Physiologic Definition: An allergy is a peculiar response on the part of the body, an attempt to protect that leads to an injury. The way it works is this: A foreign substance, an antigen, finds its way into the body, is picked up by special cells called macrophages, which can only partially digest the antigens. When the macrophages have worked on the antigen as much as they can, it is regurgitated into the bloodstream where it is picked up by a second group of special cells called lymphocytes. These cells are designed to prepare antibodies against antigens. Antibodies are capable of neutralizing antigens. When the antigen and antibody unite, a third compound is formed which in some instances turns out to be the villain in allergies. Because the third compound injures the body, the cells in the skin, digestive tract, or nasal passages may release chemicals of injury which act on various target tissues. As a result of injury to the target tissues, a sort of reflexive action occurs—such as spasms, secretions of mucus, swelling of tissue, and inflammation.
Symptoms: Fatigue, poor concentration, learning disabilities, pale face or blotchy skin, dark circles or bags under the eyes, acne, dermatitis, cough, colds, sore throat, sinusitis, asthma, itching and watery eyes and more.Potential Allergens: Dairy products, citrus fruit, eggs, pork, beef, fish, peanuts, soybean products, tomatoes and potatoes, grains including corn, rice, wheat and yeast, honey, cane sugar, artifical colorants/preservatives, strawberries, apples, lettuce, onions, garlic, potatoes, bananas, over the counter/prescription drugs, hormones, toxic chemicals, housecleaning products, perfumes in products
Prevention:
1. Avoid, as much as possible, any chemical that touches the skin (including soaps, lotions, cosmetics, detergents, nail polish, costume jewelry containing nickel sulfate, merthiolate, medicines, dyes, etc.).
2. Avoid breathing anything that has an odor except fresh natural vegetation odors, including gasoline, aerosols, cosmetics and perfumes.
3. All drugs and medicinals, vaccines, venoms, molds, fungi, bacteria, and insects can cause allergies. Avoid them as much as possible.
4. Elastic in clothing, nylon, and other synthetics are a frequent cause of allergies and should touch the skin as little as possible. Cotton clothing is best.
5. Chilling of the extremities, especially the ankles and backs of the arms, promotes much chronic sinusitis and retards healing of skin rashes. Cool or cold skin anywhere on the body is abnormal and weakens the immune system.
6. Overeating and evening meals aggravate chronic sinusitis. Chew food to a cream before swallowing to prevent toxic fermentation. Use only two or three dishes at a meal with bread to avoid a “war” inside.
7. Avoid allergens named above for a time, using a "mono diet" for five to ten days. The mono diet allows the liver to be more active in detoxifying antigens, and also assists in identifying antigens in food. A short fast is beneficial in that it allows the liver to have a reprieve from its usual duties so that it may deal with the antigens more effectively.
Treatment:
At any time one recognizes an allergy, simplification of the diet, especially the elimination of animal products may assist in getting rid of allergies. To reduce one's exposure to various chemicals and to a wide variety of foods at one time can also decrease the likelihood of having allergies. That means: do not eat more than two or three dishes at a meal and allow no more than three eating experiences per day, a hearty breakfast and lunch, and a tiny supper if one is eaten at all. Avoid between meal snacks.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, usually associated with food allergies. Except for the acute sinusitis which is generally caused by a virus, most cases of sinusitis are allergic in nature. Even if an airborne allergen is known to be involved, always start identifying the cause of sinusitis by eliminating allergens from diet and household. Ragweed hay fever has often been associated with a sensitivity to melons (especially cantaloupe) or bananas, two foods which should be omitted during ragweed season.
There are several very effective simple remedies employing heat that can be used for sinusitis. The first is a hot foot bath. Put the feet in hot water for about twenty or thirty minutes, followed by a brief cold water pour over the feet to prolong and intensify the action of the heat. This treatment may be done several times daily, or once daily for several days or weeks as long as the sinusitis lasts. The nasal passages can often be opened up in a matter of five minutes with the hot foot bath.
Another heat treatment used to open up the nasal passages is that of a hot compress applied directly to the face. Squeeze a towel from hot water and apply it directly over the sinus areas for five minutes. At the end of that time, place a towel that has been squeezed from ice cold water or cold tap water over the area for thirty seconds. Continue alternating hot and cold for three changes, ending with the cold. After each simple remedy the person should lie in bed 30 minutes to allow the treatment to "react". The reaction time insures that the full benefit will be obtained from the treatment. Repeat the treatment four times daily for the first week and once daily thereafter until sinusitis has cleared.
Six charcoal tablets (or 3 capsules or 1 heaping teaspoon of charcoal powder stirred in a glass of water) taken three times daily in the mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at bedtime for approximately two weeks will often do wonders for chronic sinusitis.
Several double-blind studies have shown that breathing heated moist air for 20-30 minutes 1-3 times daily can give significant relief of nasal and sinus congestion, whether due to viral infections or allergies. This can be done using essential oils such as eucalyptus as well. Add boiling hot water to a bowl, add essential oil if using (1-2 drops is sufficient), put face over bowl and cover head with a towel to keep heat in.
Supplements: For prevention of severe asthma and certain other persistent allergies, use the antioxidant supplements. The following are often quite helpful:
WATER
6-8 cups daily and not at meal times.
May drink 2 cups Echinacea tea daily as immune system stimulant.
AIR
Pure air in bedrooms and workplace, summer and winter (no cigarette smoke).
Avoid dust, molds, mildewy areas, smog, pets (cats, dogs, and birds).
Deep breathing exercises.
REST
Regularity, routine, and regimentation with some flexibility.
Schedule mealtimes, sleep time, worship and prayer, and devotional time.
Simplicity, back to basics.
