Buckwheat is used as a substitute for wheat, rice and rye. It is used in baked products such as bread, pancakes and biscuits. It is also used to make noodles and porridge. Ingestion and inhalation of buckwheat can cause an allergic reaction, resulting in skin rashes, hives and gastrointestinal problems. Avoiding buckwheat and foods containing buckwheat is the only way to prevent an allergy.
Buckwheat is also used in pillows — its chaff is used to fill the pillows. If a person allergic to buckwheat uses these pillows, he/she can suffer from nocturnal asthma.
It has been observed that people suffering form rice allergy can also be allergic to buckwheat. This is because similar proteins are found both in buckwheat and rice.
Symptoms of Buckwheat Allergy:
- Hives
- Rashes
- Rhinitis
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea, vomiting
In some cases, buckwheat can also result in dizziness, low blood pressure, and breathlessness. These are the symptoms of anaphylaxis — which is a severe allergic reaction. If these symptoms are experienced, the patient should be immediately administered epinephrine as the reaction can be fatal.
How to Prevent Buckwheat Allergy:
- Avoid buckwheat containing food, such as buckwheat noodles, pancakes, porridge, bread and other food products
- If your pillow has buckwheat chaff filled in it, avoid using it
- When eating out, inquire about the ingredients and avoid the foods containing buckwheat
Treatment:
If you suspect having an allergy, you can take up allergy tests. Skin prick tests and blood test are conducted to check for allergy. You can consult an allergist to get yourself tested. If tests reveal that you have allergy, your doctor can recommend antihistamines and other medications to treat the allergy.
If allergy symptoms are experienced, antihistamines can be used. For hives and rashes, corticosteroids can be used. For severe allergic reaction, epinephrine should be used.
