PCC | Healthnotes | Allergies and Sensitivities

Allergies and Sensitivities

Take action to control your allergies. Breathe easy by learning more about how to manage symptoms. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:

Clean it up
Control household allergens like dust, mold, and animal dander to reduce your overall allergic load

Help children avoid allergies with beneficial bacteria
Take a probiotic supplement containing high-potency beneficial bacteria (probiotics) during pregnancy and give them to newborns to help reduce the risk of children developing allergies

Watch what you eat
Work with a specialist in food sensitivities to see if certain foods are causing your allergies

See a healthcare provider
Find a professional to help you manage your allergies

These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full allergies and sensitivities article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle changes that may be helpful.

About allergies

Allergies are responses mounted by the immune system to a particular food, inhalant (airborne substance), or chemical. In popular terminology, the terms “allergies” and “sensitivities” are often used to mean the same thing, although many sensitivities are not true allergies. The term “sensitivity” is general and may include true allergies, reactions that do not affect the immune system (and therefore are not technically allergies), and reactions for which the cause has yet to be determined.

Some non-allergic types of sensitivity are called intolerances and may be caused by toxins, enzyme inadequacies, drug-like chemical reactions, psychological associations, and other mechanisms.¹ Examples of well-understood intolerances are lactose intolerance and phenylketonuria. Environmental sensitivity or intolerance are terms sometimes used for reactions to chemicals found either indoors or outdoors in food, water, medications, cosmetics, perfumes, textiles, building materials, and plastics. Detecting allergies and other sensitivities and then eliminating or reducing exposure to the sources is often a time-consuming and challenging task that is difficult to undertake without the assistance of an expert.

Product ratings for an allergy or sensitivity

Science Ratings	Nutritional Supplements	Herbs
	Probiotics (food allergy) Thymus extracts
	Betaine hydrochloride (food allergy) Enzymes (food allergy) Flavonoids Quercetin
See also: Homeopathic Remedies for Allergies and Sensitivities
Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit. Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit. For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal health benefit.

What are the symptoms?

Common symptoms may include itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; headache; fatigue; postnasal drip; runny, stuffy, or itchy nose; sore throat; dark circles under the eyes; an itchy feeling in the mouth or throat; abdominal pain; diarrhea; and the appearance of an itchy, red skin rash. Life-threatening allergic reactions—most commonly to peanuts, nuts, shellfish, and some drugs—are uncommon. When they do occur, initial symptoms may include trouble breathing and difficulty swallowing.

According to J. C. Breneman, M.D., author of the book Basics of Food Allergy,² many health conditions are related to allergies and have been the subject of independent studies. Even so, any relationship between the condition and the allergy needs to be considered with the aid of a doctor. More information about the relationship between specific health conditions and allergies or other sensitivities can be found in the following articles:

Arthritis (rheumatoid)³ ⁴ ⁵ ⁶ ⁷
Asthma⁸ ⁹ ¹⁰
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder¹¹ ¹² ¹³
Bladder infection (Urinary tract infection)¹⁴ ¹⁵ ¹⁶
Candidiasis (vaginal)¹⁷ ¹⁸
Canker sores¹⁹ ²⁰ ²¹ ²²
Celiac disease²³ ²⁴ ²⁵ ²⁶ ²⁷
Colic²⁸ ²⁹ ³⁰ ³¹ ³²
Constipation³³ ³⁴ ³⁵
Crohn’s disease³⁶
Depression³⁷ ³⁸
Diarrhea³⁹
Ear infections (recurrent)⁴⁰ ⁴¹ ⁴²
Eczema (including atopic dermatitis)⁴³ ⁴⁴ ⁴⁵ ⁴⁶ ⁴⁷
Gallbladder attacks⁴⁸
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)⁴⁹ ⁵⁰ ⁵¹ ⁵² ⁵³ ⁵⁴ ⁵⁵ ⁵⁶
Glaucoma⁵⁷ ⁵⁸
Hay fever⁵⁹ ⁶⁰ ⁶¹
High blood pressure⁶²
Hives⁶³ ⁶⁴ ⁶⁵ ⁶⁶ ⁶⁷ ⁶⁸ ⁶⁹
Hypoglycemia⁷⁰
Infection⁷¹ ⁷² ⁷³ ⁷⁴ ⁷⁵ ⁷⁶
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)⁷⁷ ⁷⁸
Migraine headaches⁷⁹ ⁸⁰ ⁸¹ ⁸²
MSG sensitivity⁸³ ⁸⁴ ⁸⁵
Obesity⁸⁶
Psoriasis⁸⁷
Sinusitis⁸⁸ ⁸⁹ ⁹⁰ ⁹¹ ⁹²
Sinus congestion⁹³ ⁹⁴ ⁹⁵ ⁹⁶
Ulcer, duodenal⁹⁷ ⁹⁸

