Articles, Home Top Featured Articles

Allergies occur when the immune system hyper-reacts to foreign substances which in turn, results in the immune system attacking the self, due to immune chaos. The hyper-response to foreign exposures (food, drugs, dander, dust, etc.) creates a chain of reactions in the body and makes the immune cells believe that even the cells of our own body are invaders and hence attacks the cells.

Conventionally, medications are used to block the immune response. This may alleviate the symptoms, but it does not address the cause which is much more involved than taking a pill/inhaler daily to prevent symptoms. Remember that all symptoms are nothing more than the physical body “knocking on the door” to our awareness that “something is not in balance”.

Think of constant sneezing as the body trying to rid something. Think of sinus congestion as the body allowing a traffic jam to build up inside because it lost its ability to release that which is not serving its overall vitality and wellbeing. Think of asthma as the body closing down, trying to deliver the message that it can’t “take in” any more – it’s too full and is shutting off entry through the airway. Of course, without an inhaler, the person with asthma may not survive, but again, the cause is not being addressed with the inhaler, the symptoms are.

Chronic suppression of the immune system (which is what anti-histamines and steroids do to the body) works well in the immediate moment. However, chronic suppression contributes to long term health problems that are not usually linked to the suppression. The practice of medicine as it exists now is to treat what we see now. In individuals who have lived with chronic suppression who end up with arthritis or cancer for example, are then treated for those conditions without ever looking into a potential cause to the outcome.

Once we better understand the cause, we have a better understanding of treatment. Once we are better at our treatments, we are also better at prevention of all chronic degenerative diseases.

Let’s start simply by understanding that there are only two causes to all disease outcomes that are acquired (not inherited). One is excess build up preventing cellular movement of nutrients into and waste out of the cell and the other is deficiency of needed substances required by the body to create vitality. As we apply this to allergies, see the potential excesses and deficiencies related to the cause.

The excesses and deficiencies listed below set up a chain of reactions that end up as inflammation which leads to chronically elevated histamine levels. The antibody involved in chronic (silent/unknown) allergies is called IgG. When not in balance, these antibodies clump together with white blood cells and “foreign invaders”. When this happens, large immune complexes deposit in tissues – especially mucous membranes, joints, and the central nervous system causing a cascade of inflammation – which results in tissue damage. Mast cells that are part of connective tissue become damaged and release histamine into the body. This causes irritation, itching, swelling, fatigue, pain etc. The idea then is to prevent this by keeping our body clean and efficient.

Common Deficiencies Related to Allergies

• Immune Globulins – Over 80% of our immune system parallels the digestive tract, protecting our internal body/immune system from foreign invaders. If our digestive tract is broken down, immune globulins have no ability to adhere to the intestinal lining which means we lose our first line of defense. Making sure our digestive tract is healthy which means that there are plenty of immune globulins, is the absolute first step in preventing and reversing allergies to the outside world. Things that break down our digestive tract and therefore prevent the ability of immune cells to thrive are stress hormones, caffeine, alcohol, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, multiple medication use, and sugar to name a few. The intestinal tract is semi-permeable, which means that it is like a screen allowing the nutrients we eat to be absorbed into the body and allows waste to exit from the body into the digestive tract. When the digestive tract is broken down, the term leaky gut is used to describe where healing must start – repairing the lining so the screen holes are small enough to differentiate between what should and shouldn’t enter the body. Once the digestive tract heals, the immune globulins can be laid down. This is very common in our culture. Healing the digestive lining is only possible if we enhance digestion of foods (enzymes) and remove food allergies – which develop only because our digestive tract broke down, not because the food is bad for the body. We also must use nutrients to decrease the permeability or leakiness of the lining during the process of healing.
• Enzymes – As discussed above, digestive enzymes are needed to enhance complete breakdown of food into the smallest particles ready for the body to use as fuel. As we age, digestive enzyme secretion naturally depletes. Chronic diseases and medications compromise digestive enzyme secretion. Chronic food allergies inhibit digestive enzyme secretion. Using digestive enzymes is essential to healing allergies. There also enzymes in the body, deeper than the digestive tract. They are responsible for digesting waste in the body. Waste buildup in the body are things like mucous and inflammation. Using systemic enzymes on an empty stomach helps the body heal faster as well.
• Good Bacteria/Acidophillus – In our digestive tract there should be a balance between good and bad bacteria. They are both essential. The good bacteria is commonly known as acidophilus. Acidophillus keeps the balance, preventing the overgrowth of other organisms like yeast, parasites and bacteria. It has been said that it takes 18 months to replace the lost acidophilus from just ONE EXPOSURE of antibiotics.
• Amino acids – The villa in the digestive tract are kept strong through amino acids, of which there are a few essential for building the hair like projections on the intestinal lining that increase surface area to hold all of the immune globulins and amino acids necessary for a healthy immune system. Amino acids are also essential to create antibodies.
• Hydration – If we are dehydrated, the cells are stagnant and the only outcome is inflammation.
• Rest – The body heals when it rests. If sleep is suboptimal or if we go too hard all day, we are in breakdown mode and healing is impossible.
• Joy/Love/Acceptance – There are essential emotions required for the body to be at ease and “one” with the environment that it breathes or eats or drinks. It acceptance prevails, resistance is impossible. Allergies are a strong symbol of resistance.

