Allergy Health Dictionary

Hypersensitiveness to a foreign protein which produces a violent reaction taking the form of asthma, hay fever, urticaria, eczema, migraine, catarrh, irritable bowel. Sensitivity covers a wide range of irritants including animal odours, pollens, insect bites. All kinds of food may be responsible: milk, eggs, pork, tomatoes, strawberries, coffee, tea, etc, also preservatives and artificial colourings.

Substances that cause allergic reactions are known as allergens. Their number are limitless. Against these, the body produces antibodies to fight off invaders. If we are allergic, such defence mechanisms over-react. The reaction has the effect of releasing various chemicals such as histamine which causes irritation and swelling of mucous membranes. Removal of dental amalgam fillings sometimes relieves.

Perhaps the most common allergy is hay fever. It is now known that most sufferers have a family

history of the complaint. Asthma is a serious form, but with the aid of certain herbs (Lobelia, etc) sufferers may lead normal lives.

Premature babies fed on cow’s milk are at risk of cow’s milk allergy with increased histamine release. (Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge)

Food allergies from shell fish and cereal grain fungi are difficult to detect. A large body of opinion favours Garlic (corm, tablets or capsules), being observed that Garlic eaters seldom suffer allergies. Agrimony tea.

Skin reactions may be severe. Hives, dermatitis and blisters can be the result of allergies triggered off by insect stings or animal bites, drugs, food additives, colourings, monosodium glutamate, chocolate, wines, aspirin, penicillin and other drugs. Cytotoxic tests are made to discover foods to which a person may be allergic.

Heredity predisposes, but forms vary. A ‘nettle rash’ father may have a ‘hay fever’ son. Stress is an important factor. While allergy is not a psychosomatic disturbance, there is general agreement that emotional distress – fright, fury or fatigue – can be related. An allergy can also be due to a flaw in the immune system, the body over-reacting to an allergen. Some allergies are treated with the antihistamines of orthodox pharmacy but which may induce drowsiness.

Treatment. The phytotherapist’s primary agent is Ephedra.

Teas. Chamomile, Centuary, Elderflowers, Ground Ivy, Lime flowers, Nettles, Plantain, Red Sage. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-10 minutes. 1 cup 1 to 3 times daily.

Liquid Extract. Ephedra sinica BHP (1983): Dose – 1-3ml. Thrice daily.

Tincture. Ephedra sinica BHP (1983) 1:4 in 45 per cent alcohol. Dose: 6-8ml thrice daily.

A Vogel. Devil’s Claw, thrice daily.

J. Christopher. Burdock, Marshmallow root, Parsley root.

Valerian. Add to prescription in cases of nervous hyperactivity.

Diet. Low salt, low fat, high fibre. Eggs and dairy products are known to cause allergies. Raw salad once daily. Add more protein, cooked and raw vegetables. Rice is not known to cause any allergic reactions. Supplements. Daily. Vitamin A, B-complex, Vitamin C. Bromelain, Selenium, Zinc.

Note: No animals or birds in the house. 

Various conditions caused by inappropriate or exaggerated reactions of the immune system (known as hypersensitivity reactions) to a variety of substances. Many common illnesses, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever), are caused by allergic reactions to substances that in the majority of people cause no symptoms.

Allergic reactions occur only on 2nd or subsequent exposure to the allergen, once 1st contact has sensitized the body. The function of the immune system is to recognize antigens (foreign proteins) on the surfaces of microorganisms and to form antibodies (also called immunoglobulins) and sensitized lymphocytes (white blood cells). When the immune system next encounters the same antigens, the antibodies and sensitized lymphocytes interact with them, leading to destruction of the microorganisms.

A similar immune response occurs in allergies, except that the immune system forms antibodies or sensitized lymphocytes against harmless substances because these allergens are misidentified as potentially harmful antigens.

The inappropriate or exaggerated reactions seen in allergies are termed

Allergen hypersensitivity reactions and can have any of four different mechanisms (termed Types I to hypersensitivity reactions).

Most well known allergies are caused by Type I (also known as anaphylactic or immediate) hypersensitivity in which allergens cause immediate symptoms by provoking the immune system to produce specific antibodies, belonging to a type called immunoglobulin E

(IgE), which coat cells (called mast cells or basophils). When the allergen is encountered for the second time, it binds to the IgE antibodies and causes the granules in mast cells to release various chemicals, which are responsible for the symptoms of the allergy.

Among the chemicals released is histamine, which causes widened blood vessels, leakage of fluid into tissues, and muscle spasm. Symptoms can include itching, swelling, sneezing, and wheezing. Particular conditions associated with Type I reactions include asthma, hay fever, urticaria (nettle rash), angioedema, anaphylactic shock (a severe, generalized allergic reaction), possibly atopic eczema, and many food allergies.