The following conditions may also be related to allergies and other sensitivities:

Bed-wetting (Nocturnal enuresis)
If there is no medical cause for bed-wetting, allergies should be investigated. Several researchers have reported that allergies appear to be an important cause of bed-wetting.⁹⁹ ¹⁰⁰

Cyclic vomiting syndrome
Allergies to foods, especially cows’milk, may play a role in cyclic vomiting syndrome, a disorder characterized by repeated unpredictable, explosive and unexplained bouts of vomiting.¹⁰¹ This condition affects nearly 2% of school-aged children.¹⁰²

Gastrointestinal symptoms
Vague gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea) that are not caused by serious disease can sometimes be triggered by food sensitivities. In one double-blind trial, people with vague GI problems believed to be caused by dairy were given dairy to see how their bodies would react.¹⁰³ These people were not lactose intolerant. Various indicators of immunity changed as a result of the dairy challenge, showing their bodies were reacting to the dairy in an abnormal way. However, the indicator of a true dairy allergy (milk-specific immunoglobulin E) was normal in most of these people. This study suggests that vague GI symptoms unrelated to serious disease can be caused by food sensitivities that reflect neither lactose intolerance nor true allergies.

IgA nephropathy (autoimmune kidney disease)
In a small, preliminary trial, people with IgA nephropathy consumed a hypoallergenic diet (rice, olive oil, turkey, rabbit, lamb, green vegetables, potatoes, pears, apples, salt, and water) for 14 to 23 weeks. Laboratory parameters for kidney function improved significantly, and all participants remained relapse-free while maintaining the diet.¹⁰⁴

Multiple Food Protein Intolerance (MFPI) of infancy
Many infants who are intolerant to one food have been found to also be intolerant to several other food proteins, including soy formula and extensively hydrolyzed formula. This syndrome has recently been dubbed Multiple Food Protein Intolerance (MFPI) of infancy. As a group, these infants tend to have symptoms of severe colic, gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus due to irritation by stomach acids from repeated episodes of reflux), or atopic dermatitis (eczema). As many as 30% of infants may suffer from these symptoms, but it is not yet clear how many of them may be suffering from this syndrome.¹⁰⁵

Multiple chemical sensitivity
Multiple chemical sensitivity, also known as idiopathic environmental intolerances, is a poorly understood and controversial chronic disorder in which a person may have a variety of recurring symptoms believed to be due to reactions to very small amounts of substances in the environment.¹⁰⁶ ¹⁰⁷ ¹⁰⁸ Avoidance of these substances, though often difficult, has been reported to bring at least partial relief,¹⁰⁹ and psychological counseling has also been reported to be helpful.¹¹⁰

Musculoskeletal pain (including back pain)
Ingestion of allergenic foods has been reported to produce a variety of musculoskeletal syndromes in susceptible people.¹¹¹

Nephrotic syndrome
Several studies have found a link between nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disease) and allergies. In one study nephrotic syndrome patients responded when the allergens were removed from their diet;¹¹² however, in another study patients did not respond.¹¹³

Leaky gut syndrome
Allergy to food has been associated with increased permeability, or “leakiness,” of the intestine.¹¹⁴ ¹¹⁵ Some alternative health practitioners believe that this increased permeability, sometimes referred to as the “leaky gut syndrome,” is an important treatable cause of food allergy. However, the reverse may also be possible. Allergic reactions in the intestine tend to cause temporary increases in permeability,¹¹⁶ ¹¹⁷ which would explain the apparent connection between the two. More research is needed to better understand the role of intestinal permeability in the development and treatment of food allergies.

Dietary changes that may be helpful

A low-allergen diet, also known as an elimination diet or a hypoallergenic diet is often recommended to people with suspected food allergies to find out if avoiding foods that commonly trigger allergies will provide relief from symptoms.¹¹⁸ This diet eliminates foods and food additives considered to be common allergens, such as wheat, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, citrus fruits, nuts, peanuts, tomatoes, food coloring and preservatives, coffee, and chocolate. Some popular books offer guidance to people who want to attempt this type of diet.¹¹⁹ ¹²⁰ The low-allergen diet is not a treatment for people with food allergies, however. Rather, it is a diagnostic tool used to help discover which foods a person is sensitive to. It is maintained only until a reaction to a food or foods has been diagnosed or ruled out. Once food reactions have been identified, only those foods that are causing a reaction are subsequently avoided; all other foods that had previously been eaten are once again added to the diet. While individual recommendations regarding how long a low-allergen diet should be adhered to vary from five days to three weeks, many nutritionally oriented doctors believe that a two-week trial is generally sufficient for the purpose of diagnosing food reactions.

