Allergies

You get an allergy when you develop a super-sensitivity to something that normally doesn’t cause any problems.  For example, peanuts are normally a tasty snack but for an unlucky few they can be a death sentence.  Your mouth and throat swell up, you can’t breathe and if you don’t get a shot of adrenalin quickly you may die.  Most allergies aren’t deadly, but they can make life miserable.

Often allergies appear at the point where the allergen comes into contact with the body.  The red, flaking, scaly skin of eczema may be a response to laundry detergent; the nose and eyes of a hay-fever sufferer run when they pick up pollen; a few people get swollen lips from eating eggs, others sneeze uncontrollably anywhere near a cat.

Although almost every part of the body can be affected with different symptoms by an allergy, the underlying mechanism is the same – a mistake by the immune system.  We all have blood cells called lymphocytes which are the body’s home guard, constantly on the look-out for invaders such as bacteria and viruses.  When they come across something that they recognize as not part of the body’s own proteins they produce antigens, which in turn produce antibodies (known as IgE) to neutralize it.  When someone has an allergy, for reasons that are not yet clear, normally harmless substances like dust mites, cat hair or shellfish trigger off those antibodies.  The swelling and redness are caused because the IgE antigens cause cells in body tissue, called mast cells, to produce histamine and other chemicals, which can quickly produce all sorts of effects from a runny nose or wheezy chest to skin rash or upset stomach.

The IgE reaction provides the medical profession with a convenient marker of an allergy response.  You can find it, for example, in people who have been poisoned by shellfish once and ever after react with immediate nausea and vomiting to the merest morsel of it.  Some doctors do allow that a food may be associated with some chronic conditions and in such cases they will advise either a skin test – putting tiny samples of possible culprits on the skin for 24 hours to see if any produce a reaction – or an elimination diet – removing certain foods from the diet to see if the condition clears up.

THE ORTHODOX APPROACH

The most obvious approach is to find out what is causing the allergic reaction and avoid it.  When something is hard to avoid, like pollen, then the most direct way of reducing the effect of histamine is with another body chemical called adrenalin.  There is now a range of antihistamine drugs based on adrenalin which are useful for conditions like hay fever or nettle rash.

Another approach is the vaccination.  Minute amounts of whatever it is the patient is sensitive to – pollen, bee stings, etc. – are injected so that the real thing stops having such a dramatic effect.  Corticosteroids are also prescribed in severe cases.

THE HALE APPROACH

Complementary treatments for allergy are safe and more effective at isolating a cause and therefore finding a more permanent cure; orthodox treatment is only symptomatic.  You can therefore consult a complementary practitioner without the necessity of involving your physician.

When looking at the subject of allergy; there are three key issues to keep in mind:

1.         The identification of the allergy

2.         The fact that some people will be allergic to certain substances, e.g. shampoos, no matter how healthy they are otherwise

3.         The need to bring the body back to a state where it is not allergic.

The Hale Clinic would recommend a variety of tests to identify the cause of the allergy.  The practitioner’s input can be invaluable here, especially if the “agent” causing an allergic reaction is an unusual one.  The patient can then either remove the substance permanently from their diet or lifestyle, or have a vaccination which will build up a tolerance to the offending substance (see below under Nutrition/Allergy Treatment for further details).

If a patient wishes to pursue the treatment of allergies further, the question needs to be asked – why are some people “allergic” and some people apparently not?  Most allergies are caused by a weakness in the immune system, which is where treatments such as homeopathy, acupuncture, Ayurveda, the Buteyko Method and colonic irrigation can be of great assistance, strengthening the whole system so that the body is less likely to exhibit allergic symptoms. Supportive Treatments such as healing, light therapy, Chi Kung, Shiatsu, remedial yoga, and aromatherapy also offer that sort of help – strengthening the body in order to eradicate the allergic response.

If a patient suffers from a multitude of allergies, it is particularly advisable to follow this second approach as well as avoiding the main causes of allergic response.  The Hale Clinic would not encourage a course of treatment whereby the patient ended up able to eat only two or three foods.  If a patient is that badly affected, it is essential for their immune system to be strengthened, not for foods to be continually removed from their diet.

NUTRITION/ALLERGY TREATMENT

The digestive system is the key to our health, which is why many of the chronic illnesses and low-grade symptoms – aches and pains, swellings, frequent minor infections, insomnia, regular stomach upsets – are due to hidden food allergies.  Conditions associated with food allergies include migraine, eczema, thrombosis, arthritis, colitis, ear infection and childhood hyperactivity.  When the digestive system is working properly, allergies are not a problem, but stress, a modern diet of refined foods and high fats, antibiotics, and a range of other factors can reduce its efficiency.  When this happens, partially digested food particles can leak from the gut into the bloodstream, where they trigger off an immune response, which resembles an allergic response.

