Genetics of Food Allergy and Intolerance

Can genetics explain if you are allergic to some pollens or foods?

White blood cell patterns determined genetically and designated as HLA DQ and DR genes have been identified with an increased risk of pollen, dust, latex, and food allergies. The intriguing part of this story is that there is an advantage to knowing your HLA DR and DQ type when evaluating your risk for pollen allergies and their associated food allergies or cross reactions.

Genetics of Food Reactions and Allergies

As I explain in more detail in my articles on the genetics of gluten sensitivity, we all have proteins on the surface of our cells that are genetically determined. These patterns are easily detectable by testing cells from blood or from the mouth obtained by a Q-tip type swab. Specific patterns have been associated with increased risk for autoimmune conditions, gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

HLA DQ Genetics and Celiac or Gluten Sensitivity

HLA DQ2 is present in more than 90% of people who have celiac disease while HLADQ8 is present in most of the rest, though not all people with celiac have been found to have DQ2 and/or DQ8.

DQ and DR Genetic Patterns Associated with Food and Pollen Allergies or Sensitivities?

Now it appears certain DQ or DR patterns are associated with food and pollen allergies as well. As the Food Doc, I continue to search the literature for more information about genetic links to food allergy and intolerance. My search has led to me to a couple of interesting articles in the unusual area of oral allergy syndrome (OAS). The relationship between seasonal and perennial nasal allergies and food allergies is certainly well established but not generally known by most doctors or patients. It appears that some of us need to avoid eating certain foods if we have hay fever or allergies, especially during the hay fever season. This problem also appears to be inherited.

Research Documents Genetic Association With Certain Food and Pollen Allergies

Boehncke, et al. from the University of Frankfurt reported in 1998 that certain white blood cell types known HLA class II genotypes or HLA DQ and DR genetic patterns were found more frequently in people with certain pollen associated food allergies. HLA-DQB1*0301 is present in more people with grass pollen allergy. Those with HLA-DRB1*08, an inherited white blood cell protein pattern linked with a grass pollen allergy, have six times the increased risk of peanut allergy. Those who have inherited the HLA-DRB1*12 white blood cell pattern are 13 times higher at risk for carrot allergy.

Tree Pollen Allergy to Birch Tree Pollen Appears to be Worst

Birch pollen associated hazel nut allergy is linked to HLA-DRB1*01, DQA1*0101, and DQB1*0501. Hazel nut, almond, walnut and apple are the most common food allergies associated with birch tree pollen. Allergies to those foods are commonly associated with birch tree pollen in other studies.

Weed Allergies Also Associated With Food Reactions

In 2004, Wang et al. from China published that the inherited white blood cell type DQA1*0302 is found in more people with Artemisia pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, hay fever due to Mugwort or Sagebrush weeds. Mugwort allergy is associated with several food allergies including apple, celery, hazelnut, pistachio, lettuce, almond, peanut, and carrots.

Where to Get Genetic Testing

There are three commercial labs that I am aware of that offer full HLA DQ typing. They are Quest Laboratories, The Laboratory at Bonfils in Denver, and Enterolab. Bonfils runs the Enterolab genetic tests. Enterolab offers the test run on samples of cells obtained from a Q-tip swab of the mouth. The test can be obtained directly from Enterolab without a doctor's order though it is not covered by insurance. It however is very reasonable from a genetic testing standpoint at $149. Bonfils also does the DQ typing on cells obtained from blood samples sent to them from other labs.

The Future of Genetic Testing in Pollen and Food Allergies

In the future such testing should be very helpful in evaluating suspected food allergies, intolerance and pollen allergies. In the meantime those of us interested in this interesting story anxiously await more research findings in this exciting area. Dr. Fine, founder of Enterolab, has previously published the HLA DQ patterns associated with microscopic colitis. He has found that microscopic changes in the colon or large intestine are similar if not identical to what is seen in the small intestine in celiac disease. Several articles now document that a gluten free diet works in many people with microscopic, lymphocytic and collagenous colitis. It also helps many with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

A finding of intraepithelial lymphocytosis in the distal small intestine (terminal ileum) is associated with an increased incidence of celiac disease in the proximal small intestine. Now, adding to the intrigue, are these articles linking certain inherited white blood cell protein gene patterns to pollen allergy and food allergy cross reactions that are well recognized but rarely pursued clinically. Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS), also called the "burning mouth syndrome", occurs in many people but frequently goes undiagnosed. Symptoms include burning, painful and/or itching sensation of mouth or throat with or without swelling that occurs almost immediately after eating certain foods. The foods causing these reactions are commonly associated with pollen, latex or dust allergies.

Unusual Association of Pollen Allergies and Mouth Burning or Food Reactions

This unusual association of tree, grass, and weed pollens, latex and house dust mite allergies to food reactions, though well documented in the medical literature, is not commonly recognized by doctors or patients. The OAS literature contains numerous reports of food allergy or intolerance reactions that are associated with specific pollen, dust, mold or latex allergies. One of the best examples is ragweed pollen allergy. It is associated with a higher risk of food allergy or intolerance to only a few foods. These include foods in the gourd family (cucumbers and melons) and bananas. On other the hand, Birch tree pollen allergy is associated with sensitivity to many foods. The list includes those foods in the Rosacea family (apples, pears), tree nut family (hazelnut, almond, walnut), potatoes, and carrots. Reactions include classic allergic reactions such as skin rashes (atopic dermatitis, hives), wheezing (asthma), runny nose (allergic rhinitis), as well as the burning mouth OAS symptoms and other food intolerance symptoms.

If You Suspect Food Allergy, Intolerance or Sensitivity Get Evaluated By an Expert

Individuals who suspect food allergy or intolerance are encouraged to review the food-pollen connection and undergo appropriate evaluations for food allergy, intolerance and sensitivity. Food sensitivity includes gluten sensitivity and cow's milk (casein) protein sensitivity. Food intolerance includes lactose intolerance. Food allergies are separate and distinct from either food sensitivity or food intolerance.

Consider Getting Genetic Testing or Asking Your Doctor to Test You

This new information about the link of white blood cell protein patterns, HLA DQ types, suggests that we should consider having genetic testing done. After an adequate evaluation,

Establish a Baseline Symptom Score and Start a Food Symptom Diet Diary

I encourage everyone to establish a baseline symptom score. A detailed food symptom diary before a trial of elimination diet is also extremely helpful. An elimination diet that excludes major food lectins (dairy, grain, legumes, and nightshades) and any foods from the pollen list that one is allergic is recommended before accepting diagnoses of IBS, fibromyalgia, unexplained neuropathy or headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Any symptoms not readily explained or improved with other diagnoses and treatment should be considered to be possibly due to a food reaction until proven otherwise.

Selected Bibliography

Boehncke, et al. Clin Exp Allergy. 1998 Apr;28 (4):434-41.

Fine KD et al. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 Aug;95(8):1974-82.

Wang et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Feb; 130(2): 192-197.

Types of Allergy Tests

It used to be if you wanted to find out what you were allergic to you had to undergo a long series of tests that could take weeks or months. If you were allergic to something unusual or rare it could take years or, more commonly, you never would find out. If your allergies were seasonal, they probably disappeared before the testing clinic found an answer and you would give up on the clinic testing and go back to life as before. Much of that procedure today has been speeded up and is more straightforward but if you are being checked for allergies there will probably still be several types of tests performed.

There are three basic ways that a clinic or hospital can use to test you for allergies. The most commonly used is a skin test. This involves putting a small amount of the allergen on your skin. Allergen, by the way, is the medical term for the substance suspected of causing your allergy. Most often, the allergen is applied to your forearm but it could also be done on your back or upper arm. Then the skin in that area is irritated by pricking it with a needle or scratching the skin. This allows the substance to get under your skin. If you are allergic to it there will usually be an allergic reaction in less than 10 to 15 minutes. Usually the reaction just involves redness, itching and swelling of the skin but testers have to be careful with skin tests because in some cases the reaction may be severe and involve respiratory complications. A variation of the skin test is the intradermal allergy test. This test uses a small needle to inject the allergen just beneath the skin. Skin tests are usually used to identify things in the air that you inhale that might be causing your allergy or allergies to insect or animal bites.

A second type of allergy testing is called elimination testing. This is most often used to identify food and diet allergies. In a very controlled environment, various foods are either added or removed from your diet and your reaction is monitored. Often the food is disguised in some fashion to prevent psychological factors from interfering with the test. Sometimes if you think you are allergic to something you abnormally influence the result. Obviously, this method is very time consuming and can only be used if the reactions are relatively mild.

The third and perhaps the best method of allergy testing is the blood test. As the name implies, this involves taking a small sample of your blood and sending it off for laboratory testing. The lab procedure is complicated but basically, they will expose your blood to various allergens. If you are allergic, your blood will create what are called IgE antibodies to fight off the allergen. Depending on what kind of IgE antibodies are created and how many are created the lab can both identify your allergy and tell you how severe it is. RAST and UniCAP are the two main specific types of modern blood testing for allergies. UniCAP is almost a fully automated procedure that can check for several 100 allergens and will even assign a number from 1 to 6 to identify the severity of the allergic reaction. The major disadvantage of blood testing is it requires specialized equipment. Usually your clinic or hospital will have to mail the blood sample off and will not get results back for several weeks.

Allergy Tests Effectiveness

Many people suffer from allergies. The problem that most allergy sufferers face is that it is difficult to pinpoint just what it is that they are allergic to. This is where allergy tests come in. But how effective are they in discovering exactly what it is you're allergic to? Are they accurate? Are there many ways to even perform the tests? We're going to try to answer some of these questions as well as explain how allergy tests work. Hopefully, by the time you're done reading this, you'll have a pretty good understanding of allergy tests are.

