Be Allergy Free

Step 1 — Quick Fixes!

In order to be truly allergy free, I have a two part approach. First are the quick fixes, to help ameliorate your current suffering and symptoms. But please remember that these quick-fixes are not a cure. These natural remedies can give you the temporary relief you need while we address the underlying causes of your immune hyperactivity. If you want to eliminate your allergies for good, you’ll have to follow through with steps 2-5.

The simplest formula for a quick-fix is this: Quercetin and Vitamin C. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid, a plant compound, found in citrus fruit. Quercetin inhibits the manufacture and release of histamine (one of the primary triggers of allergic symptoms). Whereas most antihistamine medications block the action of histamine once it has been released, Quercetin actually blocks the histamine from being produced in the first place! Quercetin works best along with Vitamin C which is another natural antihistamine. A good product is Aller-C by Vital Nutrients. It also contains additional bioflavoniods which enhance the activity of Vitamin C, and bromelian which is known to have anti-inflammatory effects. This product can be purchased through Dr. Amber. For best results adults can take 2 caps of Aller-C three to six times a day. If you have separate vitamin C take 500-1000 mg three to six times a day and quercetin 250-500mg three to six times per day. These are very safe nutrients that typically do not have a risk of toxicity. If you are on prescription medications, it is recommended that you ask your doctor about any potential interactions.

If your allergy symptoms include red, burning and itching eyes, the best eye drops I have found are Similisan Allergy Eye Relief. They can be used throughout the day as needed and are available at most health food stores (even at Hills Drug in downtown Easton). To soothe irritated nasal passages, try a nasal spray containing homeopathic Euphorbium or quercetin. A saline rinse, or nasal lavage using a Neti Pot, can help to remove dust, pollen, and other allergens from the nasal passages. It can also help clear mucus, thus, improving nasal congestion and obstruction. Use it at least once in the morning and once at night, or anytime after increased exposure (ie-being outside, mowing the lawn, dusting).

And now that you have some relief, let’s get to the root of the problem. Read on!

Step 2 — Homeopathic Treatment

Usually seasonal allergies, or “hay-fever”, is a chronic condition developed over a life time. When this is the case, constitutional homeopathic treatment is most effective. This means that a single homeopathic remedy is prescribed to treat the whole person—the entire pattern of physical, mental and emotional symptoms as one. This type of homeopathic treatment strengthens the individual so that they are less susceptible to react to the irritants in their environment.

There are many combinations of homeopathic remedies available in health food stores. These often bring temporary relief, but do not necessarily correct the underlying problem for the next season. When individual remedies are prescribed by a qualified practitioner to precisely match the symptoms, the result is cumulative—over time the allergic reactions decrease in severity and frequency until they are no longer a concern at all. For most effective results, they should be prescribed by a well trained and experienced homeopathic practitioner.

Step 3 — Identify and Avoid Food Allergens

Food allergies and sensitivities are becoming more and more common. Food allergies can involve the production of either IgE or IgG antibodies. IgE reactions usually produce classic allergy symptoms such as asthma, eczema, nasal allergies or hives, or they may produce anaphylaxis which is a potentially life threatening reaction. IgG reactions may produce typical allergy symptoms, or more subtle symptoms such as upset stomach, headaches, fatigue, sinusitis or even changes in mood or behavior. IgG reactions are more difficult to identify because they are a delayed response that may not produce symptoms for up to 4 days after eating the food.

Identifying food allergies is not always a simple task. The skin test that is performed by allergists tests only for IgE and accuracy varies greatly. Blood tests are available for both IgG and IgE. I use a laboratory called ImmunoLabs to test for IgG reactions. If after three months of eliminating the foods they recommend you do not experience improvement, they will refund your money. Elimination diets, where you eat a non-allergenic diet for a couple of weeks and then re-introduce potentially allergenic foods one by one, can sometimes be the most helpful way to identify food sensitivities or allergies. This methods, however, requires strong motivation, vigilance to avoid the allergens, and lots of patience! It may not be appropriate for all people.

The most common foods to cause allergies or sensitivities are wheat, dairy, soy, corn, eggs, peanuts and shellfish. Sometimes just removing one of more of these from the diet can have a significant effect on how a person feels.

How does this all relate to seasonal allergies? Well, if you have food sensitivities, your immune system is already hyper-responsive. Add in a few pollens, dusts and grasses, and your immune system will react even stronger to the irritants, causing a more severe reaction. Removing food sensitivities (which you have control over) allows your body to better handle the environmental allergies (which we don’t always have control over).

Step 4 — Optimize Digestion

Step 4 follows well after step 3. People who are allergic to several different foods often have weak digestion that is contributing to those food allergies. The most common scenario is this: A digestive tract that is not fully digesting food or is irritated or inflamed, allows larger food particles to be absorbed into the body than otherwise should be. These large food particles are then seen as foreign in the bloodstream. The body mounts an immune response to these food proteins, including IgE or IgG antibodies that result in symptoms. This condition is known as “leaky gut.”

Treatments for leaky gut include avoidance of aggravating foods while supplementing nutrients to build a healthy and intact digestive tract. Probiotics are foundational in the repair of the digestive tract. Probiotics are the “good bacteria” that inhabit a healthy gut. They include acidophilus, bifidobacteria and others. Probiotics occur naturally in fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha. They can also be taken in powdered or capsule form for a concentrated boost. Another helpful nutrient to heal a leaky gut is glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid that is used as a source of energy for the cells of the small intestine. Glutamine comes in powder or capsule form. While probiotics and glutamine are being used to heal the digestive tract, it is also important to be avoiding food allergens that might be simultaneously irritating the intestines and counteracting the healing process.

Step 5 — Balance Immunity

Allergies are an over-reaction of the immune system to a substance that should otherwise be entirely innocuous and safe. The body mounts an immune response to an irritant that, for other people, is not irritating. Balancing immunity actually has already begun with step 4. Our digestive tract is one place that our body has a barrier between the outside world and itself. The good bacteria that line the intestines are actually part of our body’s initial immune barrier. Taking or eating probiotics are the first step to balancing the immune system. Probiotics have been shown in studies to reduce the risk for allergic conditions such as eczema.

A second foundation to balance immunity are healthy fats. Omega 3 oils found in fish, flax, nuts and seeds promote anti-inflammatory pathways while decreasing the production of substances that trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. Most people do not eat enough omega 3 oils in their diet and therefore benefit from fish oil supplementation. For comprehensive research studies on fish oils, see www.omega-research.com.

Take some of the above steps on your own or contact your Naturopathic Doctor for an individualized protocol and support. You can be allergy free...naturally!