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Allergies are a constant plague to a vast
majority of our population. The suffering endured by these individuals
can be a factor in causing physical as well as serious mental and
emotional anguish. Living with this on
a daily 24 hour basis can be a
grueling experience.
Allergies occur because our immune systems have turned on us and literally have let us down, and what it is really doing is attacking our own body. Why this occurs could be anybody’s guess. The body’s immune system is essentially the sentinel using its white blood cells to produce antibodies. These antibodies sense and will trigger a response to a foreign invader. This response produces an antigen to combat the foreign invader, and is essentially an antibody called, “immunoglobulin E”, (IgeE). When the immune system does not produce enough of the immunoglobulin E, or does not produce any to combat the foreign invader, the individual will experience a variety of symptoms; many of these are related to the individual’s physical and emotional condition. This physical and emotional condition may be acquired during their lifetime or possibly be genetic in nature.
The symptoms that the patient will present will largely depend on the type of allergen they respond to, and one or possibly more that their immune system cannot produce the needed antigens to combat these allergens. An example would be diet related. They might be allergic to peanuts, shellfish, wheat, milk, glutens, and the list can go on and on ad- infinatum. There are 2 ways to possibly determine the responsible culprit causing their symptoms. On their own, the patient can go on a strict diet using very few foods to start. If their symptoms abate, they need to ad another food and wait to see if there is a return of symptoms. If they remain symptom free for the next few days, they will ad another food to their diet. They need to continue this regime until they ingest a food that causes a return of symptoms. This will identify one or more of the culprits. The process can be speeded up, if during this abstinence of foods, they will try a food that is a known allergic trigger, such as the foods mentioned above.
The home is a veritable trove of triggers to the individual with an impaired immune system. They have to contend with dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, bedbugs, and chemicals used for cleaning purposes. There are also the chemicals in the carpeting and the paints and wallpaper on the walls. There are mold spores that can be found in many homes, due to leaks and the condensation on the pipes within the walls. We use air sprays to freshen the air, another type of spray to freshen the furniture, the carpeting and even the clothes we wear. Laundry detergents are used to wash the clothes we wear and the bedding we sleep on. This list can go on and on, and the individual needs a normal immune system to contend with any these possible triggers.
Another route to determine what triggers allergic reactions in these individuals would be going to an allergist, a doctor who specializes in patients who are prone to allergic reactions. He or She will have the patient undergo special blood tests and probably many skin scratch tests until the trigger or triggers causing the allergic reactions are found. Once the trigger or triggers are determined the doctor may start injections in minute amounts that are gradually increased in an effort to desensitize the patient to that particular trigger. In many cases there can be many triggers, and shots will be needed for each one found.
An individual may not be allergic to food allergies, but in a vast majority, the allergen can be environmental. There are seasons, especially spring and summer where environmental allergies run rampant. The blooming of flowers that produce pollens that are in turn carried by the wind causes these allergies. There are many different types of pollens, such as weeds, grass, trees, and practically anything that grows. It is these pollens that are the triggers that cause the symptoms in individuals with an impaired immune system. Bee stings and stings of other insects can cause an allergic reaction that can prove serious in nature. During a hot and dry spring and summer season, there will occurrences of brush fires that spew smoke and particles of dust carried by winds that are a serious cause for individuals with breathing problems. These are the patients with asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD. The symptoms generally are: itching eyes, sniffles, scratchy throat, running nose, and coughing and mucous buildup.
As you can see, the individual with allergies faces a daunting task in identifying the trigger or triggers that are causing them so much misery. Following the regime described above can prove their lifeline in regaining a normal life. For those that suffer the spring and summer environmental allergies, let me tell you what has proven helpful for me. I place distilled or any purified water in a pint jar. I add ˝ teaspoon of course salt and 2 drops of apple cider or white vinegar and shake well until the salt is dissolved. I use this solution to flush the nasal passages. There are 2 ways that I’ve used to do this. The first is a neti type pot, and the second that I use is a large syringe specifically made for this purpose. Fill the pot or syringe with the fluid, tilt your head to one side and flush one nasal passage until the fluid runs out of the other nasal passage. Repeat this process with the other side. What this accomplishes, is that any pollens, smoke dust, etc. is flushed out and keeps you from breathing them in, helping to prevent the symptoms that they would cause. This may not cure the condition, but it can prove very helpful for the patient in lessoning their symptoms and improve their lifestyle.