The basic premise behind giving allergy tests is very simple. Your allergist will inject you with small portions of each allergen to determine exactly what it is that you are allergic to. However, in reality, it isn't quite that simple. There are several methods to giving these tests and unfortunately all allergists give them differently.

The one method, which takes the longest, is to start with the smallest dose of allergen for each allergy. Since there are about 8 or 9 outdoor and 8 or 9 indoor allergies, this comes out to about 16 to 18 shots for each allergen at each dosage level. There are approximately 6 or 7 dosage levels for giving these tests. So by the time you are done testing, you could effectively have gotten as many 126 shots. While this may sound on the verge of insanity, it actually goes by very fast. Each dosage level is administered simultaneously in these standard kits. So you're getting about 8 shots at a time.

The way the test works is simple. After each dose is given, a period of about 10 minutes is allowed to pass. The allergist then checks to see if there are any signs of a reaction. If not, then they move up to the next dosage. Now, each allergen can react at a different dosage. So each reaction point has to be noted. Obviously, very detailed record keeping is involved here.

Other allergists simply go the direct route and administer the highest test dosage to start with and work their way down. This is not as accurate because an allergen that reacts at dose 6 may not react at dose 3 but will react at dose 4. Why does this matter? Because the ultimate serum created will actually be a little stronger than it needs to be. Granted, the difference is slight but many allergists feel that difference is significant enough.

But how accurate are these tests, even if you go the long route? Truthfully, they aren't as accurate as people want to think. The reason, as explained to me by my allergist, is because the skin, which is where the tests are given, reacts differently to allergens than the actual sinus passages. To get a more accurate result, you would have to inject each sinus passage, one shot at a time, and then what for a reaction. The amount of time it would take to administer these tests under those conditions would make testing virtually impossible. So skin testing is the best we can hope for.

So because the tests themselves are not that accurate, the actual allergy shot created for them is only going to be so accurate. This is why many people who take allergy shots get very little relief from them, if any.

Therefor, the alternative to allergy testing and allergy shots is simply to treat your allergies with natural foods and herbs. You can find such treatments by visiting our website.

To YOUR Health,

Steve Wagner

New Method Eliminates Allergies

Allergy treatment through conventional medical methods utilizes two main approaches: allergic symptom suppression and gradual desensitization to various allergic triggers. With the symptom suppression approach, various medications may be utilized in order to decrease the release of, or block the effects of, inflammatory immune chemicals like histamine. The decreased effects of the immune chemicals reduces allergy signs and symptoms such as nasal congestion, itchy and watery eyes, and skin reactions like hives. In more severe allergic situations, corticosteroids such as cortisone may be employed to drastically suppress the body's inflammatory allergic response.

The other main conventional approach to treating allergies is gradual desensitization, which is done using allergy shots. Allergy shots deliver small amounts of the person's allergens into the body on a regular basis. The concept here is that over time the body will grow accustomed to the allergen and stop reacting as strongly to it. Basically, the idea is that the body will get "tired" of producing an immune response to the allergen if it encounters it often enough. Allergy shots are effective at eliminating allergies in many cases, but it is a slow process. There is a new way of desensitizing the body to allergens that is much faster and does not require injections, as we'll discuss shortly.

You'll need a bit of background information before I begin discussing this new form of allergy treatment. This method of treatment is based on the concept of the energy field of the human body and it utilizes a system known as muscle testing or "applied kinesiology" to evaluate changes in energy flow. Acupuncture is a system of healing that has been around thousands of years. It is based on the principle that there is a flow and interaction of very subtle forms of energy throughout the body. While this is still a new concept in Western medicine, energy healing is widely accepted in many parts of the world. Medical doctors often dismiss outright the concept of an energy field around the body, yet the existence of this field is easily demonstrated, as anyone who is "muscle-tested" will experience.

You may have heard of homeopathy. As with acupuncture, it is also based on the concept of energy fields, in the body, as well as in substances and organisms that may interact with the body. In essence, homeopathic remedies are energy "signatures" of substances - not the actual substances themselves. Just as you can store electronic information on a computer disc, energy signatures can be imprinted on purified water and other substances. The stored energy signatures in the homeopathics can then be used to treat the body.

As mentioned above, the existence of the human energy field is easily demonstrated. One of the simplest and yet most effective means of assessing the flow of energy around and within the body is something called muscle testing. Every muscle in your body is controlled by nerves, which transmit electrical signals. If the body's energy field is disrupted, the electrical signals of the nerves are interfered with, and so the muscles cannot function at full capacity. It's sort of like a light on a dimmer switch. When the power to the light is flowing at full capacity, the light is bright. When the flow of electricity is interfered with (by means of the components of the dimmer switch), the light dims. If the nerve signals to your muscles are "dimmed", the muscle appears weak. In muscle testing, we assess energy pathways by touching points on the body or by contacting the body with a substance to check the body's reactivity to it. Although any muscle in the body can be used for testing, one of the most popular tests uses the deltoid muscles. Essentially, the person being tested holds his or her arm straight out to the side at shoulder level and the tester pushes down on the arm at the wrist or forearm. When an energy reaction occurs, the person being tested will be unable to resist the downward push from the tester where they had been able to easily resist before.

There are many critics of muscle testing who claim that it is a hoax. I used to think that myself. Certainly there are ways to "cheat" the test to make it show what you want it to show. All of these tricks are easily detectable if you pay attention to what's happening. Among the more common tricks to produce a weak response when the tester wants it are: the tester pushes harder or faster, the tester lifts up on the arm (triggering muscle relaxation) prior to pushing down, or the tester changes the angle, or shifts the leverage of the push. I have witnessed muscle testing on several occasions in the past where it was obvious that the outcome was being controlled by the tester. Such experiences led me to conclude that muscle testing was a bunch of garbage. A few years ago, I attended a seminar that changed my mind. I came to understand the proper way to do muscle testing. Following that, I came to recognize what a valuable tool muscle testing actually was for assessing the body.

Allergy and Sensitivity Elimination and Reprogramming Technique (ASERT)is the newest method of dealing with allergy problems in the body. This is a method that uses muscle testing and homeopathic substances to evaluate the body and then uses a form of acupuncture point stimulation to reduce the body's sensitivities to allergens. This is a relatively new technique that is an updated version of an older, but more widely-used method called NAET (Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique).

NAET was discovered accidentally by an acupuncturist and chiropractor named Devi Nambudripad. She herself suffered from numerous allergies and food sensitivities and she had a very restrictive diet because of her multiple food sensitivities. The story goes that one day she was fixing food for her husband and absent-mindedly ate a piece of carrot, which she was highly allergic to. Immediately, she started to have an allergic reaction and she decided to ride it out using some acupuncture to help her through it more easily. Being an acupuncturist, she immediately placed acupuncture needles to stimulate the main energy channels of the body, and then laid down to rest. When she woke up, she felt really good and happened to notice that in her hurry, she hadn't washed her hands and there was still some carrot on her skin. On a hunch, she ate a bite of carrot and found she did not react to it as before. She then tried using the same procedure for other foods she was allergic to and discovered that the acupuncture stimulation eliminated those reactions as well. From there the method has grown and there are various modifications and offshoots of it, including ASERT, the technique I use.

With ASERT, I use muscle testing to test for reactions to various allergens and then desensitize the body to any allergens I find using laser acupuncture. The laser is particularly good for this technique because it is completely noninvasive and painless and can go right through most clothing, negating the need for the patient to disrobe. In using this technique the last few years, I have discovered some additional tricks to make it even more effective. For most cases, significant reduction in all types of allergies and sensitivities can be achieved in 1 to 10 visits. The treatment lasts for an extended period of time (in most cases, it "holds" for at least several months) and the effects are often permanent. A few interfering factors can come into play with the effects of treatment, such as heavy metal toxicity or particularly heavy exposure to the desensitized allergens, but these are rare.

Both ASERT and NAET are remarkably effective, if a bit hard to believe at first. They are gaining popularity and practitioners of these techniques can usually be located in most major cities.

How Are Allergy Testings Done?

The consumption of certain products and substances trigger allergic reactions to the skin and blood of the person. In this situation, an allergy testing is necessary for person to avoid the products that may be causing allergic complications.

There are three types of allergy testing: skin test, blood test and elimination tests. Skin tests are conducted by scraping skin portions of the person, which will then be placed with a small amount of substance known to cause allergic reactions. Blood tests are not as frequently performed like skin tests, but they are only conducted when a person is unable to have his skin tested due to the presence of skin disease. The most typical method of blood testing is the radioallergosorbent testing (RAST), where the antibody known as immunoglobulin E (IgE) is measured in the blood and determines the chances that the person is prone to allergic reactions. Lastly, an elimination test is a diet controlling the food consumption, which in turn determines whether or not the person has food allergies. This method can be done without the assistance of your doctor, although it really would help if you are provided with the list of foods to avoid.

Test preparations may seem to hinder the testing process, but it does provide the doctors with records regarding your medical history, all of which may be crucial in the testing process. Certain prohibitions such as the consumption of illicit drugs and substance are definitely disallowed prior to the testing.

As far as the actual testing on both methods is concerned, the person will fell a temporary itchiness and discomfort when a portion of the skin is pricked using a tiny needle. On the other hand, drawing blood from the vein during blood testing may sound a little violent, but the person usually never feels anything during the process.

Although allergy testing is meant to help you with your condition, both skin and blood testing pose health risks of their own. For instance, skin testing could cause swelling of the face, severe itching, and a serious reaction known as anaphylaxis. Meanwhile, inflamed veins and profuse bleeding are two of the more common disorders that can happen during blood testing.

A negative skin test would produce stable red areas (wheals) caused by allergen, while a positive skin test would produce raised wheals that are 1/8 larger than the normal. Blood testing are simply determined by the IgE levels: at least 4 times the normal IgE level deems the person allergic to the particular allergen.

