Allergy Theory
A dysfunctional immune system
Western medicine recognizes an allergy as an immune system dysfunction. In a person who is susceptible to allergies, the immune system identifies non-harmful substances as harmful and launches a specific attack to destroy the substance. Western medicine treats symptoms with antihistamines, or in severe reactions, with an epi-pen, but does not treat the root cause of the allergy.
Allergic reactions are commonly recognized as itchiness, runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, hives, diarrhea and anaphylaxis. However, allergies may appear in more subtle ways, often being responsible for many syndromes and chronic conditions.
For many people, underlying allergies play a significant role in their acute, chronic and undiagnosed or misdiagnosed conditions. As with all new healing modalities, this technique and its concepts have come under scrutiny. This is characteristic of many treatments borrowed or derived from non-traditional medicines and practices. With time however, complimentary approaches have proven themselves to be effective methods for optimizing health and wellness.
Types of Allergies
Food allergies
Initial testing focuses on basic nutrients that may be out of balance preventing the body from metabolizing or utilizing that specific nutrient in the food. This approach is used when there is no immediate allergic reaction and the cause of symptoms is unknown. Any symptom can develop as a result of an imbalance involving basic nutrients.
This explains why sometimes “eliminating foods from your diet” doesn’t always give the expected relief from symptoms. Let’s take a look at a common food reaction such as dairy, as it tends to be a significant one. There are many components to dairy: vitamin D, calcium, chromium, whey proteins, lactose, etc. If dairy is eliminated from the diet but symptoms don’t totally disappear, then we can assume that a basic nutrient in dairy is present in other foods that are being eaten. When we find which nutrient is the culprit and treat for it, the symptoms linked to that nutrient are eradicated. There can be multiple symptoms attached to one imbalance.
The Hidden Allergen
Phenolics
When the allergen or the cause of symptoms cannot be immediately identified, phenolic compounds are often the hidden link. They are common in nature, giving food their scent and flavor. They are known as flavonoids, antioxidants, or essential oils, and can also be found in many household products as additives.
Being desensitized to any number of phenolics can relieve many symptoms, such as:
- skin disorders — eczema, rashes, hives, itching
- bowel problems — colitis, diarrhea, constipation, IBS, bloating, gas
- lung issues — asthma, nasal congestion, sneezing, sinusitis, difficulty breathing
- pain —headaches, migraines, fibromyalgia, fatigue
Cross reactions
Oral Mouth Syndrome
Seasonal allergies can cause a pseudo food reaction called Oral Mouth Syndrome. Some proteins in pollens are almost identical to those in certain foods. As a result, the body mistakes the food protein for the pollen protein, causing an allergic reaction to what seems like the eaten food, but in fact, the trigger is the plant pollen. Thus, after being treated for the plant pollen, the “food allergy” disappears.