Treatments for Allergies
Causes of Allergic Reactions and how to fix them
Are you one of the millions of people in the Western world who have multiple allergies, intolerances or sensitivities? Has your problem developed since childhood? If you responded affirmatively, then you are part of a growing problem.
The number of people developing adverse reactions to foods in their diet and to substances in their environment is rising alarmingly. There are three classes of reaction that you may be experiencing.
Allergies
Most of us know someone who has a violent reaction to eating certain foods. An allergic reaction may cause swelling, hives or a full blown anaphylactic shock with severe breathing difficulties. Even the smallest amount of the substance in question can cause a serious and possibly life threatening reaction.
Intolerances
Intolerances (e.g. to dairy products) are usually caused by an inherited trait, such as the inability to create an enzyme needed in the digestive process
Sensitivities
Sensitivities are reactions that we acquire as we go through life. As a child you may have been able to eat certain foods without any problems. In adult life you may find that you can no longer tolerate the same foods. Something has changed inside you to cause this reaction. Thankfully, sensitivities may also be reversed.
The root of the problem
Often sensitivities are an indicator that there is a problem in the intestinal tract. You may have developed a yeast problem where the naturally occurring yeasts and harmful bacteria in the gut start to outnumber the beneficial bacteria. This causes toxicity which then leads to adverse reactions in the immune system. You may also experience bloating, heartburn or gas.
Long term stress is a contributory factor because it undermines the body by de-stabilising the hormonal system.
Once food sensitivities develop we may also find ourselves becoming more reactive to things in our environment, e.g. pollen (hay fever), household cleaning products, or to domestic animals.
Extreme Sensitivity
In extreme cases people are unable to leave the safety of their home for fear of being exposed to perfumes, cigarette smoke, diesel fumes and more. However much of this can be reversed by natural means; by starting where the problem began, in the intestinal tract.
Using natural supplementation to eradicate yeasts and harmful bacteria in the gut, the body can be guided gently back to its natural state of balance. Over time the gut starts to function normally and then the immune sytem also corrects itself. This process is often best done under the supervision of a trained therapist. However there is much we can do to help ourselves.
Self Help Tips
- Start by watching how you react to your food. If a meal makes you feel better, then those foods are okay for you. If you feel worse after a meal then something you ate is causing a reaction and you may need to go for testing. Vary your diet and bring in foods that you don't usually eat, since you are less likely to have become sensitised to them.
- If low energy is a problem, then start eating foods with high nutritional content – again varying the ingredients as much as possible. Salads and unprocessed is better than processed foods.
- A multi-vitamin and mineral supplement may be helpful in boosting your energy levels.
- Could you reduce the stress in your life? Are you over stretching yourself by setting yourself impossible goals? It can be beneficial to take a long hard look at one's lifestyle and see if it can be simplified.
- Rebuilding the gut flora is essential but probably best done under professional guidance. However you can make a start by eating live natural bio yoghurt. You could also purchase a good quality probiotic (beneficial bacteria) capsule from the health food store.
It may take many months to regain full health so please persevere in order to get the most benefits. Gradually, as the gut comes back into balance, the immune system will start to heal and the body can return to normal.