Which is Better - Skin Prick Test Or Blood Test

When it comes to allergies most doctors still will chose skin prick testing over blood tests. The main factor is price and accuracy. Skin prick testing is far less expensive than a blood test and the results are for the most part available on the spot compared to a allergy blood test. Most research also shows skin prick testing to be more accurate than blood tests, although companies who market allergy blood tests claim that new improved tests are just as good as skin prick tests or scratch tests.

Blood tests or RAST type tests are designed to measure the level of IgE anti-bodies as they are introduced to allergens. The greater the increase the more severe the allergy reaction. Originally IgE anti-bodies where labeled with a radioactive substance so they could be measured as allergens where introduced. The RAST test is probably most useful for people who are at great risk to suffering a severe allergic reaction that skin prick testing could result in. This may include infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. The test is marketed by many pharmaceutical companies under several names including CAP, RIST and MAST.

Skin prick and scratch testing involves a small prick or scratch on the patients skin which allow a small amount of the allergen to be introduced. After the allergen is introduced the doctor can note if there are any signs of a allergic reaction on the skin. During the test generally several allergens will be tested on a patients body. This differs from patch testing which the allergen is only held against the skin and is usually used to test for allergens that cause contact dermatitis reactions.

When deciding which allergy test is best for you your doctor is still the best one to ask. If the results are not definitive from one type of test you may have to use another to get better confirmation result.

Allergy Testing - Different Ways to Test For Allergies

People who suffer from allergies should consider the different options that they have available. There are many different treatments that are available for people with allergies. Before getting any treatment, it is important to know what you are actually allergic to. Allergy testing is used to help find the specific allergen that is causing your allergen symptoms. There are many different allergy tests that are available from doctors and holistic practitioners.

The purpose of these allergen tests is to identify the presence of either IgE or IgG antibodies. The most common methods that are used to take allergen tests are blood samples, skin pricks, or patch tests. The test that you use will probably depend on the kind of skin that you have. The skin prick test is the most recommended way to initial see if you suffer from allergies. This method is a cheap and fast way to deliver quick results on for your allergies.

Blood tests are also very popular for different allergies. If you are looking to get a blood test it is usually carried out in a medical clinic. The will insert a small needle and extract a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. This test is very valuable in providing good feedback for inhaled or consumed allergens.

Although these are not the only forms of allergy testing that is used, they are probably the most common tests that are taken. If you are suffering from different allergies, it is important that you find out what you are allergic to. Proper testing can ensure that you get the relieve that you need.

Allergy Medicine - Not All Medicines are Created Equal

When someone has an allergic reaction, it is not a lot of fun. Some of the allergy symptoms that you can experience are:

Coughing
Sneezing
Puffing up
Tearing up
Migraine headache

Shock, if extremely severeThe thing is, every allergy is different and not all allergy medication is the same and works on all allergies.

You have to find the right medication for the specific allergy that you are experiencing. You can do this by talking to your doctor or to an allergy specialist. This way you can find the best allergy medicine for you.What is the test for allergies?When you are getting tested for allergies, they have to test many different substances in order to pinpoint what you are allergic to. What they do is inject you, usually down the length of your spine, with several different substances. This can be anything from daily products like grass to dander to even dust.What they're looking for is a reaction. If you are allergic to a substance your skin will become red and raised at the injection site. This is a sure sign that you are allergic. This way once they know what you are allergic to they can prescribe the correct medicine.

Prescription compared to over the counterWhen you have an allergy you must find a medication that works for you. Say for example, you only have mild allergies, then probably an over the counter allergy medicine will be fine. But then there are severe allergies. For example, say you are allergic to shellfish, and when you leave it you blow up and have to be rushed to the hospital. An over the counter allergy medicine will not work for this. This technology will require a prescription from your doctor.If you are allergic to something and want to get rid of it are at least help the symptoms, get tested and ask your allergist's for some kind of allergy medicine that will help you feel better.

If you want to enjoy life and if there is an allergy medicine out there that will work for you then you better go out and find that medicine.For more information on this topic as well as other asthma / allergy related topics visit: Allergy Medicine

Allergy Medication

Allergy is the reaction of a body to an intolerable allergen. Individuals use various medications to treat allergy and its symptoms. It is also advisable to avoid these allergens if identified. Antihistamines are the major group of chemicals that are used as medication in case of allergy. Histamine, a type of chemical is released at some stage in an allergic reaction and anti histamine is used to curb their effect.

Anticholinergics, mast cell stabilizers, and decongestants are other classes of medications that are used to prevent or take care of allergy symptoms. Corticosteroids are also used as anti allergic medications. Each medication is found in different forms, such as pills, eye drops, and nasal sprays.

In case the source of allergy is known, it is advisable to stick with the tried and tested formula of the usual anti-allergen, as they are known to be repetitive in their effect. However if the source is not known, it is recommended to take advice from medical professionals regarding the medication. Allergy medications at times have a number of different products and hence it is necessary to read the labels on these medications thoroughly, before using them.

It is important to give due thought to side effects, while deciding on an allergy medication. Drowsiness is a common side effect of anti histamines. There are however newer antihistamines that are non-sedative by nature and hence do not affect the mental alertness. Cetirizine is one of the anti-allergens known to cause high levels of drowsiness and hence can be a potential hazard.

Allergy medications are usually safe for most people. However if an individual suffers from high blood pressure, diabetes or any such ailment, it is advisable to ask the medical practitioner regarding the safest anti allergen that can be consumed. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are also recommended not to take any medication for allergy without consulting their medical practitioner.

Food Allergy In Cats - Symptoms, Treatments And Diagnosis

Not only humans' Even animals are affected by food allergy. It mainly affects cars and is rated among the main causes of atopy, flea bite allergies. Cats usually develop allergies from constantly fed kind of foods.

Often cats are sensitive to a certain type of food ingredient. So, an antibody in their intestinal tracts responds, leading to food allergy. Among all other type of allergies, with a 10% ratio allergies caused by food are more prone to cats.

Food allergies affect male, neutered cats and also female ones. It is also a misconception connecting specific breed of cats to allergies caused by food. This condition can initially create symptoms for cats from four months young to eleven years old. But majority of food allergy cases occur between 3- 6 years in cats. These cats are also in connection with inhalant allergies.

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The main difference between food intolerance and food allergy should be learned to correctly manage allergy in cats. Allergy caused by food are taken as true allergies revealing symptoms like itching and skin problems associated with feline and canine allergies. Incase diarrhea or vomiting happens without creating allergic responses, it means that it's only intolerance of food. Cat food intolerance is similar to a human having a stomach ache or diarrhea as a result of consuming spicy food or eating food that is fried. By utilizing foods food intolerance and allergies can be prevented. This doesn't offend the agents.

Many studies reveal that few ingredients of food are the main causes of allergies when compared to the rest. The main common causes in cats are dairy products, fish and beef. Many pet owners would have observed that the following ones are the main ingredients found in foods that are consumed by the cat. Even though few proteins are more antigenic, it still comes in similar forms. So, this reaction depends mostly on the quantity of exposure.

The symptoms of this allergy in cats are most likely the same to most kinds of allergies. But the major ones are excessive scratching, hair loss, military dermatitis and itchy skin. For pet owners it is difficult to distinguish cars that suffer from atopy or food allergy by physical signs. But, they must suspect food allergy if these symptoms begin to take place during winter or through out the year and the cats fail to respond to antihistamine or steroid treatment.

When you figure out the symptoms of different allergies in cats it is very simple to diagnose the allergy. Symptoms of food allergy are similar to that of bacterial, notoedric mange, hypersensitivity to intestinal parasites, seborrhea and yeast infections.

It is necessary to carry out food trials. Elimination and provocative testing diets could be done. One should feed the cat with foods that has carbohydrates, proteins for 11 - 12 weeks without any treats. A typical instance is potato and venison or potato and duck. These foods are commercially available in the market or could be homemade. Young and growing cats have special nutritional needs. Diets made at home containing a carbohydrate and a protein eliminating multivitamins and fatty acids could be fed for 12 weeks. Food trials for kitten are carried out by giving a commercially balanced diet. After few weeks, feed the cat with previous food that they once have consumed. In case the symptoms are shown then it's surely food allergy. Others perform blood testing which is not accurate when compared to trials (food).

Feed the cats with commercial diets from hill or Purina or homemade diets which makes treatment of allergy simple and easy.

The ABCs of Food Allergies

Approximately 8% of children and 2% of adults suffer from true food allergies. When the culprit food is eaten, most allergic reactions will occur within minutes. Skin symptoms (itching, urticaria, angioedema) are the most common, and occur during most food reactions. Other symptoms can include nasal (sneezing, runny nose, itchy nose and eyes), gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea), lung (shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, chest tightness), and vascular (low blood pressure, light-headedness, rapid heart beat) symptoms. When severe, this reaction is called anaphylaxis, and can be life threatening.

Allergy or Intolerance?

Most reactions to food are probably not allergic in nature, but rather intolerance.

This means that there is no allergic antibody present against the food in the person. Intolerance can be classified as toxic and non-toxic. Toxic reactions would be expected to occur in most people if enough of the food was eaten, examples include alcohol, caffeine or in cases of food-poisoning. Non-toxic food intolerance occurs only in certain people, such as lactose intolerance, which is due to the deficiency of lactase, the enzyme which breaks down the sugar in milk and dairy foods. Patients with lactose intolerance experience bloating, cramping and diarrhea within minutes to hours after eating lactose-containing foods, but do not experience other symptoms of food allergies.

Non-allergic Immunologic Reactions

A less common form of non-allergic reactions to food involves the immune system, but there are no allergic antibodies present. This group includes celiac sprue and FPIES (food protein induced enteropathy syndromes). FPIES typically occurs in infants and young children, with gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, and weight loss) as the presenting signs. Milk, soy and cereal grains are the most common triggers in FPIES. Children typically outgrow FPIES by 2 to 3 years of age.

