of the constant shot schedule was enough to put me off them back when I did have unmanageable allergies)

 

I would start with using food herbs, like nettle, and see if they improved. Nettle is a medicinal herb, but it is traditionally eaten as a food (as a leafy green, or tea) and there aren't any side effects to be concerned with as there may be with other medicinal herbs and other preparations. (You can also get tincture and add the drop dosage to juice or whatever, but I think the whole herb is better.) Added bonuses: it's cheap, neutral tasting and has a great nutritional profile.

 

Homeopathy is what finally kicked my allergies. I tested with strong allergies to trees, grasses, ragweed, dust mites and cats. I went from years of daily Zyrtec and seasonal steroid sprays to nothing after using Bio-Allers outdoor formula (they have an indoor formula that would help with dust mites). That was two springs ago. The most I've used since is my neti pot when I've spent a lot of time outdoors in high pollen times. Part of that is simply that my exposure to other irritants - office off-gassing, chemical cleaners, etc - has decreased. Part is that I drink nettle tea pretty much every day. The homeopathy pushed it over the edge, though.

[Happy]

We keep to natural stuff as much as we can-organic food, natural supplements, try not to medicate much, etc. I would have done selective vaxing or none at all, but dh at the time didn't get the whole problem with it so we vaxed. (now he understands more.)

 

We're not crazy with it-tylenol, etc. when necessary.

 

Dd9 is getting some allergies and I'm wondering what the "natural" party line is on allergy shots? If not acceptable, what are the reasons against it? Do the shots contain the same bad stuff as vaccines? I haven't researched anything about them yet.

 

We did many, many natural remedies for ds's allergies. Local honey sometimes did help. However, he is allergic to mountain cedar from the Colorado moutains that blows in here with the north wind. Getting rid of the dog sleeping in his room helped. Getting rid of the long haired cat helped. It would have helped to replace the carpet in his room with tile or wood.

 

But...

 

He doesn't only live his life in our house. By the time we was an older teenager, he was miserable with allergy stuff. Prescription and OTC meds knocked him out cold for hours. Together we decided to see an allergy specialist who suggested shots.

 

What a relief!

 

My son goes in once a month for two shots. It's taken an entire year to get to that point. At first he went in three times a week. The best part about now...he can function despite what's blowing in the wind or drifting on his pillow.

 

We just had one of the worst ragweed seasons in history. My son hardly noticed. Today it's pouring rain...(mold) and he is up and in his college classes.

 

Two years ago, those things cost him a lot of time.

 

I'm sorry we waited so long to do allergy shots.