What Are Allergies?

Allergies are reactions to foreign substances by the immune system. The body’s defense system responds to foreign invaders or pathogens and this response triggers some form of immediate reaction in the body. Children today experience allergies at a much more alarming rate than ever before.

Environmental allergies tend to be seasonal; much worse in the spring and the fall when there are airborne allergens from trees, flowers, grasses, and pollen. Other common allergens are foods such as eggs, milk, wheat, soy, and peanuts.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Allergies

Allergens can cause an over-production of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the body. This antibody elevates levels of histamine which causes inflammation and triggers an immediate allergic reaction. In some cases severe allergic reactions can trigger anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.

What Your Doctor May Tell You About Allergies

A pediatrician will likely refer your child to a pediatric allergist. The pediatric allergists do skin-prick and blood testing (RAST radioallergosorbent) to determine IgE environmental or food allergies. Food allergies are more critical because they can be life-threatening so allergists recommend elimination of the allergenic foods and provide a prescription for epinephrine in the form of an “epi” pen to use in emergency situations.

Pediatric allergists are trained to diagnose, provide a treatment protocol and manage the allergies. Depending on the type of allergy, the allergist may prescribe antihistamines, cromolyn sodium (nasal spray), decongestants, eye drops and steroid sprays.

Allergists might also recommend immunotherapy (allergy shots) injecting the allergen into the body to create immunity to that allergen, but many times the risks can be potentially more dangerous due to severe reactions such as hives, rashes and even anaphylactic shock.

Another Way to Think About Allergies

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Allergies

A second type of allergic reaction is Immunoglobulin G (IgG). The IgG is much less understood as being an allergy because the inflammatory reaction is affecting the immune system. Symptoms are usually delayed manifesting two or three hours later and are not usually life-threatening. IgG symptoms are often referred to as being an intolerance or sensitivity rather than an allergy. They also tend to be more cumulative in nature and respond on a deeper level within the immune system. Typical IgG reactions include:

• Sleep disturbances
• Asthma
• Bedwetting
• Eczema
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Ear infections
• Bladder infections
• Chronic sinusitis

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Allergies

A third type of allergic reaction called Immunoglobulin A (IgA) develops usually when there is autoimmunity present. Due to leaky gut syndrome, immune function is impaired and inflammation in the gastrointestinal lining causes the protective coating of antibodies called IgA to be released. The body is unable to fight off infection and becomes vulnerable to all types of pathogens.

Because the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is unable to eliminate toxins, they overload the liver and deplete the sulfur-containing amino acids, so the detoxification process becomes impaired. High levels of ammonia may develop due to liver toxicity which affects brain functioning.Any chemicals or toxins at this point that are ingested cannot be detoxified out of the body by the normal process, and consequently, cause a misfiring of the neurotransmitters in the brain. This is the reason why children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism may have “neurological” reactions such as:

• Hyperactivity
• Mood swings
• Meltdowns
• Inappropriate behaviors
• Sensitivity to sounds and lights

Consider removing gluten and casein and all toxic ingredients from the diet to help heal the GI tract.

Allergies Checklist to Start

Make dietary changes:

• Eat whole foods
• Buy organic foods
• Remove all GMO foods
• Remove all fast and processed foods
• Remove all foods with:
  • Artificial colors
  • Artificial ingredients
  • Preservatives
  • Phenols
  • Salicylates
• With an elimination diet, remove potentially inflammatory foods such as:
  • Casein
  • Gluten
  • Soy
  • Corn
  • Eggs
  • Fish
  • Shellfish
  • Nuts
  • Peanuts
• Strictly limit:
  • Sugars
  • Refined salt
  • Refined carbohydrates
• Consider implementing the Feingold diet

Include plenty of good quality fats, such as:

• Coconut oil
• Olive oil
• Avocados
• Wild salmon
• Organic chicken
• Organic turkey
• Grass-fed ghee
• Pasture-raised eggs
• Grass-fed beef
• Essential fatty acids from:
  • Cod liver oil
  • Hemp seeds
  • Flax seeds
  • Evening primrose oil
  • Borage oil
  • Walnut oil

Heal the gut with special diets such as:

• GAPS (Gut And Psychology Syndrome) diet
• Paleo diet
• GF/CF (gluten-free/casein-free) diet
• Body Ecology Diet
• Modified Atkins Diet (replaces the Ketogenic diet)

Learn more about healing diets and foods.

Use digestive aids with your practitioner’s guidance:

• Betaine hydrochloric acid
• Vitalzyme Complete with DPP-IV for gluten and casein intolerances
• Proteolytic enzymes
• BiCarb
• Bromelain
• Papaya

Clean up your environment:

• Remove animals (both live and stuffed!)
• Remove carpets
• Use non-toxic cleaners
• Use non-toxic building materials
• Green your home

Avoid exposing your child to chlorine, fluoride, and bromine because all three are in the same family as iodine and can displace iodine in the thyroid gland.

Ask your pediatrician to run some laboratory tests for:

• Possible food sensitivities and allergies
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) IgG, IgA, IgE and IgM
• Nutritional deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. The NutrEval by Genova Diagnostics Labs covers the following areas:
  • Malabsorption
  • Dysbiosis
  • Cellular energy
  • Mitochondrial metabolism
  • Neurotransmitter metabolism
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Toxin exposure
  • Detoxification need
• Bacterial and yeast overgrowth
• Gluten and casein sensitivities
• Organic acids: The organic acid test by Great Plains Laboratory for yeast overgrowth and Candida, oxalates, and other microbial infections

Use homeopathy specific for allergies:

• Natrum muriaticum
• Nux vomica
• Arsenicum album
• Allium cepa

Consider using Schueller’s cell tissue salts, which can be effective as well. Individual homeopathics can be specific for whatever the allergic symptoms or condition is.

Add fermented foods and probiotics daily:

These will keep the gastrointestinal system and microbiome healthy and strong which in turn will keep the immune system strong.

• Eat kefir yogurts
• Eat fermented vegetables
• Eat umeboshi plums (very alkalizing)
• Eat miso soup, if soy is tolerated

Some good probiotics are:

• VSL#3
• Gut Pro
• Dr. Ohirra’s Live Cultured Probiotics
• Garden of Life
• Culturelle
• Klaire Labs

Use herbs, essential oils and natural supplements with your practitioner’s guidance:

• Cod liver oil
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D3
• Quercetin
• Catechin
• Hesperidin
• Flaxseed oil
• Stinging nettles
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Micelized A (water soluable vitamin A)
• Zinc
• Milk thistle
• Myrrh
• Histadine
• Red clover
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC): prevents upper respiratory infections for those prone to chronic infections
• MSM transdermal cream
• Epsom salts bath

See a well-trained acupuncturist:

Acupuncture can help strengthen the lungs, kidneys and liver.

See a NAET or BioSET practitioner for an allergy elimination treatment:

NAET and BioSET can help eliminate food and airborne allergies.

See a homeopath or naturopath:

These practitioners can diagnose and treat asthma naturally so that the child’s immune, sensory, neurological and nervous systems develop without being compromised.

Ionic foot bath:

The ionic foot bath can help detox unwanted pathogens and are easy to do with children.

Infared sauna:

An infrared sauna can detox through the skin and help strengthen the lungs.

However, this form of detoxification may not be suitable for young children who lack the ability to sweat.

Hypnotherapy:

Hypnotherapy can lessen or completely prevent allergic reactions and assist the immune system in responding in a different way.

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