Common Childhood Food Allergies

Milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish and shellfish compromise more than 90 percent of food allergies in children. Allergy to milk and egg are by far the most common, and are usually outgrown by age 5 years. Peanut, tree nut, fish and shellfish allergies are typically the more severe and potentially life-threatening, and frequently persist into adulthood.

Cross-Reactivity and Cross-Contamination

Cross-reactivity refers to a person having allergies to similar foods within a food group. For example, all shellfish are closely related; if a person is allergic to one shellfish, there is a strong chance that person is allergic to other shellfish. The same holds true for tree-nuts, such as almonds, cashews and walnuts.

Cross-contamination refers to a food contaminating another, unrelated food leading to a "hidden allergy". For example, peanuts and tree nuts are not related foods. Peanuts are legumes, and related to the bean family, while tree nuts are true nuts. There is no cross-reactivity between the two, but both can be found in candy shops and in a can of mixed nuts, for instance.

Diagnosing Food Allergies

The diagnosis is made with an appropriate history of a reaction to a specific food, along with a positive test for the allergic antibody against that food. Testing for the allergic antibody is typically accomplished with skin testing, although can be done with a blood test as well.

The blood test, called a RAST test, is not quite as good of a test as skin testing, but can be helpful in predicting if a person has outgrown a food allergy. This is especially true since in many cases the skin test can still be positive in children who have actually outgrown the food allergy.

If the diagnosis of food allergy is in question despite testing, an allergist may decide to perform an oral food challenge for the patient. This involves having the person eat increasing amounts of food over many hours under medical supervision. Since the potential for life-threatening anaphylaxis exists, this procedure should only be performed by a physician experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. An oral food challenge is the only way to truly remove a diagnosis of food allergy in a patient.

Managing Food Allergies

Treat the reaction: If a reaction to the food is present, the person should seek immediate emergency medical care. Most patients with food allergies should carry a self-injectable form of epinephrine, or adrenaline (such as an Epi-pen®, with them at all times. These medications can be prescribed by a physician and the patient should know how to use this device before an allergic reaction occurs.

Avoid the food: This is the main way to prevent future reactions to the culprit foods, although can be difficult in cases of common foods such as milk, egg, soy, wheat and peanut. Organizations such as the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network offer help and support to patients and parents of children with food allergies.

Allergy physicians can also offer additional information and advice on avoidance.

Read food labels: Since accidental exposure to the allergic food is common, reading labels on foods and asking questions about ingredients at restaurants is important and recommended.

Be prepared: Patients with food allergies should always be prepared to recognize and treat their reaction, should one occur. Remember, since exposures to the allergic foods are frequently accidental, being prepared to treat the reaction with epinephrine is paramount. Emergency medical care should always be sought if an allergic reaction to food occurs, whether or not epinephrine is used.

Communicate with others:Communication with family members, friends, and school staff about the patient's medical condition and knowledge of how to administer epinephrine is also important. It is also recommended that the patient wear a medical alert bracelet (such as a Medic-Alert® bracelet) detailing their food allergies and use of injectable epinephrine, in the case the patient is unable to communicate during a reaction.

The 5th Most Common Allergen - Thimerosal

The chemical preservative Thimerosal (which contains thiosalicylate and ethylmercury) is a light colored crystalline powder found in childhood vaccines, make up and personal care products. Other products that contain it are antitoxins, ophthalmic and otolaryngolic medications, topical and intramuscular steroid preparations and intradermal tests.

If Thimerosal is used in adults and children with autism it can produce undesired side effects. Such patients, as well as their families, need to consider alternative immunization methods and this is encouraged by physicians (also recommended that siblings of people with autism should take similar precautions). Needless to say, anybody who suffers from autism needs to avoid thimerosal and thiscan be found in make up, personal care products and medications like throat sprays and eye drops.

Common products in which this preservative is present (but not limited to) are:

Contact lens solutions, eye ointments, eye drops, antitoxins, antibiotic ointments, nose drops, soap free cleansers, cosmetics, eye moisturizers, make up removers, desensitization solutions and tuberculin testing.

The North American Contact Dermatitis Group states that, in the United States, a Thimerosal allergy is rated as the 5th most common allergen affecting people. Removing Thimerosal from everyday life is practically not possible but daily exposure can be reduced by using products without it.

In many cases a Thimerosal allergy occurs only on the skin and people with allergic reactions to it might develop a rash where an injection was performed. They can also develop extreme conjunctivitis if the preservative is used in contact lens solutions that they use.

People who seem to face higher risks to a thimerosal allergy are cooks, women and healthcare workers - increased thimerosal allergy reactions amongst such groups could be as a result of increased exposure. The preservative is present in many products and immunizations that they are required to use.

Other names that Thimerosal is known as are: Mercuochrome, Merthiolate, Merzonin, Sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate, Mertorgan, Merfamin, Thiomersalan, Thiomersal, and Thiomersalate - it is by no means a comprehensive list of chemical names used for Thimerosal.

There may be no obvious side effects or allergic reactions to this preservative in people not allergic to it, but the question beckons - how does, or will exposure to this preservative, in their personal care products, immunizations and antibiotics eventually affect their bodies?

Symptom Assessment, Food Diary and Elimination Diet in Food Intolerance and Allergy - A Primer

Celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, cow's milk protein sensitivity and other food intolerance may be associated with numerous digestive and non-digestive symptoms. Some of the most common non-digestive symptoms include fatigue or sense of being overly tired, headaches, bone, joint and/or muscle pain, mental fogginess or impaired attention, nerve pain (neuropathy), and painful or severely itchy skin rashes. The most common digestive symptoms include feeling of excess fullness with meals or afterwards, bloating or distended abdomen, diarrhea, excess or foul gas, constipation, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Rating the severity and frequency of common symptoms, in particularly creating and tracking your own individual "Top Ten Symptoms" will be very helpful to you and your doctor, especially when combined with a detailed food-symptom diary. In addition to medical tests like blood work, stool samples, and endoscopic exams, assessing symptoms for severity and frequency before, during and after an elimination diet trial is critical. This helps determine if certain foods are causing or aggravating your symptoms.

The foundation of treating food intolerance usually includes an elimination diet. Prior to an elimination diet, a food diary is usually kept and reviewed for trends by a doctor. In the context of your medical history, symptoms, family history and medical evaluation a medical evaluation is usually recommended that may include blood and stool tests, skin testing for food allergens, and scope examinations of the upper and/or lower digestive tract. Your medical evaluation however could vary widely based your doctor's experience, specialty, biases about food allergies or intolerance and your history, symptoms and age.

Before seeing a doctor for an evaluation for possible food intolerance or allergy you should establish an initial symptom's list that includes your baseline rating of the frequency and severity of your symptoms. This should be done before making any change in your diet or eating pattern. A scale of 1-5 or 1-10 is commonly used to rate symptom severity and frequency. Within 2-3 weeks I will be publishing a very inexpensive symptom-food diary. You may try using a spiral notebook to record what you eat and track at least weekly your personal "Top Ten" list of the most common or troubling symptoms by severity and frequency. With a written record, you and your doctor can more easily track your progress and identify any trends.

For 28 days, I recommend you eliminate all grains, legumes, and dairy as well as processed foods. Foods in those categories are the most common foods that cause people problems. In those categories you find the foods that have commonly identified food proteins, lectins, gluten or casein that are known or suspected to cause symptoms. The foundation for the elimination diet is commonly referred to as the paleolithic, neanderthal, hunter-gatherer, caveman or simply Paleo diet as popularized by the health scientist Loren Cordain, Ph.D. in his numerous scientific publications and book The Paleo Diet.

The basis for the initial diet consists of lean meats and fish (unless fish allergic), fresh fruits and vegetables with additional foods eliminated based on your personal history. For example, you eliminate any foods that are specific to you based on any known food allergies, intolerance or suspected food intolerance because of your genetics, family history, presence of nasal, pollen or skin allergies, or prior medical tests. In particular, certain foods are known to cause reactions in some people who have documented allergies to grass, weeds, and/or tree pollens, house dust mite and latex. The latter food sensitivity association is well recognized clinically as the oral allergy syndrome (OAS). The modification of the Paleo diet based on individual assessment I have termed the Neo-Paleo Specific Diet.

4 weeks or 28 days of following your Neo-Paleo Specific Diet is recommended before attempting to re-introduce foods one at a time, every week to two weeks, while continuing to track your symptoms. This allows your gut time to heal and establish a long enough time to establish a pattern of adequate diet elimination and symptom pattern assessment. Theoretically, this should allow those with dietary induced gut injury or irritation associated with any "leaky gut" predisposition to heal adequately to reduce abnormal immune reactions or absorption of foods and/or food derived proteins and gut bacteria. It also may take some time for you to identify hidden sources of possible problem foods and adjust to your new eating pattern.

You should also be aware that some people experience classic withdrawal like symptoms in the first 3-7 days of eliminating certain foods, in particular grains and dairy products. Gluten, in products made from wheat, and casein, in products containing cow's milk, contain morphine like substances. These can be addictive.

The key to determining if certain foods are contributing to how you feel and the kinds of symptoms you are experiencing, is an adequate trial of elimination combined with accurate recording of what you eat and how you feel. A commitment of 4 weeks strictly eliminating the foods recommended according to your specific assessment while recording accurately what you are eating and how you feel will help you identify patterns and stay motivated to eliminate, restrict or rotate regularly any problem foods.

Allergy Tips - Living with Food Allergies

Living with food allergies isn't as hard as it used to be. With so many people all over the world showing signs of allergies today, many food manufacturers have seen the benefit of offering a variety of food substitutes to help make life (and eating) easier for those with sensitive systems.

