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Allergies

Definition

An allergy is an abnormal reaction to ordinarily harmless substances. Although it is difficult to find what triggers allergies, it is thought that several factors may be responsible such as an imbalance in the intestines, a vitamin, mineral or fatty acids deficiency, a low immune system following a viral illness, chemical toxicity or sinusitis.

Types of Allergies

Allergies can be divided into several groups: -

  • Environmental allergies: pollen (the male fertility agent of grass, trees and weeds), latex, mould, dust, heat, humidity, wool or silk.
  • Air pollution: pesticides, fumes, gas stoves (carbon monoxide) and cigarette smoke.
  • Chemical allergies: household products.
  • Animals: pets, insects, and animal feathers
  • Electro magnetic pollution
  • Medical drugs
  • Food: fruits, gluten, wheat, milk, yeast, eggs or additives (colourings, sweeteners, preservatives).

Food allergy is different from food intolerance. When there is food allergy, there is an immediate physical reaction such as vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps or wheezing. It can be severe and in cases of anaphylaxis (extreme reaction to an substance) fatal. Food intolerance occurs when the body cannot digest properly a particular type of food because it is sensitive to it or because the stomach or the digestive tract may not be functioning properly. When there is food intolerance the body first reacts to the specific food, then it gets used to it but soon symptoms of an illness start appearing. It is also believed that food intolerance will create food addiction for this type of food and if it is removed the symptoms will get worse for a while.

Allergy induced illnesses

In the long term allergies may lead to eczema, chronic rhinitis, hay fever, asthma, chronic catarrh in children, conjunctivitis, hyperactivity, arthritis, autism, headaches, migraines, IBS, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, urticaria, ME, depression or symptoms such as aches, lack of concentration, poor memory, excessive sweating, palpitations, excessive fatigue and insomnia and bowel discomfort after eating.

Diagnosis

There is a large spectrum of tests available that can detect all types of allergies. These tests should be done under professional supervision.

  • Elimination diet of potentially sensitive food.
  • Blood tests: food Allergen Cellular test, ELISA, Biofeld test.
  • Skin tests: skin prick testing.
  • Energetic tests: Coca pulse test (based on the assumption that stress will cause the pulse to increase, foods to which individuals are intolerant are stressful and will therefore speed up the pulse). Applied kinesiology (placing food or chemical either under tongue or in hand if the patient is sensitive to it, it will result in muscle weakness). Vega testing (measures electrical skin conductance over an acupuncture point). Quantum CI system at the Hale clinic
  • Sweat or hair analysis
  • Urine test

Treatment

Allergens trigger white blood cells to produce IgE antibodies, which will then release chemical mediators such as histamine, causing typical allergic symptoms. Antihistamine medication is the most common treatment prescribed by doctors. The role of Antihistamines is to block the allergic effects caused by the release of histamine.

Other medical drugs include corticosteroids and decongestants , which can help reduce the swelling in the nasal and sinus passages.

In the case of food allergy it is believed that a strict diet with the elimination of sensitive food should stop the symptoms. When avoidance of food is impossible desensitisation or Enzyme-potentiated desensitisation (EPD) can be of some help, it involves an injection of small quantities of pure antigens with the enzyme beta-glucuronidase. Another form of desensitisation is the Homeopathic (isopathic) desensitization, in this case patients are given a homeopathic potency of the substance they are allergic to.
 Neutralisation is based on the principle that a dilution of the sensitive substance will neutralise or switch off the allergic reaction.

Other therapies that may help include 7CH, Feingold therapy, polarity therapy, pycnogenol, Sunflower method, supplementation (vitamins: B6, C) and acupuncture.