Common Excesses Related to Allergies

• Pollution – anything foreign to the body that challenges its vitality.
• Hydrogenated fats – found in processed foods, banned in NY, break down cell membranes, causing leaky cells, inflammation and histamine release.
• Colors/dyes/preservatives – are foreign to the body, cannot be processed efficiently, causing great strain on the immune system.
• Anger/Resentment – Emotions that prevent ease allow dis-ease. When we are not “one” with our world, we will resist our natural environment. Inflammation in this manner is on the emotional/energetic body. I have had the opportunity of witnessing patients who release their anger and frustration heal allergies completely.
• Foods – Never is there anything wrong with food. It is the challenge our digestive tract has in handling the food. Once we have leaky gut, foods that would normally be our friend become our enemy – for a short time. If you work on delivering nutrients to heal your digestive tract while eliminating your allergens, you most likely can consume them in a minimal fashion to prevent inflaming to that food again.
• See attached food allergy questionnaire. If your total score is 40 or greater, there is a good chance that specific foods may be related to your symptoms. You can have your personal food allergies tested or you can avoid the most common food allergies, for one month and then retake the questionnaire to see how much has improved. If you desire using nutrients to facilitate healing of food allergies, you can use the suggested gut-healing protocol listed below.

If you suffer allergies and want to treat aggressively, I recommend having your food allergies tested (simple blood test) along with a stool test. These will specifically identify for you what to eliminate and what is necessary to rebuild. If you have chronic seasonal allergies, there is an additional treatment you can do which includes testing your seasonal allergies through a simple blood draw and desensitizing your immune system through drops that dissolve under your tongue.

Intestinal Healing Protocol for Leaky Gut Syndrome

• Digestive Enzymes – help break food down into small particles. Using them with each meal prevents undigested food from passing through the digestive tract. (Digest Well – 2 with each meal)
• Ultra Inflamx – medical food with specific amino acids that de-inflame the intestinal wall to allow rebuilding of the immune system. (2 scoops twice daily mixed in water with other powders)
• Permeability Plus – helps rebuild the villa in the digestive tract for good bacteria and immune globulins to build up and give optimal protection to the body. (2 scoops twice daily)
• Immune Boosting Powder – pure immune globulins – antibodies natural to the digestive tract. (2 scoops twice daily)
• HMF Superpowder – acidophilus, the good bacteria that keeps bad bacteria in balance. (1/2 tsp twice daily)

Most Common Food Allergies

• Dairy (milk, cheese, ice cream)
• Eggs
• Citrus fruits (including tomatoes)
• Potatoes (white)
• Corn
• Peanuts
• Caffeinated coffee/tea
• Chocolate
• Alcohol
• Pork
• Red meat
• Fried foods
• Processed foods
• Wheat products (flour, breads, pastas, crackers)
• Sugar and artificial sweeteners: aspartame, NutraSweet, saccharine, splenda (sucralose)

You can click the below questionaire to enlarge and print.