An allergy is basically a physical reaction to a usually harmless substance. It is basically a reaction of the immune system to a substance that is thought to be harmful. The reaction to the substance can vary significantly from itchy eyes, runny nose, rashes, all the way up to anaphylactic shock which can be life threatening. The substance that someone reacts to is called an allergen and they can enter the body through the air as in the case of pollen or through food, contact with the skin or injection like insect stings. The causes of allergies vary from person to person in the same way as the reaction. Many people will develop allergies over time or are born with them however they can get worse with time.

When someone is allergic to something it is best to stay away from the substance in order to prevent a reaction. This is particularly important if you have severe allergy to something like nuts and the reaction can be life threatening. However if you have an allergy to something like pollen it is impossible to avoid so it is a good idea to do things to treat the symptoms.

For a pollen allergy some people recommend eating local honey as a way to significantly reduce the reaction to pollen. However there are also a number of herbal remedies that can reduce the symptoms such as Echinacea, Ginkgo and many others. Acupuncture is also thought to be very effective for this type of allergy.

For skin allergies there are a number of herbal remedies you can get to either take orally or to rub on the skin. Some of the things you can try are Apis, March tea and others. Vinegar can also be very effective at reducing the reaction to stinging nettles.