Resources

Organisations

Action against Allergy
PO Box 278
Twickenham TW1 4QQ

Tel: 020 8892 2711 (helpline)

Email: aaa@actionagainstallergy.freeserve.co.uk

Website: http://www.actionagainstallergy.co.uk/

(Offers information to allergy sufferers, information about diagnosis and treatment within the NHS)

Allergy Induced Autism AIA
 210 Pineapple Road
Stirchley
Birmingham B30 2TY
(send an SAE for information)

British Society for Allergy Environmental & Nutritional Medicine BSAENM

P.O. box 7
 Knighton
 Powys
 LD & 2WF
 Tel: 01547 550380
 Website: http://www.jnem.demon.co.uk/index.html
 Provide information on practitioners, organise scientific conferences

British Dietetic Association
 5th Floor, Charles House
148/9 Great Charles Street Queensway
Birmingham
B3 3HT
Tel: 01212008080

Website: https://www.bda.uk.com/

National Society for Research into Allergies
 PO Box 45
Hinckley
Leicestershire LE10 1JY
Tel: 01455 851 546
(Offers practical advice to affected individuals, diet sheets)

St John’s Allergy Clinic

73 Parkwood Rd
 Bournemouth
 Dorset
 BH5 2BS
 Tel: 01202 425084

Allergy and Asthma Network

Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.
 8229 Boone Boulevard, Suite 260
 Vienna, VA 22182
 Tel: 800-878-4403

Website: http://www.aanma.org/

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
611 East Wells St.
Milwaukee
WI 53202
Tel: 414 272 6071 Or 800 822-ASMA 2762

Website: http://www.aaaai.org/home.aspx

Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America
 8201 Corporate Drive
Suite 1000
Landover, MD 20785

Website: http://www.aafa.org/index.cfm

E.L.A.S.T.I.C. (Education for Latex Allergy/Support-Team and Information-Coalition)

West Chester,
 PA 19380

The Human Ecology Action League (HEAL)

P.O. Box 509
 Stockbridge, Georgia 30281
 Phone: (770) 389-4519
 Fax : (770) 389-4520
 Email: HEALNatnl @aol.com
 (For information on multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)

Laboratories The Doctors Laboratory
 55 Wimpole Street
London W1M 7DF
Tel: 020 7460 4800

Biolab
 The Stonehouse
9 Weymouth Street
London W1N 3FF
Tel: 020 7636 5959
http: www.biolab.co.uk

Allergy Diagnostic Centre
 Grays Farm production Village
Grays Farm Road
Orpington
Kent BR5 3BD
Tel: 020 8308 1363

Allergy Diagnostic Laboratory
 68 Milton Park Estate
Abingdon
Oxfordshire OX14 4RX
Tel: 01235 862757

York Nutritional Laboratory

Genesis 3, York Science Park, York, YO10 5DQ
 0800 130 0580 (UK only) or +44 (0) 1904 428 560
 Website: http://www.yorktest.com/

Health Interlink Ltd.
 Interlink House,
 22 Digby Drive,
Melton Mowbray,
Leicestershire, LE13 0RQ. 
Telephone
01664 562454
Website: http://www.health-interlink.com/
 Health Interlink represents The Great Plains Laboratory, The Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory and Antibody Assay Laboratory in Europe
Leicester Road Industrial Estate,

The Great Plains Laboratory
11813 W. 77th St.
 Lenexa, KS 66214 USA
 800-288-0383
 Local: 913-341-8949
 Fax: 913-341-6207
Website: http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/home/eng/home.asp

The Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory
63 Zillicoa Street
Asheville
NC 28801-1074
USA
Tel: (001) 800 522 4762
http://www.gsdl.com
Please note that some of these laboratories request a doctor’s referral.

Publications

These are some of the references that have been passed to us; the list is not exhaustive. We haven't necessarily read the books, and cannot say how easy it will be to get them.

- Philpott William (1993) Brain Allergies ISBN: 0658003984
- Dr Brostoff J. & Gamlin L. (1987) The complete guide to food allergies and intolerance. ISBN: 0892818751
- BSAEM subcommittee on allergy practice . (1994) Effective allergy practice
- Lewith G., Kenyon J., Dowson D. (1992) Allergy and intolerance, a complete guide to environmental medicine. Green Print. London. ISBN: 1854250671
- Braly J Food allergy and nutrition revolution. (1992) Keats publishing ISBN: 0879835907
- Latta S.L (1998) Allergies (Diseases and People) Enslow Publishers, Inc. ISBN: 0766010481.
- Terrass Stephen, Allergies, Thornsons.
- Cutler E. Winning the War Against Immune Disorders and Allergies: A Drug Free Cure for Allergies ISBN: 0827386222

 

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