Strict avoidance of allergenic foods for a period of time (usually months or years) sometimes results in the foods no longer causing allergic reactions.¹²¹ Restrictive elimination diets and food reintroduction should be supervised by a qualified healthcare professional.

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful

People with inhalant allergies are often advised to reduce exposure to common household allergens like dust, mold, and animal dander, in the hope that this will reduce symptoms even if other, non-household allergens cannot be avoided.¹²² Strategies include removing carpets, frequent cleaning and vacuuming, using special air filters in the home heating system, choosing allergen-reducing bed and pillow coverings, and limiting household pets’ access to sleeping areas.

Other therapies

People with allergies and sensitivities are typically advised to avoid exposure to particular allergens, such as tree and grass pollens, dust mites, molds, specific foods, latex, or environmental and household irritants. Those who have experienced severe reactions should wear a medical alert tag listing their allergens.

Vitamins that may be helpful

Probiotics may be important in the control of food allergies because of their ability to improve digestion, by helping the intestinal tract control the absorption of food allergens and/or by changing immune system responses to foods.¹²³ ¹²⁴ ¹²⁵ One group of researchers has reported using probiotics to successfully treat infants with food allergies in two trials: a double-blind trial using Lactobacillus GG bacteria in infant formula, and a preliminary trial giving the same bacteria to nursing mothers.¹²⁶ Probiotics may also be important in non-allergy types of food intolerance caused by imbalances in the normal intestinal flora.¹²⁷

Thymomodulin® is a special preparation of the thymus gland of calves. In a double-blind study of allergic children who had successfully completed an elimination diet, 120 mg per day of thymomodulin prevented allergic skin reactions to food and lowered blood levels of antibodies associated with those foods.¹²⁸ These results confirmed similar findings in an earlier, controlled trial.¹²⁹

According to one theory, allergies are triggered by partially undigested protein. Proteolytic enzymes may reduce allergy symptoms by further breaking down undigested protein to sizes that are too small to cause allergic reactions.¹³⁰ Preliminary human evidence supports this theory.¹³¹ Hydrochloric acid secreted by the stomach also helps the digestion of protein, and preliminary research suggests that some people with allergies may not produce adequate amounts of stomach acid.¹³² ¹³³ ¹³⁴ However, no controlled trials have investigated the use of enzyme supplements to improve digestion as a treatment for food allergies.

Many of the effects of allergic reactions are caused by the release of histamine, which is the reason antihistamine medication is often used by allergy sufferers. Some natural substances, such as vitamin C¹³⁵ ¹³⁶ and flavonoids,¹³⁷ including quercetin,¹³⁸ ¹³⁹ have demonstrated antihistamine effects in test tube, animal, and other preliminary studies. However, no research has investigated whether these substances can specifically reduce allergic reactions in humans.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.

Herbs that may be helpful

See the articles on specific health conditions listed above for information on the effectiveness of herbs for each condition.

Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual herb for information about any side effects or interactions.

Holistic approaches that may be helpful

Acupuncture may be helpful in the treatment of some types of allergy. Studies of mice treated with acupuncture provide evidence of an anti-allergic effect with results similar to treatment with corticosteroids (cortisone-like drugs).¹⁴⁰ ¹⁴¹ ¹⁴² A preliminary trial found a significant decrease in allergy symptoms following acupuncture treatment. It was found that the decline in symptoms coincided with a decline in laboratory measures of allergy. Relief persisted for two months following the treatment.¹⁴³ Other preliminary trials have also demonstrated positive results.¹⁴⁴ One controlled trial reported a reduction in allergic complaints following acupuncture treatment, but the results were not statistically significant.¹⁴⁵ In the future, controlled trials with larger numbers of subjects may help to determine conclusively whether allergies can be successfully treated with acupuncture therapy.

Provocation-neutralization is a controversial method of both allergy testing and treatment. Treatment consists of injecting minute dilutions of foods, inhalants, or (in some cases) chemicals into the lower layers of the skin. This approach is not the same as traditional desensitization injections given by medical allergy specialists. Preliminary¹⁴⁶ ¹⁴⁷ and double-blind¹⁴⁸ ¹⁴⁹ research suggests treatment of allergies by provocation-neutralization may be effective, though negative double-blind research also exists.¹⁵⁰

Allergy treatment using extracts of allergens taken orally is another controversial method advocated by some alternative healthcare practitioners.¹⁵¹ Most¹⁵² ¹⁵³ ¹⁵⁴ ¹⁵⁵ but not all double-blind trials¹⁵⁶ ¹⁵⁷ have found this approach effective for house dust allergy. Preliminary¹⁵⁸ and double-blind¹⁵⁹ ¹⁶⁰ ¹⁶¹ trials have reported success using this method for other allergies as well.