While living with food allergies may be easier these days, it can still be quite dangerous, depending on the severity of your symptoms. For some, coming in contact (any contact) with certain food allergens (such as peanuts, or even peanut oil), can make them very sick - or even kill them! So, what are the most common food culprits?

The foods causing the most allergic reactions include:

-All varieties of nuts.

-Seafood, such as shrimp.

-Milk, particularly cow's milk.

-Eggs.

-Soy.

-Wheat.

So why can some people handling eating these substances, and others can't? Food allergies are caused by an immune system gone haywire. Normally, your immune system protects you from all types of germs and diseases by making bacteria-fighting antibodies. People with food allergies have an immune system that treats certain food ingredients as a disease, making your body react to it in a negative way. This is what can cause itchy eyes, and that runny nose in the spring when the pollen is out, or a more severe reaction to the foods you eat.

When you eat something that you are allergic to, the cells of your body release chemicals (including histamine) into the bloodstream to attack it. This can cause your respiratory system, skin and digestive tract to react, either mildly as in the case of a runny nose or upset stomach, or more severely as can happen when your throat restricts and breathing becomes difficult or even impossible.

Other signs you may experience include:

-Tightness in the throat.

-Hoarse voice.

-Wheezing.

-Tingling of your tongue or lips.

-Cough.

-Nausea.

-Vomiting.

-Stomach pain.

-Diarrhea.

In the most serious cases, a food allergy can cause anaphylaxis (say: ah-nuh-fuh-lak-sis), or a sudden decrease in blood pressure, restricted breathing tubes and a swollen tongue.

Those at risk for this type of severe reaction need to take special precautions when eating and always be prepared for an emergency.

Children often outgrow allergies to milk and eggs as they grow older, but more severe reactions to foods like peanuts, certain kinds of fish, and shrimp often last a lifetime.

Unfortunately for the millions of people who suffer form food allergies, there is no medication to treat it, making prevention a key. Avoiding foods that contain the ingredients that you are allergic to is essential to avoiding an unwelcome and possibly dangerous reaction.

One way to figure out if a food is potentially dangerous for you to eat is to check their labels carefully. The most common food allergens are always listed (sometimes in bold) on the ingredient list.

No matter how hard you try, you may find that you've accidentally eaten the wrong thing. Remain calm and follow your emergency plan - which you should create with your doctor beforehand This is especially important if you have a food allergy that can cause anaphylaxis) For serious reactions, people may need to carry a shot of epinephrine with them at all times, often referred to as an Epi-Pen. Of course even after administering this self-treatment, you must always go to the hospital to keep your reaction under control.

Having a food allergy can be a real annoyance, but it is something that you can control by following a few simple tips:

-Read all food labels carefully.

-Avoid eating any foods with unknown ingredients

-Carry an Epi-Pen or antihistamine with you at all times.

-Seek medical help immediately if you notice any reactions to the foods you've eaten.

Allergies - Understanding Perfume and Cologne Allergies

There are a lot of individuals that have allergies to irritants and allergens in the air such as second hand smoke, winter chimney smoke, dust mites, animal dander, parts of roaches, mold and pollen. They can have an allergic reaction at any time when they come in contact with these allergens. But wait, there are more allergens that you need to understand about.

Schools can be a perfect location where a student who has Asthma can have some serious problems trying to concentrate on their school work. A lot of students will wear perfumes and colognes to school and not realize that their fellow students can have a neurological allergy to their fragrances. I have several clients who have to Home School their children because of this phenomena in the Public and Private School Systems. Their childrens behavior was affected by these fragrances but changed dramatically when they were no longer in the School Systems.

America has a violence problem in the School Systems. Has anyone even looked at the possibility of the discipline problem being related to Perfumes and Cologne Allergies. Lab tests have been done on rats which when exposed to certain chemicals, they become very aggressive in their behaviors toward other rats in the same population. That is a pretty strong argument to have research funded to do this to help our children. Our children are the future and they need to be protected.

Parents who have children attending schools should request to see a copy of the MSDS Report, also known as the Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet from the Perfume and Cologne Distributors. They are required to have it available to all consumers. It will tell you exactly what is in the product. This can help you pinpoint the source of the allergy for your child. Parents need to be proactive and not reactive to violence in the School Systems.

In conclusion, chemicals such as acetone, ethanol, linalool and ethyl acetate have all been found in trace amounts in certain brands of Perfumes and Colognes. Do an Internet Search on Google or Yahoo for these chemicals. You will be surprised. It is important to check out what your children are wearing because of all the imitations that are sold in Flea Markets and elsewhere. Most of these products are from China and have not been tested properly to our standards here in the US. If your child is having a severe reaction to any fragrances, it is important that you consult with your Doctor immediately.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us or visit our website.

Food Allergies and Sensitivities - Some Alternative Recipes

Food allergies and sensitivities seem to be on the rise. Either that, or there are just more and more people who are aware of what is causing their ill health.

Back in the 80's, I was one of those people who scoffed at the claims of some people regarding environmental sensitivities. At that time the focus was on dyes, inks, fragrances and environmental pollutants. Many of the people featured in news articles and documentaries were reduced to living in tents or "bubbles". I thought they were all a little bit "nuts". Then I became one. It sure taught me a thing or two.

The list of things that I must avoid is daunting: milk in all its forms; wheat in all its forms; corn, which includes corn oil, corn starch and corn sugars; bananas, all citrus fruit; strawberries; chocolate; caffeine; nuts; peanuts; yeast; mushrooms and environmental fungi; artificial sweeteners; artificial colors; artificial flavors; preservatives; alcohol, whether taken internally or inhaled as in a hairspray; and all artificial fragrances and quite a few natural ones. All of the above items give me migraine headaches. I had the migraines every day for about four years before I figured it all out. I have to severely limit my salt intake due to having Meniere's Syndrome, which is too much fluid pressure in the inner ear. It causes extreme dizziness, ringing in the ears and gradual loss of hearing.

Because of all of these limitations, I have had to find alternatives to the things that most people take for granted. I have spent a lot of years researching food allergies and sensitivities and the alternatives. I would like to present you with some of the recipes I have developed for some of my favorite foods.

When I was young, my mother made the most wonderful ginger cookies. She used white wheat flour, butter, Crisco, salt and baking soda as well as a few other ingredients that I can still use. So, if gluten is not a problem for you, here is my ginger cookie recipe:

1 ¾ cups whole grain spelt flour or oat flour

½ cup brown cane sugar

½ cup refined cane sugar

1/3 cup molasses

1/3 cup light olive oil

4 teaspoons ginger

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon potassium bicarbonate (rising agent)

¼ teaspoon clove

Water

Unwashed, raw sugar with large crystals

Pre-heat oven to 370°

In a large bowl, mix olive oil, sugar, brown sugar and molasses. Add the ginger, cinnamon and clove. Then add the flour and the rising agent. If it looks too loose or oily, add a little more flour until it doesn't. If you add too much flour and it becomes to dry to hold together, add a little water. It should not stick to your hands.

Take about a tablespoon and a half of dough in your hands and form it into a ball. Roll the ball around in the raw sugar and place on an ungreased, non-stick cookie sheet. They will spread out, so only place about 12 balls per average sized cookie sheet. About ¾ of the way through baking, the tops start to crack.

Bake for about 15 minutes.

Be a little careful as you remove them from the sheet to a cooling rack. They do not hold together really well until they have cooled. It will make at least 2 dozen, maybe more.

I have been told by countless people that these are the best ginger cookies they have ever eaten.

Another treat I dearly love are pancakes. I would eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I could. Actually, I have, but not all on the same day.

The trick with pancakes is to get them to hold together well. Also, to make them "gluey" enough to hold the gas produced by the rising agent so that they are nice and fluffy. Spelt and oat flours do not have nearly as much gluten as does wheat flour. The potato starch mentioned in the following recipe acts as a conditioner for the batter and the flax seed meal acts as the "glue".

1 cup whole grain spelt flour

½ cup whole grain oat flour (or use all oat flour)

¼ cup light olive oil

1 egg

2 tablespoons refined cane sugar (or raw sugar)

1 tablespoon potato starch

1 tablespoon flax seed meal

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons potassium bicarbonate (rising agent, if sodium is not a problem, use baking soda)

Water

Mix the egg, olive oil, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Add the flours, potato starch, flax seed meal and rising agent. Stir. It will be very thick. Add water by 1/3 cups until you have the consistency you desire. Cook on a non-stick griddle over medium heat until they are golden brown.

Because oat flour and potato starch soak up a lot of water, the batter tends to thicken as it sits between batches. It may be necessary to add a little water as you go.

I make smallish pancakes by pouring the batter by ¼ cupfuls onto the hot griddle. I get about a dozen from this recipe.

I like my pancakes best served with 100% maple syrup or a little locally produced honey. Do not toss out the leftovers (if you have any). Just store them in the refrigerator. When you are in the mood for a quick snack, pop a couple in the toaster. Yum! I am always hoping there will be some pancakes left over.

I hope you enjoy my first foray into presenting some alternative recipes. Be creative with your food and do not be afraid of failure. Cooking might be chemistry, but it is not rocket science.

Is NAET an Effective Treatment for Allergies?

Millions of people suffer with allergies and there isn't much they can do about them short of avoiding the allergen altogether. Allergies to things like cats and dust can turn a person's life upside down. In the past, people have tried allergy shots with varied success.

Many people with allergies, desperate for a solution, turn to alternative remedies. One particular alternative allergy treatment, called NAET. (short for Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique) has garnered a lot of attention in recent years. Celebrities like Dylan McDermott and Alana Stewart have endorsed it.