Enter into the blessings of the weekly 7th day Biblical Sabbath.
TRUST IN DIVINE POWER
Pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ
Rededicate your life to Him.
Pray through the day. He's your unseen friend.
Source Information: http://ucheepines.org/index.php?p=counseling.allergies
Prevention:
1. Avoid, as much as possible, any chemical that touches the skin (including soaps, lotions, cosmetics, detergents, nail polish, costume jewelry containing nickel sulfate, merthiolate, medicines, dyes, etc.).
2. Avoid breathing anything that has an odor except fresh natural vegetation odors, including gasoline, aerosols, cosmetics and perfumes.
3. All drugs and medicinals, vaccines, venoms, molds, fungi, bacteria, and insects can cause allergies. Avoid them as much as possible.
4. Elastic in clothing, nylon, and other synthetics are a frequent cause of allergies and should touch the skin as little as possible. Cotton clothing is best.
5. Chilling of the extremities, especially the ankles and backs of the arms, promotes much chronic sinusitis and retards healing of skin rashes. Cool or cold skin anywhere on the body is abnormal and weakens the immune system.
6. Overeating and evening meals aggravate chronic sinusitis. Chew food to a cream before swallowing to prevent toxic fermentation. Use only two or three dishes at a meal with bread to avoid a “war” inside.
7. Avoid allergens named above for a time, using a "mono diet" for five to ten days. The mono diet allows the liver to be more active in detoxifying antigens, and also assists in identifying antigens in food. A short fast is beneficial in that it allows the liver to have a reprieve from its usual duties so that it may deal with the antigens more effectively.
Treatment:
At any time one recognizes an allergy, simplification of the diet, especially the elimination of animal products may assist in getting rid of allergies. To reduce one's exposure to various chemicals and to a wide variety of foods at one time can also decrease the likelihood of having allergies. That means: do not eat more than two or three dishes at a meal and allow no more than three eating experiences per day, a hearty breakfast and lunch, and a tiny supper if one is eaten at all. Avoid between meal snacks.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, usually associated with food allergies. Except for the acute sinusitis which is generally caused by a virus, most cases of sinusitis are allergic in nature. Even if an airborne allergen is known to be involved, always start identifying the cause of sinusitis by eliminating allergens from diet and household. Ragweed hay fever has often been associated with a sensitivity to melons (especially cantaloupe) or bananas, two foods which should be omitted during ragweed season.
There are several very effective simple remedies employing heat that can be used for sinusitis. The first is a hot foot bath. Put the feet in hot water for about twenty or thirty minutes, followed by a brief cold water pour over the feet to prolong and intensify the action of the heat. This treatment may be done several times daily, or once daily for several days or weeks as long as the sinusitis lasts. The nasal passages can often be opened up in a matter of five minutes with the hot foot bath.
Another heat treatment used to open up the nasal passages is that of a hot compress applied directly to the face. Squeeze a towel from hot water and apply it directly over the sinus areas for five minutes. At the end of that time, place a towel that has been squeezed from ice cold water or cold tap water over the area for thirty seconds. Continue alternating hot and cold for three changes, ending with the cold. After each simple remedy the person should lie in bed 30 minutes to allow the treatment to "react". The reaction time insures that the full benefit will be obtained from the treatment. Repeat the treatment four times daily for the first week and once daily thereafter until sinusitis has cleared.
Six charcoal tablets (or 3 capsules or 1 heaping teaspoon of charcoal powder stirred in a glass of water) taken three times daily in the mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and at bedtime for approximately two weeks will often do wonders for chronic sinusitis.
Several double-blind studies have shown that breathing heated moist air for 20-30 minutes 1-3 times daily can give significant relief of nasal and sinus congestion, whether due to viral infections or allergies. This can be done using essential oils such as eucalyptus as well. Add boiling hot water to a bowl, add essential oil if using (1-2 drops is sufficient), put face over bowl and cover head with a towel to keep heat in.
Supplements: For prevention of severe asthma and certain other persistent allergies, use the antioxidant supplements. The following are often quite helpful:
- Quercetin (a potent bioflavonoid) with C, 2 capsules daily; for asthma, increase to 2-3 times daily until relieved then gradually decrease to 2 a day. (available from Twinlabs).
- Vitamin E 400 units (mixed tocopherols) morning and noon.
- Selenium 200 mcgm. a day for adults and children over 12. There has been some talk of possible selenium toxicity, apparently only in the West in high selenium soil areas. The reports are not confirmed. To be on the safe side, do not take any supplements over long, several year periods; never exceed 200 mcgm. a day; and take a "vacation," leaving it off 1 month after being on it for 3 months.
- Stinging nettle capsules, 2-6 every 4 hours as needed may be quite useful.
- Butterbur. Butterbur is another effective herb to thwart allergies. In one study, a group of Swiss researchers showed how just one butterbur tablet taken four times daily was just as effective as a popular antihistamine drug in controlling allergy symptoms – without the traditional drowsiness that sometimes occurs with over-the-counter or prescription allergy drugs.
WATER
6-8 cups daily and not at meal times.
May drink 2 cups Echinacea tea daily as immune system stimulant.
AIR
Pure air in bedrooms and workplace, summer and winter (no cigarette smoke).
Avoid dust, molds, mildewy areas, smog, pets (cats, dogs, and birds).
Deep breathing exercises.
REST
Regularity, routine, and regimentation with some flexibility.
Schedule mealtimes, sleep time, worship and prayer, and devotional time.
Simplicity, back to basics.
Enter into the blessings of the weekly 7th day Biblical Sabbath.
TRUST IN DIVINE POWER
Pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ
Rededicate your life to Him.
Pray through the day. He's your unseen friend.
Source Information: http://ucheepines.org/index.php?p=counseling.allergies
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