Allergies

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Allergies

· What are Allergies?

· Symptoms

Signs of Allergies and Intolerances
Allergies and Hyperactivity, Attention, Mood Swings
Handwriting and Drawing Changes
Problems with Testing
Serotonin Levels

· Causes

What Causes Allergies?
Pinpointing the Cause of Allergies
Histamine, Water Rationing System

· Misconceptions about Allergies and Intolerances

· More Information

· Examples of Chemical Triggers

· Detoxification

· Antiperspirants

Common Allergies

· Similar or Related Conditions

· Related Topics

What are Allergies?

"But what exactly is an allergy? According to Dr Leo Galland, the director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine in New York, which deals with environmental illness, "allergy" is not a scientific term but means 'altered reactivity.' Generally speaking, allergists tend to agree that when IgE is involved, one's sensitivity to food is called an allergy. If some other immune mechansim is involved, which might be IgG or something else, some call it an allergy and some would not. The term 'intolerance' means that an enzyme is involved and the immune system is not. So, for example, lactose intolerance - the inability to break down lactose sugar, causing bloating, cramping and diarrhea - is an intolerance because the enzyme lactase, which breaks down that sugar, is missing. Galland suggests that if we use the term "allergy" in the broadest sense, there are a number of non-allergic diseases in which allergy to food may nevertheless play a role. For example, controlled studies have shown that something like 40 to 45 percent of patients with rheumatoid arthritis are affected by specific individual foods. This is not an IgE type of reaction, so it might not be called a food allergy, but it is an intolerance of the food and it acts to cause inflammation, so it could be called an allergy. Galland believes that IgG may play a role in allergy, but he is one of many who believes that the test for IgG-mediated allergies is not valid."

ILT: Allergies

Symptoms

Signs of Allergies and Intolerances

"(The following section is summarised from Rapp, 1996:67-114)

Take a long, serious look at your child. Obvious changes sometimes occur in the physical appearance of children and adults who have typical allergies, or food or chemical sensitivities.

· Perhaps you recognise a characteristic "spacey" or at times almost "demonic" look in a child's eyes when he or she suddenly becomes "impossible."

· These looks are sometimes accompanied by characteristic sounds, such as throat-clearing and clucking. The latter is typical, in particular, of a dairy or milk sensitivity. Some mothers complain that their children make strange noises at home or at school. A few whine and say the same phrase over and over.

· In addition, children (and adults) can develop a hoarse voice or red ears or cheeks due to food or chemical exposure.

· Other symptoms include slurred or rapid speech."

ILT: Allergies

Allergies and Hyperactivity, Attention, Mood Swings

"Allergies can play havoc with a child's ability to benefit from teaching. Some forms of 'hyperactivity,' short attention spans and mood swings are caused by allergies and intolerances for certain foods and other environmental factors."

ILT: Allergies

Handwriting and Drawing Changes

"Handwriting and drawing changes can provide visible clues about what is happening within a child. Sudden changes are often related to specific chemical exposures, to contact with dust, moulds, pollen and to allergenic foods or beverages…

When another child, Robert, was allergy tested for oats and wheat, his handwriting and behaviour changed at the same time."

ILT: Allergies

Problems with Testing

"There is much controversy in the medical and related fields concerning allergies and their identification, including the types of tests used to identify allergens (the substance that causes the body to show an allergic reaction). In fact, much about allergies is unknown."

ILT: Allergies

Serotonin Levels

The Brain: Serotonin: Allergies

Causes

What Causes Allergies?

Lymphocytes/White Bood Cells

"What is known? We know that the white blood cells (also known as lymphocytes) are a fundamental component of the immune system that protects our bodies from invaders. When they make a mistake, an allergic response can occur."

ILT: Allergies

Antibodies

"When a lymphocyte encounters a particle or cell and identifies it as a foreign invader, it produces antibodies specifically engineered to fight that particular threat."

ILT: Allergies

Immunoglobulins (Igs)

"There are five basic types of antibodies, called immunoglobulins, or Igs. Each is classified by type with a letter suffix: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. The Ig known to be responsible for most allergic reactions to food is IgE, although IgG is also commonly mentioned."

ILT: Allergies

Pinpointing the Cause of Allergies

Reaction Times

"The effects of chemical odours, such as perfume or certain cleaning materials, tend to occur within seconds or a very few minutes. Food reactions take fifteen to sixty minutes to become apparent. A reaction to dust or moulds usually occurs within an hour."

ILT: Allergies

Reaction Times and Symptoms

"Parents can often pinpoint the cause merely by thinking back over what happened. For example…

· If red earlobes, a severe headache, or wiggly legs occur half an hour after lunch, it would be logical to assume the symptoms are possibly related to something that was eaten.