So what is it? According to the official website: "NAET is a safe and effective technique in detecting and eliminating or desensitizing all types of allergies. NAET combines Kinesiology (Muscle Responsive Testing), Chiropractic and Oriental Medicine to clear allergic reactions through a reprogramming of the brain ... This technique can successfully desensitize the body in order to achieve an allergy-free state."

What types of allergies do NAET practitioners claim they can treat? The more common allergies such as food allergies, dust, pollen, pet hair, and flowers are often diagnosed and treated first. Then, items in one's environment that one may not have thought of as an allergen are tested: air conditioning, fluoride, plastic, chlorine. NAET practitioners claim that one can be "allergic" to just about anything.

Besides treating allergies, many practitioners practice what they call "emotional clearing." Events from one's past may cause health imbalances that cause allergies and other problems. By clearing the emotional issues, they claim, the health problems will go away.

NAET has also become a popular treatment for autism. Many parents claim their children have improved after treatment. Others claim the treatments brought no results for their children. NAET practitioners claim that some children need more treatment than others.

Given all the things one can be allergic to, NAET treatment can go on for months if the person has a lot of allergies. Treatment often takes place once or twice per week. It can be costly, but for those who have achieved results and rid themsevles of allergies, it may be worth it.

If you suffer from allergies, NAET may be an option. As with all alternative therapies, it is important to read as much as you can before trying them and spending the money. There is a lot of information about NAET available online to help you decide. While some people haven't had much success with the treatment, for others with severe allergies it has been life-changing.

Cilantro Allergies -- How To Combat This Difficult To Avoid Food Allergy

Cilantro is a herb commonly used in cooking. In Europe and much of the rest of the world, it is known as coriander. A hairless and relatively short plant, it is used throughout the world -- Asia, Latin America and the Indian subcontinent make heavy use of this ingredient in local cuisines. It is even used for medicinal means and can assist with cases of insomnia and anxiety. Unfortunately, a growing number of people will experience adverse reaction to cilantro in the form of full blown cilantro allergies.

Diagnosis of a Link Between Symptoms and Cilantro Allergies

Naturally, as with many others, cilantro allergies are notoriously hard to diagnose. First of all, the person may develop this allergy so, despite no change in lifestyle, they will gain painful or uncomfortable symptoms that they cannot identify. Also, cilantro allergies will often produce a whole variety of different systems depending on the individual. For instance, some people may break out in a skin rash, others may bring up their food in the form of vomit and others still may just get an irritating itching sensation in the mouth and throat. A rare few may have more serious consequences due to cilantro allergies -- they may go into anaphylactic shock and require urgent medical intervention. Fortunately, this is quite rare.

The best place to start with identifying an allergy that is suspected to be a food one, is to keep a food diary. This is a record of everything that is eaten plus any abnormal reaction to it. Over time, and with the help of a specialist if necessary, foods sharing common ingredients can be identified. The problem with cilantro allergies is that cilantro or coriander are included in so many different types of foods and cuisines. Nevertheless, a process of trial and error will usually identify the culprit ingredient. Sometimes, a skin prick test by a doctor will be necessary to identify the offending allergen.

Life Goes On with Cilantro Allergies

Like with nuts, cilantro is present in many food types, even those that you would not expect to contain it and think unnecessary to do so. Sufferers of cilantro allergies should check the ingredients of everything that they eat. This means checking the packaging for any food bought. Also, if food is cooked by someone else e.g. at a restaurant, a phone call ahead will be needed. If you suffer extreme reactions brought on by cilantro allergies, you may wish to completely avoid establishments using cilantro as even a trace amount on a clean plate that cannot be seen may be enough to cause a life threatening situation.

Food Allergy Symptoms

Food allergy is very dangerous to allergic patients, some time leads up to death of the patients. Several people suffer from this allergy and some of them could be life threatening symptoms that occur due to it. If a patient should not consult immediately after symptoms, it can cause death.

Therefore patients should keep in mind a small quantity of food which produces the allergy symptoms. Not all food items cause allergy. Peanuts and pistachios and other different types of nuts can be dangerous to food allergic patients. A small amount of these nuts may produce symptoms of food allergic.

Many people suffer from this allergy and this allergy found forever. Some of get mild trouble and some of get sever trouble while some of people suffer allergic trouble during particular season or some of suffer in particular place.

Patients can have allergies flowers, dust, pet, food and other substances. Different types of allergies are their but symptoms are same like pet allergy symptoms or food allergy symptoms. Some times it is difficult to find type of allergy.

Food Allergy Symptoms Are Similar to Other Allergens

The main problem is to determination of food allergy, because food allergy symptoms are not unique. Its symptoms are similar to other allergens so there is problem at the time of identification. Once you are able to find out which food source cause allergy so you can avoid this source.

People could be eliminated allergy by avoiding this particular food source. People try to find out the source of allergy by doing experiment on them, but this is time consuming and inconclusive. Food allergy symptoms appear quickly after consuming food source.

Patient can think about last meal and possibly can conclude about exact food source which is affected. Sometimes it's not easily to find out the symptoms. For example peanut sauce on another dish is not identifiable. To help to find out exact food source, different tests are available now.

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura - Allergies and Low Platelets

Although most people of the medical community will admit that they don't have a clue about what really causes Idiopathic Thrombopathic Purpura (ITP), there are many astute doctors that have come to believe that the underlying causes of ITP are a combination of genetic and negative environmental factors. It is perplexing, that when exposed to the same toxic environmental stimulus, some people might develop cancer, others might develop Lupus, or asthma and still others may develop ITP disease. Surely this has to point to some sort of genetic predisposition or inherent weakness in the body.

When trying to come to some sort of conclusion as to what might be triggering your ITP, you must seriously consider what outside cause may be the culprit, you can either guess and eliminate potential antagonists bit by bit through trial and error (if you have the time and patience), or you can resort to much more accurate testing data made available through some Naturopathic practitioners, such as hair analysis for heavy metals or DNA testing with equipment such as the Avatar or Bio-tracker. These tests will immediately show what is antagonistic to your being. And then you are able to take immediate action.

If you are able to discern just what has been causing your low blood platelets, either by trial and error or high tech testing, by taking the proper course of action, you may reduce or eliminate completely the need for powerful and potentially dangerous medications, with horrible side effects or even the final insult to the body...spleen removal.

There are several environmental triggers that are known to cause and challenge a chronic immune response. Sad to say, that these factors are very often overlooked when diagnosing and evaluating people who have ITP.

Some of these factors are chronic infections and chronic allergies and food intolerances.

There is a lot to be said about the fact that allergic reactions to foreign substances cause an immediate immune response and that if left unchecked, soon will over load the immune system and cause it to go haywire, as in the case of itp, or other auto-immune disorders. It is unfortunate that most immune responses to allergens and intolerances to certain substances or foods, usually are not noticeable and is like a fire smoldering within, until the problem becomes so serious that dis-ease develops before the person even has the chance to realize it. That is why it is so important to know about your own body and what substances or foods you may or may not be able to tolerate.

Hydrocarbon Sensitivity

Hydrocarbon and chemical sensitivity always go hand in hand with food sensitivities. In some patients, the chemical and hydrocarbon sensitivity is more dominant than food sensitivities. In other cases food sensitivities are more important. To date it has been possible to sort out the majority of ecological problems concentrating on foods alone. Sadly this situation is slowly changing and it is becoming necessary to take on the much more difficult task of unravelling patient's hydrocarbon and chemical exposure in order to achieve a reasonable clinical result. The outlook for the future is bleak, as there are no signs that hydrocarbon, pesticide, insecticide, food preservative, food additive and aerosol propellant pollution is on the decrease; if anything, it is very much on the increase. By far the most important sensitivity in this group is that of hydrocarbon

What are hydrocarbons? Hydrocarbons contain only the elements of hydrogen and carbon. They occur naturally in petroleum and gas and are used in the manufacture of plastics, solvents, synthetic fibers and synthetic rubbers. Commercial petroleum products, such as petrol, kerosene, aviation fuel and lubricating oils, are derived from mixtures of hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons are also contained in the gases manufactured from coal and petroleum.

People with hydrocarbon sensitivity will usually feel ill or very tired when exposed to gas, petrol or diesel fumes. They are usually very sensitive to the smell of these fumes, whereas other people would not notice them. Another common symptom is the syndrome termed by American ecologists as 'brain fag'. The person's intellect becomes dulled, his memory is severely affected and often his speech becomes slurred.

Obviously, the hydrocarbon problem is of extreme concern in a world which is so reliant on motor vehicle transportation. However, with care and good management, this problem can be minimized by the sufferer. The obvious things, such as keeping clear of heavy diesel trucks, avoiding self-serve petrol stations and not walking or running near busy roads, can go a long way towards assisting a person, with hydrocarbon sensitivities, to lead a normal life. Because this sensitivity always goes hand in hand with food allergies, often the diagnosis and removal of food allergens will greatly assist the overloaded immune system to cope more efficiently with the remaining chemical/hydrocarbon allergies.

Another major form of hydrocarbon allergy is caused by heating and cooking gas. This can be the most serious of all hydrocarbon problems due to gas appliances, such as fires and cookers, being used in continuous close proximity to the sufferer. Leading American allergist, Dr Theron Randolph, has slated the gas stove as a 'pernicious device'. In the past twenty-five years, he has made three thousand susceptible families switch to something less potentially allergenic. In the case of very sensitive gas allergies, it is necessary to remove completely all gas appliances, pipes and materials regularly exposed to gas, from the home. The obvious choice for these people is electric cooking and heating. The main hydrocarbon derivatives, which cause people problems are paints, varnishes, solvents, cleaning fluids, lighter fluids, aerosol propellants, sponge rubber, plastics, coal tar soaps, detergents, polishes, wax candles, coal fires, air fresheners, deodorants, disinfectants, substances containing phenol and all tinned foods (as the insides of tin cans are coated with phenol), and cosmetics and perfumes.