Types to hypersensitivity reactions are less often implicated in allergies. However, contact dermatitis, in which the skin reacts to substances such as nickel, is due to a Type hypersensitivity reaction.

It is not known why certain individuals and not others get allergies, but about 1 in 8 people seem to have an inherited predisposition to them (see atopy).

Whenever possible, the most effective treatment for allergy of any kind is avoidance of the relevant allergen.

Drug treatment for allergic reactions includes the use of antihistamine drugs, which relieve the symptoms. Some antihistamine drugs have a sedative effect, which is useful in treating itching at night due to eczema. Many antihistamines do not cause drowsiness, making them more suitable for daytime use.

Other drugs, such as sodium cromoglicate and corticosteroid drugs, can be used regularly to prevent symptoms from developing.

Hyposensitization can be valuable for a minority of people who suffer allergic reactions to specific allergens such as bee stings. Treatment involves gradually increasing doses of the allergen, but it must be carried out under close supervision because a severe allergic reaction can result.

A term generally used to describe an adverse reaction by the body to any substance ingested by the affected individual. Strictly, allergy refers to any reactions incited by an abnormal immunological response to an ALLERGEN, and susceptibility has a strong genetic component. Most allergic disorders are linked to ATOPY, the predisposition to generate the allergic antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) to common environmental agents (see ANTIBODIES; IMMUNOGLOBULINS). Because IgE is able to sensitise MAST CELLS (which play a part in in?ammatory and allergic reactions) anywhere in the body, atopic individuals often have disease in more than one organ. Since the allergic disorder HAY FEVER was ?rst described in 1819, allergy has moved from being a rare condition to one a?icting almost one in two people in the developed world, with substances such as grass and tree pollen, house-dust mite, bee and wasp venom, egg and milk proteins, peanuts, antibiotics, and other airborne environmental pollutants among the triggering factors. Increasing prevalence of allergic reactions has been noticeable during the past two decades, especially in young people with western lifestyles.

A severe or life-threatening reaction is often termed ANAPHYLAXIS. Many immune mechanisms also contribute to allergic disorders; however, adverse reactions to drugs, diagnostic materials and other substances often do not involve recognised immunological mechanisms and the term ‘hypersensitivity’ is preferable. (See also IMMUNITY.)

Adverse reactions may manifest themselves as URTICARIA, wheezing or di?culty in breathing owing to spasm of the BRONCHIOLES, swollen joints, nausea, vomiting and headaches. Severe allergic reactions may cause a person to go into SHOCK. Although symptoms of an allergic reaction can usually be controlled, treatment of the underlying conditon is more problematic: hence, the best current approach is for susceptible individuals to ?nd out what it is they are allergic to and avoid those agents. For some people, such as those sensitive to insect venom, IMMUNOTHERAPY or desensitisation is often e?ective. If avoidance measures are unsuccessful and desensitisation ine?ective, the in?ammatory reactions can be controlled with CORTICOSTEROIDS, while the troublesome symptoms can be treated with ANTIHISTAMINE DRUGS and SYMPATHOMIMETICS. All three types of drugs may be needed to treat severe allergic reactions.

One interesting hypothesis is that reduced exposure to infective agents, such as bacteria, in infancy may provoke the development of allergy in later life.

Predicted developments in tackling allergic disorders, according to Professor Stephen Holgate writing in the British Medical Journal (22 January 2000) include:

Identi?cation of the principal environmental factors underlying the increase in incidence, to enable preventive measures to be planned.

Safe and e?ective immunotherapy to prevent and reverse allergic disease.

Treatments that target the protein reactions activated by antigens.

Identi?cation of how IgE is produced in the body, and thus of possible ways to inhibit this process.

Identi?cation of genes affecting people’s susceptibility to allergic disease.

n. a disorder in which the body becomes hypersensitive to particular antigens (called *allergens), which provoke characteristic symptoms whenever they are subsequently inhaled, ingested, injected, or otherwise contacted. Normally antibodies in the bloodstream and tissues react with and destroy specific antigens without further trouble. In an allergic person, however, the allergens provoke the release of a class of antibodies (IgE) that become bound to *mast cells in the body’s tissues. The subsequent reaction of allergen with tissue-bound antibody (see reagin) also leads, as a side-effect, to cell damage, release of *histamine and *serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), inflammation, and all the symptoms of the particular allergy. Different allergies afflict different tissues and may have either local or general effects, varying from asthma and hay fever to severe dermatitis or gastroenteritis or extremely serious shock (see anaphylaxis). —allergic adj.

hypersensitivity caused by a foreign substance, small doses of which produce a violent bodily reaction.