Allergies And Immune System
Symptoms Of Allergies:
- Watery eyes
- Congestion
- Nasal discharge
- Wheezing
- Rash
- Itchy eyes and skin
- Sneezing
- Swelling of the lips, tongue, throat, or face
- Tingling sensation of the lips or mouth
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal cramps and diarrhea
- In severe cases, a loss of consciousness
Naturopathic Approach To Allergies
How We Help You Take Control Of Your Immune System
The immune system is extremely complex, but there are simple things that we can do to optimize our immune system and make it less hyperreactive – starting with our diet and our lifestyle.
The health of the immune system is greatly influenced by the health of the digestive tract. In fact, the majority of our immune system is lined within the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.
What this means is that the food we eat can influence our digestive system and the likelihood of an allergic response.
Our state of digestive health influences our ability to absorb nutrients and key nutrients like zinc, magnesium, iron and others are crucial for a healthy immune system
Struggling With Allergies? Get In Touch For Natural Treatments
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Natural Approaches To Supporting The Immune Response
Stress Reduction
Practicing some kind of stress reduction in the form of yoga, meditation, or tai chi can have dramatic and positive effects on the immune system. When stress is in check, our T-reg cells function better, making the immune system less hyperreactive.
Elimination Diet
An elimination diet is the gold standard method of finding out which foods are problematic for you. Eliminating some of the most problematic foods can have dramatic effects. Additionally, blood testing can be done in order to find out exactly which foods your body is reacting to.
8 Foods account for 90% of allergic food reactions – these foods are:
- Milk, eggs, fish,
- Shellfish, peanuts,
- Tree nuts
- Wheat,
- Soybeans
- Vitamin D
- Glutathione
- Omega-3 Fish Oil
These all play a role in the health and function of our T-reg cells which are responsible for balancing the immune system. Many people are deficient in all three of these nutrients.
Vitamin D and Omega-3 fish oil can be taken orally. Glutathione is not very well absorbed orally, but it can be taken in its liposomal form orally, or even more effectively via IV infusion.
Vitamin C
Can be helpful in reducing the amount of histamine you produce.
Research has shown that histamine levels are reduced by about 38% after taking 2 grams of vitamin C orally.
Intravenous vitamin C had an even better outcome, with an approximate 50% reduction in histamine with 7.5 grams.
Quercetin
Known for its antioxidant and anti-allergic properties. Quercetin inhibits histamine release and suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 4 (IL-4). It is anti-inflammatory and helps to modulate the immune system.
Nettle
Has shown inhibition of several key inflammatory mediators that cause the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Nettle inhibits the activity of histamine and inhibits mast cell degranulation and release of pro-inflammatory mediators
Hepa Air filter
Having a high quality air filter can be helpful for some people as it gets rid of many airborne allergens.
What Are Allergies?
Allergies are our immune system over responding to a foreign substance like mold, pet dander, certain foods, or pollen.
Allergy symptoms occur when the body responds to a certain substance by producing histamine, in an effort to counteract the allergen. The immune system also responds and causes allergic reactions by producing antibodies called immunoglobulins (Ig) that cause systemic symptoms.
There are multiple types of immunoglobulins, such as IgE, IgG, IgM, or IgA, each of which can cause different responses. IgE responses are typically immediate and more severe while IgG, IgM, and IgA responses can take up to several days to appear and are usually more mild.
Types of Allergies:
- Certain Foods – common food allergies include:
- Gluten, dairy, nuts, eggs, soy, shellfish
- Seasona
- Certain
- Medications
- Mold or dust
- Latex
- Pet dander or animal fur
- Pollen from plants or grass
- Fragranced beauty or personal care products
Mechanisms:
Environmental allergens bind to immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies on mast cells, which degranulate and release inflammatory mediators such as histamine.
Histamine is responsible for a variety of responses in the body such as increased capillary permeability, blood vessel dilation, and contraction of smooth muscles. These responses lead to typical allergic type symptoms like congestion, watery eyes, and nasal discharge. In other allergic reactions such as with IgG, there is a similar inflammatory response, except it is more delayed.
Testing For Allergies:
- IgE (Immunoglobulin E)
- IgG (Immunoglobulin G)
- IgA (Immunoglobulin A)
Conventional Treatment
- Antihistamines
- Over the counter decongestants
- Tylenol
- Eye drops
- Corticosteroids
- Immunotherapy medications
- Skin creams (antihistamine or steroid)
- Epipen (for anaphylactic reactions)
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