Food Allergy - The Body's Cry For Help

If you often feel bloated, tired, or not so good after a meal; if you gave frequent have stomach pains, cramps, or bowel problems; if you have strong food cravings or food dislikes; if you experience a collection of symptoms that you just cannot explain, or sometimes become more anxious, irritable, or depressed f you may be suffering from food allergy.

Allergy has reached epidemic, proportions, and it has been estimated that at this rate, half of Europe will have allergies in a few years. Food allergies are of particular concern, as they are now being recognized as a factor in many health problems and diseases, especially in children.

Many scientists and health practitioners believe that a poor diet and the sheer quantity of toxins that are now present in our food are major factors in this unprecedented rise in the number and severity of allergies over the last decades.

When Food Harms Instead of Helping

Much of our food is over-processes and treated with toxins all the way from production to sale. Instead of being a major source of true health and resilience, therefore, the food we eat can actually undermine our body's ability to deal effectively with daily stresses, and to clear out the toxins that assault us from all sides. No wonder that more and more of our bodies are reacting with food allergies.

Food allergies not only harm our bodies (and our minds), they also prevent us from deriving the full nutritional benefits from the healthful foods we do eat. By causing damage to our digestive systems, they can prevent complete breakdown of foods into essential nutrients, and interfere with the body's ability to properly absorb what nutrients are available. This can lead to nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition, even though you might be eating lots of good food.

Another problem is that food allergies can restrict your ability to eat the foods you need. A diverse diet offers maximum assurance that you are getting the nutrients you need, but if you live in fear of a reaction, you might find yourself limiting your diet more than you need to. For instance, a person with an allergy to swiss chard or silverbeet might eliminate all greens from their diet, when really, they might only be reacting to a particular chemical found in plants of the 'beet' genus. By eliminating all greens, this person is losing many health-giving properties of greens, which are outstanding sources of chlorophyll, calcium and magnesium.

Allergenic foods

An allergenic or reactive food is one that causes an allergic reaction, such as hives, wheezing, stomach cramps or stuffy nose. The foods that tend to be most highly allergenic (especially to children) are: milk wheat corn sugar soy nuts eggs.

Other highly reactive foods are: oats, yeasts, chocolate, seafood, beef and citrus.

However, you can develop an intolerance, sensitivity or allergy to any food. The degree of sensitivity to a food depends on your tolerance 'threshold' for that food. You might be able to eat small amounts of a food, but react to larger amounts. Or some foods may be eaten without reaction once in a while, but not more frequently.

In fact, you may not be reacting to the specific food, but to one of more of the components of that food. It might surprise you to learn that the most common problematic substances are the vitamins and minerals in foods. They can cause us to have allergic reactions to many foods we eat on a daily basis. Other major causes of food allergy are food additives, sulphur, pesticides, biotechnology and genetic engineering.

Symptoms of Food Allergy

There are many warning signs that indicate that you might have a food allergy: dark circles under the eyes, frequent sniffing or throat-clearing, irritability, moodiness, hyperactivity, or frequent fatigue. Other signs may include headaches, stomach aches, bowel problems, muscle pain, coughing or wheezing, and frequent digestive or respiratory problems. Symptoms vary from person to person. Common signs of food allergy include the following:

Digestive problems - Reactions to food allergens can damage to walls lining the digestive tract, and also disrupt the balance of hormones and chemicals needed for proper digestion and elimination. This can lead to problems such as Leaky Gut syndrome, where the walls of the small intestine leak partially-digested food into the blood stream. This can lead to bloating, stomach cramps and inflammation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, autoimmune and immune deficiency diseases, and many other problems.

Blocked airways - Food allergens are responsible for excess mucus in many allergic people, leading to chronic blocked noses, and mucuosy throats - as well as ear infections. Babies have very small upper airways and it takes very little to block them. When the allergens are removed from the diet, the mucus dries up.

Middle Ear infections - Over 70% of children suffer from middle ear infection at some time or other, and it believed by many researchers to arise from food allergies, particularly to milk and wheat. One study reported that 78% of the children with otitis showed allergies milk, wheat, egg white, peanuts, and soy, and when these foods were eliminated from their diet, 86% experienced significant improvement.

Psychological or emotional problems - Food allergies have been clearly linked to a range of psychological and behavior disorders such as autism and hyperactivity in children, anxiety, depression, inability to concentrate, mood swings, and 'fogginess'.

Food addictions - If you are addicted to a food, you are probably allergic to it. This is because allergic reactions in the body trigger the release of certain chemicals, among them, opioids, which make you feel good. If you feel happier when you eat that food, you can develop a craving for it.

Types of Food Allergies

If you are allergic to a food, you can experience either an immediate or a delayed reaction to food. The immediate reaction pattern is referred to as Type l food allergy. Immediately or within a short time after eating the food, you show clear and often dramatic symptoms. If you are allergic to fungus, you might develop abdominal cramps within an hour of eating a ragout containing mushrooms. A child with a type 1 reaction to kiwi fruit might experience severe itching in the mouth or vomiting within 15 minutes of eating a kiwi fruit.

The most dangerous Type l reaction is called anaphylaxis - a severe reaction that can be fatal within minutes. If you or your child experiences light-headedness), swollen tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, fainting or facial swelling immediately after eating food, seek immediate emergency care.

Type l food allergies are easy to diagnose. They respond to allergy skin tests, and show up on blood tests because they result in an excess of IgE antibodies. For many doctors, this is the only kind of real food allergy. Recent estimates show that that Type l food allergies occur in between 3-5 % (sometimes to 8%) of children, and in 1-2 % of adults.

Type ll food allergy does not involve IgE antibodies. Instead, IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies may be produced. This reaction pattern is associated with the release of inflammatory substances by the immune system. Many food allergies are of this type, therefore, they are not detected by standard allergy tests, which usually only test for the IgE antibodies.

Some reactive patterns are 'hidden'. Delayed patterns of food allergy (referred to as Type lll food allergy) often go unrecognized because the symptoms are not usually obvious, and may occur days after the food is eaten. Also, since they do not involve the production of excess IgE antibodies, delayed allergy reactions to not show up on skin tests or IgE antibody tests. Rather, they tend to show up as clusters of physical, behavioral and learning problems affecting several body systems at once.

You may experience Type lll allergy as a combination of recurring or persistent symptoms such as breathlessness, frequent clearing of throat, episodes of hyperactivity and emotional hypersensitivity, chronic stuffy nose, and frequent flu-like symptoms. Another person may experience recurring headaches, frequent itching of the eyes, abdominal pains, fatigue, bouts of depression, sleep problems, and swelling of the lymph nodes. These delayed reaction patterns of food allergy are difficult to diagnose. Yet according to many health practitioners, they account for the majority of food allergies, especially in children.

In fact, food allergies are so common - and still so frequently undiagnosed - that you should take any undefined pattern of illness that involves different symptoms and different body symptoms as a sign of food allergy until proven otherwise.

Treatment

It used to be accepted that children outgrew food allergies, and adults sometime report the same, but we now that allergies just evolve and change over time. For instance, allergies to milk or eggs can evolve into respiratory or other allergies, or as various health problems. For true healing to occur, the underlying allergies must be addressed.

The most common treatment for food allergies is avoidance. This will relieved the symptoms and prevent further damage; however, it can mean a lifetime of restrictive diets.

There is some evidence that eating organic foods can decrease the incidence or severity of allergic reactions to food, and may even help protect against allergic reactions. Organic foods provide more of the quality nutrients needed to build up the immune system, which is always weak in those with allergies. Certainly, a diet high in organic foods decreases the chances of developing allergies to food additives and pesticides, and can reduce the incidence of allergies.

However, if you already have food allergies, the damage they have already caused still needs to be corrected.

The best solution to food allergies is desensitization. There are different treatment options available, some of them immunizing the body to allergens with extracts taken under the tongue or injections. Acupuncture has also been shown effective in treating some allergies. The problem is that these therapies may not address the underlying health issues, such as nutrient deficiencies, toxin overload or stress, that caused food allergies in the first place.

For a real solution to food allergies, choose a program that involves detoxification to clear the body of toxins that contribute to allergies, corrects other underlying health problems, and desensitizes you to the allergens that are affecting you.

Once the food allergies are under control or eliminated, it is important that you obtain solid nutritional advice to help you maintain and build the health of your immune system. If you don't eat enough of the right foods, or eat too much of the wrong foods, you are at risk of developing new allergies or other problems. A good diet is still your best protection.

How to Solve a Seasonal Allergy

They are results of airborne substances especially pollen that appear certain times in a year which cause itchy skin, runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. You could go for skin tests which could help identify the allergy trigger and certain nasal sprays such as antihistamines and decongestants could help relieve the allergy.

It usually triggers during spring and fall and the perennial allergies are present throughout the year round which include allergens such as pet hair and house dust mites.

Springtime allergies are usually causes by pollen from tree such as oak, olive, birch, ash, maple and walnut during January to April. Pollens are the usually the main cause of seasonal allergies and they are small little egg-shaped powdery grains found in flower plants which are carried by the wind or insects to other plants of the same type for reproductive purposes and when they are in the air, it can land in a persons eyes, nose or lungs and maybe skin to set up allergic reaction which could lead to hay fever, eye allergies and even asthma. They can travel at a very long distance in the air and the levels of pollen are the highest from 5am to 10am so try to avoid exercising in the morning if you are prone to it.

During summer, the grass pollens are the usual cause of summer allergies. Try to avoid lying on the grass since getting contact with grass can results in itching which is called contact urticaria. Surprisingly, grass can be divided into two major classes which are the northern and southern grasses. Northern grasses are usually found in colder areas which include timothy, orchard, and red top grasses. In the other hand, southern grasses are present in warmer climates such as the Bermuda grass.

