We talk a lot about both alternative treatments for allergies and traditional Western medicine. Alternative includes NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques), acupressure, acupuncture, and herbs while traditional medicine includes allergy shots (immunotherapy), medication, skin testing and blood testing. Some people will argue that one form is more effective, better for you, or more reliable. But can you use both? Can you fine a medium where you take the best of both worlds?

I believe the answer is yes. Part of it is learning about all of the forms of treatment and deciding what is best for you and your family. If you have trouble understanding how alternative treatments actually work, but like the concept, you may want to try it but also maintain your visits to the allergy doctor. If you have been through allergy shots but want an extra degree of assurance, you may decide to try an alternative method. Maybe you have tried one or the other and not been pleased with treatment or results; shift gears and try the other.

With my daughter, who has a tree nut allergy, we have incorporated both schools of medicine. At age 5, we discovered the reason for her mysterious hives and itchy mouth was an allergic reaction to tree nuts. We took her to the pediatrician who prescribed and Epipen and referred us to an allergist. At the allergist, they skin tested her (which was a bad experience for us) and went on to tell us the severity and dangers of her allergies, all in front of my daughter, who then became terrified she might have a reaction. I understand the doctors must inform us of what could happen, but we weren’t happy with the impersonal, black and white way they answered our questions.

As I told this to a friend, she told me how her daughter had had reactions to peanut butter. She took her to an alternative practitioner who performed NAET and now the daughter could eat peanut butter with no reaction. I was very interested, did my research, saw how noninvasive it could be and took my daughter. After a few visits, our practitioner said she was clear of her allergy. We did a few minor trials in her office, including tasting nut oils. She has had no reaction since then, no hives, no itchy mouth, nothing.

However, I still renew her Epipen every year, and keep it with me along with Benadryl. I still send one to school every year and inform her teachers of her allergy. I still list it on school, activity, and camp forms and let babysitters know about it. I let her eat things “made on shared equipment,” “made in factories,” and pretty much anything unless it has nuts as an ingredient. But why don’t I let her eat the nuts if I believe so strongly in alternative medicine? If I believe so strongly in alternative medicine, why do I have an Epipen in my purse? Am I a hypocrite?

I don’t think so. I think I have taken the best of both worlds, the noninvasive, effective treatment of the alternative world, along with the insurance of the traditional realm. I do think her NAET was effective; it took a lot of our worry away, especially as she has had no reactions in over 3 years. But God forbid something happens, I do feel good having some medicine with me. Use your gut and your knowledge, do a little mixing and matching. You may be surprised at what you can come up with.