A food allergy is the body's reaction by its immune system to something that has been ingested. Food allergies can occur in various severities and can manifest in a wide variety of symptoms, including itching, sneezing, abdominal and body pain. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 4 percent of all adults have a food allergy. Some individuals experience a reaction that is so severe that they require immediate medical attention, but for those who experience common symptoms, they can be managed at home in most cases.
Step 1
Eliminate the allergen from the diet. This can be accomplished, according to The Cleveland Clinic, by using an elimination diet. This type of diet eliminates a potential food allergen from the individual's diet for a period of four days to three weeks, until the individual no longer has symptoms. This process may need to be repeated in order to identify the allergen, and the individual's diet is restricted to hypoallergenic foods such as lamb, pears, apples and rice. Once the allergen is identified and eliminated from the diet, the body pain should subside because the inflammatory response is no longer triggered.
Step 2
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever or talk to your doctor about a prescription strength medication to relieve either pain or the inflammatory response. Over-the-counter pain relievers that have an anti-inflammatory effect include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and aspirin. Allergy products that have one of these anti-inflammatory medications combined with an antihistamine may be effective in helping to relieve pain by reducing inflammation. Prescription medications for inflammation, such as oral corticosteroids, may be effective in treating pain related to severe inflammatory response due to a food allergy.
Step 3
Apply heat to the body by taking a hot bath or by laying under a heated blanket. According to the Merck Manual Home Edition, heat therapy is used to decrease pain by reducing inflammation. Because body pain from a food allergy is a systemic response, most individuals will experience pain in various parts of the body. Applying heat to the whole body helps to address the inflammatory response, regardless of where it occurs on the body. If body pain is present and neither a heating blanket or bath are possible, a hot compress may be applied to the areas where the pain is most severe.
Step 4
Get a lymphatic massage performed by a certified professional massage therapist. According to Cyndy Streitz, a certified massage therapist, lymphatic massage can help relieve body pain due to allergies. A lymphatic massage increases the flow of the body's lymph fluid, which collects toxins, damaged cells and microorganisms that invade the body. The lymph fluid is moved throughout the body to collect the toxins and carry them out as waste products. Lymphatic massage rejuvenates the lymphatic system, helping it to be more effective in protecting the body from allergens.