During fall, the weed pollen is the main cause of seasonal allergy which also depends on the area and these weeds include ragweed, pig weed, sagebrush and tumbleweed.

If you want to identify which pollen you are allergic to, consult an allergist where he or she could help you determine if you have seasonal allergies. It involves skin testing or also known as blood test. This can be very helpful in preventing you from getting such allergies during certain times of the year.

To avoid pollen exposure, keep your windows closed so that pollens would not drift into your house. Lessen your morning activity such as cutting grass especially between 5am to 10am. When traveling long distance especially at the countryside, keep your car windows close. You might also want to take a vacation during the high pollen season to a more pollen-free area such as the beach. Dry your clothes indoor or with your dry-cleaning machine so that pollen is not collect in laundry if it is hung outside to dry too long.

Autism Allergy - Do Allergies Cause Autism in Children Or Do They Get Allergies From Being Autistic

Autism allergy: The chicken and egg issue. Which is it:

Many children and adults with autism have food allergies. Since there is an abnormality in the digestive system of the child, this results in food allergies of the person. Also, the immune system is affected when there is a digestive system malfunction. The food that a child eats will not be fully digested, and the undigested food passes from the gastrointestinal tract of the individual into the bloodstream. Since the immune system does not recognize these undigested foods, it responds through an allergic reaction.

 In this form of treatment for autism, an individual has to avoid the food that can cause allergies. Also, there are food enzymes that can be taken to help in the full digestion of food. There are also studies that demonstrate how treatment of the inflammation of the gut can stop most food allergies. Hence, taking this step can result in a big improvement.

 Allergies can also be avoided through proper scheduling of the food that one eats. There are some people who try to eat within a four-day rotation. With this method, one should eat a certain food one day every four days, and the food should not be repeated during the four-day cycle for this autism allergy strategy.

To be able to test if this form of treatment works, you will need to observe carefully. You should also know that allergic reactions can vary from one person to another. There are some who do experience extreme allergic reactions like rashes on various parts of the body or anaphylactic shock. For other people, they only feel brief attacks of headache or stomachache. Observation is important. Try looking at the skin and checking if there are red spots in the ears, on the cheeks, or under the eyes.

 To ensure that food allergies are monitored, a person also needs to keep a diet log. The food eaten everyday must be noted and monitored, so that in case of manifestation of allergies, this can be a good source of information. Aside from observation, clinical tests such as skin and blood testing should also be done. IgE (immediate immune response) and IgG (delayed immune response) are blood tests and they can be more accurate than the skin tests. These tests however, can still have some limitations. There are some observations that may contradict the outcome of the tests, and you will be surprised.

Sinus and Allergy - Three Worst Foods

For all the controversy as to whether some foods, indeed, affect a person's environmental allergies and sinus issues, there is one thing certain: Most people will respond affirmatively, when asked if their condition was improved after discontinuing the use of some specific foods.

At least, this has been the experience of many, as well as mine, who had suffered from those two ailments and tried this simple experiment for a period of several days. This "empirical approach"-by practical experimentation-remedy, although little known and not scientific, has been, in many cases, a welcome solution in the treatment of those two health issues. The results have been consistent and therefore difficult to gainsay in the real world.

Three foods seem to stand out as real enemies of those suffering from environmental allergies and sinus disorders such as: Sinus pressure, PND (post-nasal-drip), chronic production of green and yellow mucus, sinusitis, etc. Those three foods are: dairy products, sugar and eggs. The list of "bad foods" is much longer, but those three, possibly, hold "the worst" preeminence.

Sugar and dairy products

Nutritional and medical science, as well as government authorities, are sounding the warning alarm about the effects of sugar in human health: Harvard University researchers, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, a bone disease expert from Tufts University are all saying, basically, the same: The average consumption of sugar in the USA is too high and this can be very detrimental to our health. Although their warnings are for the general population its connotation can add additional credibility to the negative effects of sugar for the two groups we are considering in this article: Those dealing with allergy and sinus issues.

As for dairy products, already in the late 1800's some nutrition experts were expressing that "milk produces phlegm." That far back also sugar had already been singled out as being "injurious to health," when taken in large quantities. Moreover, significant amounts of milk and sugar when taken together, it was stated, form the equivalent of alcohol in the stomach.

We must bear in mind, in balance, that not everyone reacts the same way to things put into the body, whether it be food, drug medication, an aspirin or even water. But it is good to know that when many allergy or sinus sufferers stopped using those three foods there was a remarkable improvement of her or his condition.

Eggs

Some healthful living advocates would insist that eggs can be just as detrimental, when dealing with those health issues, as sugar and dairy products are. Again, some are probably more susceptible to this food than others. Yet one can experiment with it to see whether in fact it should be placed in one's own list of "bad foods."

Conclusion

Some may be concerned about becoming undernourished if those three foods were to be significantly reduced or eliminated. The good news is, however, that because our American diet is already protein heavy it could turn out to be, in many cases, a blessing in disguise.

Having problems with allergies and sinus issues such as: pressure, headache, drainage, chronic green or yellow mucus? Try eliminating or significantly reducing those three food items and see what happens. The results could pleasantly surprise you as it did me and many others.

The Migraine Headache - Allergy Connection

Most everyone has had a headache at some time, but there are people who cannot function on a daily basis due to headache pain. Many people go to physicians for headaches, in fact, headaches are the ninth most common cause of physician visits. Some headaches are caused by serious medical conditions and may need medical treatment.

Migraines, which come on an average of 1-2 times per month, may last anywhere from 3 hours to 3 days each. The pain, may vary from throbbing to moderate, often comes on gradually. Sometimes it starts on one side of the head and then switches sides. People report seeing lights, rainbows and blurred vision. There may also be loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting.

More women than men complain of headaches. Usually migraine patients have a family background of headaches 80% of the time. 43% of migraine sufferers complain of eye symptoms. According to many studies, most sufferers have other symptoms: hay fever, eczema, travel sickness and a history of digestive tract problems.

The Allergy Connection

Migraines are often a reaction to an allergen, which in turn, irritates the blood vessels. In migraines, an artery, most commonly the superficial temporal artery, becomes constricted at first, then the same segment of the artery becomes widely dilated, and overstretched. The pressure of the blood carried in the artery increases the pain, whereas compression of the artery with the hands on the side of the head over the dilated segment will cause relief of pain. The control of blood vessel tone is through the autonomic nervous system. Thus many natural treatments are directed at the nervous system and blood vessels.

Triggering Agents

The most common triggering agents for migraines are alterations in serotonin metabolism (a deficiency), food allergies (in order of the most common- wheat, citrus fruit, eggs, tea, coffee, chocolate, milk, salt, corn, cane sugar, yeast, alcohol, cheeses, onions), low magnesium levels, hormonal imbalances, histamine-induced platelet aggregation (blood platelets sticking together). Migraine headaches can also be triggered by eyestrain, poor posture, stress, sleep excess or deficiency, weather changes, blood sugar imbalances and drug use. (Dr. Dana Myatt)

Other studies cite triggers like hypoglycemia, tension, depression, tobacco, birth control pills, vasodilator drugs, water retention, menstruation, wind exposure, and sun exposure. There may also be factors that aggravate migraines such as poor air, constipation, getting cold, noise, carbon monoxide poisoning, very low / high blood pressure, altitude changes (air travel), bright or flashing lights (a recent study showed 30% were in the sun when the migraine started), loud or low frequency noises, electromagnetic fields (cell or portable phone), emotional stress or trauma, strong odors (including news print), pet allergies, and others. (Dr. Ron Roth and Lancet)

Can Foods Cause Migraines?

When allergy producing foods were avoided there was a dramatic fall in the number of headaches per month, 85% of patients becoming headache-free (Lancet) Migraine users may want to stay away from food with dairy and wheat.

Eating too many varieties of foods at one meal is a common cause of headache. The many chemicals from the various foods, even though naturally produced, still make war inside the system. For people with headaches it is wise to take two dishes at a meal of very simple foods. (Dr. Agatha Thrash).

Natural Relief

* When the headaches first starts, applying an ice pack can provide quick relief. The ice pack can be placed on the top of the head or on the forehead.

* Tension headaches result from stress and reduced blood flow to the brain, causing the neck muscles to tighten. To soothe the neck muscles apply heat. Applying a heating pad or taking a hot bath can provide relief.

* A massage can relieve stress and relax the muscles in the neck and other parts of the body. With the fingertips, massage the scalp and temples, using a circular motion.

* A hot foot bath with a cold compress or ice pack over the painful area can also be helpful.

* Studies show that Feverfew and Ginkgo reduce migraines and vascular headaches. The leaves of the Feverfew contain parthenolide, which inhibits the production of substances that dilate blood vessels and cause inflammation. Ginkgo also relieves ringing in the ear, and dizziness often associated with headaches. Feverfew and Ginkgo are available at health food stores.

* Ginger relaxes blood vessels in the head and reduces swelling in the brain. It activates natural opiates in the brain that relieve pain. Ginger can be taken in the form of tea or in tablets available at health food stores.

Where to Find Help

For information on headaches contact: The National Headache Foundation (888) NHF-5552. Always consult a physician before proceeding with any remedies. Headaches can be a sign of a very serious medical condition that can lead to death.

Since diet can play a part in migraines, reducing allergy producing foods is recommended. If you can't afford the $100 food allergy test from your alternative medicine provider, you can instead try going 1 month each without wheat, dairy, and yeast. Those are the most common offenders. If any of them is involved, you should notice a difference!

Although it can be a challenge to change your diet, if the end result is migraine headache relief, it will be well worth your effort. There are an increasing number of non-allergenic food mixes and seasonings on the market today that have no dairy, are easy to make and healthful and fun to eat. You may want to consider some of those options while testing your diet to see if you can determine what foods, if any, are the ones that give you a headache.