Treatment of food allergy using very small but increasing daily doses of actual foods has been reported,¹⁶² and in one controlled trial¹⁶³ 12 of 14 patients successfully completed the program and could tolerate previously allergenic foods.

All desensitization programs require the guidance of a healthcare professional. While none of these approaches has been unequivocally proven, several show promise that people with allergies may be treatable by means other than simple avoidance of the offending food or inhalant substance.

What tests can detect allergies? Several tests or procedures are used by physicians to detect allergies. Most of these tests remain controversial.¹⁶⁴ Some clinicians (cited below), however, believe some of these tests can be effective.

Scratch testing
This form of testing is one of the most widely used. A patient’s skin is scratched with a needle that contains a portion of the food, inhalant, or chemical that is being tested. After a period of time, the skin is examined for reactions. If there is a reaction, it is determined that an allergy exists. Although this test is accepted by most allergists, scratch testing is subject to a relatively high incidence of inaccurate results, some tests showing positive when the person is not truly allergic to the substance (false positive) and some tests showing negative when an allergy really exists (false negative).

RAST/MAST/PRIST/ELISA (and other tests that measure immunoglobulins)
The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) indirectly measures antibodies in the blood that react to specific foods. It is used by many physicians and has been shown to be a somewhat reliable indicator of allergies.¹⁶⁵ ¹⁶⁶ It does not, however, help diagnose non-allergic food sensitivities and is therefore associated with a high risk of false negative readings. In an attempt to avoid this problem, a variety of modifications have been made to tests related to RAST (such as MAST, PRIST, and ELISA). Some of these changes may have reduced the risk of false negative readings somewhat but are likely to have increased the risk of false positive readings. A number of conditions associated with food sensitivities, such as migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome, have shown remarkably poor correlation between RAST results and the actual sensitivities of patients.

Cytotoxic testing
The cytotoxic test views a patient’s serum under a microscope to see whether it is reacting to certain substances. The test is subject to numerous errors and is not generally considered to be reliable.¹⁶⁷

Clinical ecology (provocation-neutralization; end-point titration)
This branch of medicine is considered very controversial. Testing is done using intra-dermal (under the skin) injections of minute dilutions of foods, inhalants or (in some cases) chemicals. Based on reactions, additional dilutions are used. This test not only determines whether an allergy exists but also operates on the theory that one dilution can trigger a reaction while another can neutralize a reaction. Preliminary research suggests this approach may have beneficial effects,¹⁶⁸ ¹⁶⁹ A similar method uses these dilutions under the tongue to test for allergies.¹⁷⁰ Double-blind research has not found this method effective. ¹⁷¹

Elimination and reintroduction
The most reliable way to determine a food allergy is to have the patient eliminate a suspected food from the diet for a period of time and then reintroduce it later. Once a food is eliminated, the symptoms it may be causing either improve or resolve, typically after several days to three weeks. The body then becomes more sensitive to the food, so when the food is reintroduced, the symptom is more likely to recur. This tool shows with a high degree of certainty which foods are problem foods. The testing requires a great deal of patience and, as with all other forms of allergy testing, is best undertaken with the help of a physician who can monitor the diet.¹⁷² Reintroduction of an allergenic food has been reported to lead occasionally to dangerous reactions in some people with certain conditions, particularly asthma—another reason this approach should not be attempted without supervision.

Other tests
Bioelectric tests are controversial procedures that attempt to measure changes in electrical activity at acupuncture points when a potential allergen is brought into proximity. A preliminary study reported that the EAV (Electroacupuncture According to Voll) device, also called the Vega test, identified the same allergens as RAST testing in 70.5 percent of tests.¹⁷³ Another preliminary study found the Vega test identified the same neutralization doses as clinical ecology testing (see above) in 66% of tests.¹⁷⁴ More research is needed to better evaluate these testing techniques.

References
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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2009.

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About allergies

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Other therapies

Vitamins that may be helpful

Herbs that may be helpful

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About allergies

What are the symptoms?

What conditions are related to allergies?

Dietary changes that may be helpful

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful

Other therapies

Vitamins that may be helpful

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Holistic approaches that may be helpful