Yet it is not only the conventional IgE response but also an IgG response, produced by the B lymphocytes system, which shows the existence of food allergies and can be easily tested for.  The IgG antibodies tag on to the food particles, signalling to the clean-up cells in the blood that they should be removed.  When the removal system is overwhelmed, these tagged particles are dumped all over the body, where they cause chemical reactions that in turn produce those runny noses, stiff joints, and constricted blood vessels of the typical allergic response.

Once the allergic foods have been identified with a blood test they are eliminated from the diet and the patient is encouraged to vary his food intake, not having the same foods within four days while the digestive system repairs itself.  Selenium zinc, Vitamin B complex and thymus extract can help supply necessary nutrients during this period.  The bioflavonoid (an extract of plant material) quercetin can reduce the amount of histamine produced by the mast cells, as can Vitamin C and bromelain.

Checks will also be made for an imbalance in the bacteria in the gut, liver problems or a candida infection which can make the bowel more leaky.  More about allergies & intolerances

HOMEOPATHY

Although homeopathy normally takes a holistic, constitutional approach, it is possible to treat the specific symptoms of certain allergies.  So in the case of urticaria or hives, for instance, there is one treatment – Apis – for burning and swelling of lips and eyelids, made worse by warmth, and another – Urica – for a rash caused by stinging nettles (thorns) made worse by touching, scratching or bathing with water.  There are others for hay fever, middle-ear infections, hyperactivity, and so on.

Desensitization – giving progressively stronger doses of what causes the problem can work in some cases, but the condition may return more strongly after a few months.  If you suspect a food allergy there are a number of remedies given for specific effects.  For instance:

•           When cold foods make the symptoms worse – Arsenicum, Culcamara or Nux.

•           When raw foods make the symptoms worse – Pulsatilla, Ruta or Veratrum.

•           When milk makes the symptoms worse – Aethusa, Calcarea or China.

There are also specific remedies for candidasis, the fungal infection which can cause a leaky gut. More about homeopathy...

BIOENERGETICS

A combination of bioenergetic testing and homeopathy can pinpoint and treat not only the allergic reaction but also the underlying cause which originally aggravated it.  Unless the endocrine system is rebalanced, the symptoms of one desensitized allergy will quickly be replaced by another.  By treating the causative factor, bioenergetics aims to ensure an overall return to health.  More about bioenergy healing...

COLONIC HYDROTHERAPY

This involves a gentle flushing out of the colon with warm, purified water (with the possible addition of herbal or other implants) to remove accumulated matter.  The effect of the treatment is the detoxification of the system as a whole and, more specifically, of the colon or large intestine.  This allows the colon to function much more efficiently in terms of absorption, mobility, bacterial balance, and elimination of waste.  Colonic hydrotherapists also look at the patient’s nutrition and often recommend avoiding certain foods, such as dairy products.  More about colonic...

SUPPORTIVE TREATMENTS

Healing

“We can work on the adrenal cortex to produce more cortisone – the body hormone that is anti-flammatory”, explains one healer. “If the patient comes with swellings or rashes we can get rid of them.  Healing also speeds up the circulation to clear out allergens through the kidneys as quickly as possible”.

Light Therapy

This is generally relaxing and improves circulation which has an overall beneficial effect on allergies.  It can be particularly helpful in the case of inflammations on the skin such as eczema and psoriasis.

Trichology

Topical preparations are used to soothe the skin and reduce irritation.  In some cases a low-powered laser is used to reduce the level of inflammation.  Patients are advised to avoid substances to which they are sensitive.  They are also recommended to make lifestyle changes such as cutting out alcohol and spicy food and reducing their intake of refined carbohydrate.  Most patients experience results within two months.

Chi Kung

There are exercises – which vary for each individual – that will concentrate energy and transfer it to the part of the body that is causing problems.  Once mastered, the Chi Kung exercises are ideal for self-care at home.

Shiatsu

Eczema, hay fever and asthma are the most common expressions of allergies and all are exacerbated by stress.  Shiatsu massage balances and relaxes the whole of the body and, coupled with specific dietary advice and exercise, can dramatically alleviate the symptoms of allergy.

Aromatherapy

Peppermint is often used to relieve hay fever symptoms, as it helps to clear the head.  Camomile and lemon balm are useful both for hay fever and for allergic skin reactions.

Remedial Yoga

Allergies occur as a result of a hypersensitivity in tissues of the body, and yoga is one way to bring the body back to a more centered and balanced response to our environment.  Yoga is also valuable because allergies often involve the adrenal system, which becomes overworked by stress, and yoga helps reduce the effects of stress.  Allergies create a feeling that the body is under attack and yoga returns an element of control.  Jala Neti – “nasal washing”, taught at the Hale Clinic by a remedial yoga teacher – can also help with hay fever.  You can learn the technique in one 30minute session and will then be able to practice it at home.

SELF-CARE

Indian Medicine

Pressure points: find the point where the upper and lower jaw meet on the left side and press it for 30 seconds once a day.

Diet: Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water throughout the day.  Have no fried foods but eat papaya.