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What Is
Allergy?
A
Great Masquerader That Must Be Banished to Enjoy
Health
Majid Ali, M.D.
Allergy is a great masquerader of
the immune system. Sneezing, stuffy
nose, itchy eyes, skin rashes, and sinusitis are
only the surface problems in allergy. There are many
deeper and more serious problems caused by allergy
which set the stage for inflammatory, immune, and
degenerative disorders. First, we must recognize
three primary aspects of clinical allergy:
* Genes that set the
stage for allergic reactions
* Frequency of
exposure to allergic triggers (molds, pollen, foods,
and others)
* Oxygen Homeostasis
in the Body (The state of
general health)
Some people with strong genetic
predisposition to allergy do not suffer any allergy
symptoms as long as their oxygen-driven systems in
the body function well and their general health
remains excellent. On the other side, I have seen
many patients who first developed allergy after
receiving chemotherapy for cancer. I present the
crucial subject of oxygen homeostasis in clinical
allergy in the companion tutorial entitled " The
Oxygen Model of Allergy."
Unmasking the Masquerader
First, let us unmask the
masquerader. Consider the following:
1. Recurrent sore throats, ear
infections, and canker ulcers on the mouth are in
reality problems resulting from undiagnosed
allergy.
2. Asthmatic bronchitis and
asthma are in reality symptoms of
undiscovered allergy.
3. Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea,
and related skin disorders are in reality
problems caused by undiagnosed allergy.
4. Irritable bowel syndrome,
Crohn's colitis, ulcerative colitis, and many other
bowel disorders are in reality problems
triggered by undiagnosed allergy.
5. Underactive thyroid,
Hashimoto's disease, overactive thyroid, and other
immune thyroid disorders are in reality
problems caused by undiagnosed allergy.
6. Chronic fatigue syndrome,
fibromyalgia, and chemical sensitivity, vasculitis
and related immune disorders of blood vessels are
in reality problems caused by undiagnosed
allergy.
7. Multiple sclerosis, lupus, and
related autoimmune neurologic disorders are in
reality problems caused by undiagnosed allergy.
8. Most inflammatory and immune
disorders are in reality problems resulting
from undiagnosed allergy.
Allergy sufferers also need to
know the following:
First,
the frequency and
intensity of allergy symptoms depends on the state
of oxygen homeostasis in the body. The important
issues here are anti-acidity, antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, and enzyme defenses that prevent
or minimize allergy attacks.
Second,
three groups of
triggers must be addressed in allergy diagnosis.
1. Mold spores
2. Pollens of grasses, weeds, and
trees
3. Foods
Third,
three factors make
mold allergy more troublesome than foods and pollen.
1. Molds are present in our
water, foods, and air, and so regularly enter the
human body.
2. Mold toxins (mycotoxins) are
generally much more toxic than those produced by
other groups of allergic substances.
3. Molds (also called yeast
multiply rapidly in the bowel and blood when there
is sugar overload, antibiotic abuse, or severe
stress).
Fourth,
three considerations in food choices
in the kitchen are essential for allergy control.
1. Avoidance of foods which cause
fixed food allergy.
2. Avoidance of
sugar-insulin-adrenaline roller coasters.
3. Avoidance of dehydration.
Fifth,
three types of
controls must be considered for allergic symptoms.
1. Environmental controls at home
(air and water filters, ozone generator, etc).
2. Environmental controls at work
area (as above).
3. Proper identification and
desensitization of allergic triggers.
Sixth,
three aspects of
allergy drugs should be clearly understood:
1. Allergy drugs merely suppress
symptoms and do not address the underlying problem.
2. Allergy drugs do not prevent
immune disorders triggered by allergic reaction.
3. Allergy drugs lose their
efficacy after certain periods of use.
Seventh,
three mechanisms
feed the fires of allergy reactions.
1. Too much oxidation (oxidosis)
2. Too little oxygen (dysoxygenosis)
3. Too much acidity (acidosis).
Prevention and Control of Allergy
The allergy dragon cannot be
banished without: (1) optimal food choices in the
kitchen, including optimal hydration and the
prevention of constipation; (2) appropriate
antioxidant nutrient and herbal support; (3)
suitable environmental controls; (4) appropriate
cleansing of the bowel and blood.; and (5) proper
diagnosis and desensitization immunotherapy for
allergy (see below for priorities).
I present all aspects of my
integrative view of clinical allergy, looking
through the prism of oxygen homeostasis. in other
tutorials in this section.
Wikipedia on Allergy
The view of allergy presented here is quite
different from that given by Wikipedia, which begins
with the following sentence: "Allergy is a
hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system.
Allergic reactions occur to normally harmless
environmental substances known as allergens; these
reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid." No,
allergic reactions are not always acquired, often
unpredictable, and usually not rapid in onset. Of
course, oxygen, the king of human biology, does not
appear in Wikipedia article. No surprise there. |
