Ayurvedic Treatment for Milk allergy uses Ayurvedic medicines based on the principle of Ama pachana (indigestion). Allergy milk includes an abnormal response of an immune system to milk and other dairy products. It is most commonly seen in children. Cow, sheep, and goat milk can cause allergic reactions.
Milk allergy is different from milk intolerance which is due to the milk protein lactose. In milk intolerance, the immune system is not involved.
- Signs and symptoms of Allergy milk
- Causes of Allergy milk
- Diagnosis of Allergy milk
- Treatments of Allergy milk
- Prognosis of Allergy milk
- Complications of Allergy milk
- Allergy milk and Ksheeralasaka in Ayurveda
- Nidana- Causes of Ksheeralasaka
- Samprapthi (Maturation) of Ksheeralasaka
- Lakshana of Ksheeralasaka
- Chikitsa (Treatment) of Ksheeralasaka
- Commonly used medicines for Ksheeralasaka
- Diet desirable to prevent Allergy milk
- Yoga
- Research articles link.
Signs and Symptoms
An allergic reaction occurs soon after the intake of milk or milk products. The symptoms include,
- Hives, wheezing
- Tingling feeling around the lips or mouth or sometimes itching
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea, and stools sometimes contain blood
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Rhinitis
- In babies, usually colicky pain is the symptom
- In severe conditions anaphylaxis- a severe life-threatening condition can develop. In anaphylaxis, the airway becomes narrower and block breathing happens. Then will lead to shock with marked depression of blood pressure.
Causes
Milk allergy occurs when the immune system identifies certain milk proteins as harmful to the body, triggering the production of immunoglobulin IgE antibodies to neutralise the allergen. During further exposure, the antibodies recognise them and produce histamines or other chemicals by the immune system causing the allergic symptoms to develop. Casein and whey proteins are the main causes of allergy.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis can be done by,
- Detailed personal and medical history
- Physical examination
- Elimination of milk or milk products and add back the food to see if it causes a reaction.
- Skin test
- A blood test like absolute IgE count.
Treatments
The treatment includes,
- Avoid milk and milk products that cause allergy
- In children, milk alternatives like Soy-based formulas
- Antihistamines to treat mild allergic symptoms
- Injection of epinephrine in anaphylaxis.
Prognosis
In the case of children, they outgrow the allergic reactions by the age of three most cases.
Complications
Children with a milk allergy may develop other health conditions like,
- Allergy to other foods such as eggs, soya, peanuts, beef
- Hay fever
Disease and Ayurveda
In Ayurveda, a condition called Ksheeralasaka is described which occurs due to the consumption of vitiated breast milk in infants. It is indigestion in infants due to milk and is comparable with milk allergy.
Nidana- Causes
The causes include the factors which lead to the vitiation of breast milk like,
- Intake food which causes indigestion
- Unaccustomed foods and drinks
- Incompatible foods
- Overeating or excessive dieting
- Stale or slimy food
- Oily foods
- Jaggery, thick gruels
- Fat rich meat and fish
- Anxiety, mental stress, anger, grief, etc.
Samprapthi Maturation
The improper food and regimen by the mother cause vitiation of tridosha which pervade the milk-secreting channels (ksheeravaha rasayanis) and vitiate breast milk. The infant feeding the vitiated breast milk develop amatwa (an indigested toxic form of food) which manifests as Ksheeralasaka.
Lakshana Signs and Symptoms
- Diarrhoea characterized by foul-smelling undigested watery stools
- Multi-colored and frothy stools
- Gaseous distension of abdomen, vomiting, and loss of appetite
- Fever, giddiness, pain in the body
- Frequent crying
- Feeble voice
Prognosis
This is difficult to manage because of the vitiation of all the three doshas and rasa dhatu.
Chikitsa- Treatment
Ksheeralasaka is caused due to ama (indigestion) and vitiation of breast milk. So the treatment includes,
- Apatarpana (depletion therapy)
- Purification of breast milk
- Langana (fasting) and pachana (digestive tonics)
- Moderate purification therapies
Commonly used medicines
| For mother |
- Decoction of Haridradi gana, vachadi gana
- Mustadi sthanya sodhana kashaya
- Guluchyadi kashaya
- Abayarishta
For children,
- Rajanyadi choorna
- Ashta choorna
As samana oushada can also use
- Vilwadi gulika
- Vaiswanara choorna
- Dadimashtaka choorna
- Mustakaranjadi kashaya
- Kutajarishta
For the Milk allergy of Elders
- The aim is to correct the digestive process and enable the proper digestion and assimilation of milk and other dairy products.
The commonly used medicines
- Pachanmrutham Kashayam
- Chiruvilwadi Kashayam
- Indukantham Kashayam
- Vilwadi Gulika
- Dooshivishari Gulika
- Ashta Churna
- Dadimashtak Churna
- Hinguvachadi Churna
- Inthuppukana churna
- Sudarsanam Gulika
- Vilwadi Leha
- Drakshadi Leha
Brands available
- Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala
- Aryavaidya sala Kottakkal
- SNA Oushadhasala
- Nagarjuna
- Kerala Ayurveda
- Sitaram
- AVP
Home Remedies and diet
- Honey help prevent allergic reactions
- Ginger is effective in treating allergies including milk allergy
- Carrot juice mixed with cucumber, pomegranate, beetroot juice
- Turmeric
- Calcium and magnesium supplements
- Vitamin E and Selenium
- Vitamin C
- Milk free diet
Yoga
The practice of yoga help to maintain a healthy immune system and digestive system. Can do yogasanas like,
- Merudhandasana
- Pavanamuktasana
- Bhujangasana
- Salabhasana
- Paschimothanasana
- Sooryanamaskara
- Gomukhasana
Research articles link.