· If the problem is eczema, watch the arm and leg creases: these areas commonly become red and itchy during meals or immediately after contact with dust, moulds, or certain foods. The actual rash, however, will not develop until the next day. Also suspect food allergies if your child has any form of intestinal complaints after eating.

· If dark eye circles and muscle aches routinely occur after gym, art, chemistry or biology class, or after a shower, suspect a reaction to a chemical exposure. If these changes occur after play on freshly cut grass, suspect grass pollen.

· If a child's nose becomes itchy and drippy, or if asthma and coughing get worse after tumbling on gym mats or playing on an old carpet, the cause could be dust, moulds, or both.

· If a youngster becomes wild and uncontrollable and has a peculiar spaced-out look after using a bathroom that smells of scented body preparations, deodorants or disinfectants, suspect chemicals.

· Parents should learn to watch for dark eye circles (which can be black, blue or pink), red earlobes (sometimes becoming so hot that ice is needed to provide relief), nose-rubbing, skin-scratching, wiggly legs, yawning and various throaty sounds.

· Small, horizontal wrinkles under the eyes are typical of allergic children, especially those who have eczema. Abnormally red rosy cheeks can occur in anyone, but they are particularly characteristic of allergic children two to four years old and of adult females who have multiple food or chemical allergies.

· Facial twitches or tics, along with restless legs, are very common in some children.

· Other muscles also can go into and out of spasm causing discomfort or pain.

Foods, moulds and chemical odours, such as the smell of tar or perfume, are common but unsuspected causes.

· Hives, which look like mosquito bites, are often caused by foods, dust, moulds or chemicals.

· More generalised rashes can be caused by a chronic yeast infection (often following anti-biotic treatment), by contact with formaldehyde in polyester clothing or bedding or by some chemical found in a laundry detergent or fabric softener.

· Stomach pains, 'winds', nausea, diarrhea, constipation or halitosis are commonly caused by an allergy to food or drink.

· Recurrent headaches are another very common allergic symptom in all age groups. The pain may occur above or behind the eyes or on the sides, back or top of head.

· Sudden unprovoked aggression in both children and adults can be related to allergy. It is often associated with red earlobes, wiggly legs, dark eye circles and a special 'look'. Behaviour may include hitting, biting, kicking, spitting and punching.

· Yeast overgrowths may be caused by repeated courses of antibiotics (in children, frequently used to medicate ear infections or tonsillitis. A white-coated tongue is a common indication of excess yeast. This condition is different from the mottled 'geographic' tongue, which suggests a possible food allergy in children or adults. If the tongue is extremely white but also has bald, pink, spotty patches, that person may have a combination of a yeast overgrowth and food allergies. In young children it may be worth looking for a red ring around the anus, which is typical of a yeast overgrowth."

· Lastly, a bloated or abnormally large abdomen may also be a sign of problems. This sometimes occurs with food allergies, but other digestive problems, such as chronic yeast infections and parasites are also common causes. The presence of parasites may also cause 'difficult' behaviour and underachievement. It is well worth checking that all children are given parasite ('deworming') treatments on a regular basis."

ILT: Allergies

Histamine, Water Rationing System

"All life began in water; even the developing fetus is surrounded by water. When the body is deprived of water, a water rationing system takes effect. Histamine, a neurotransmitter becomes active and redistributes water throughout the body. The order of circulatory priority is the

· Brain,

· Lungs,

· Liver,

· Kidneys, and

· Glands,

· Then comes the muscles, bones and skin.

During periods of dehydration, histamine insures that these vital organs have enough water to function properly. If enough water is not supplied, it must be taken from within the body. Chronic dehydration can cause histamine to become excessively active. This may result in symptoms that may be mistaken for other disorders such as

· Allergies,

· Asthma,

· Dyspepsia,

· Colitis,

· Constipation,

· Rheumatoid arthritis, and

· Chronic pains in various parts of the body such as migraine headaches."

Nutrition Info: Dangers of Chronic Dehydration by Albert Grazia, M.S., N.D.

"A large amount of water is normally lost from the lungs as water vapor through expired air. Histamine, which also controls bronchial muscle contractions, may attempt to restrict water loss through expiration by constricting the bronchial muscles."

Nutrition Info: Dangers of Chronic Dehydration by Albert Grazia, M.S., N.D.

"Histamine is an agent that, apart from its water regulatory role, has responsibilities in antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-foreign agents (chemicals and proteins) defense systems in the body.

· At a normal level of water content of the body, these actions are held at an imperceptive or unexaggerated level.

· At a dehydrated state of the body, to the point that the histamine activity becomes exaggerated for water regulation, an immune system activation of histamine producing cells will release an exaggerated amount of the transmitter that is held in storage for its other functions. (Page 116)"