Food allergies may
even cause more serious challenges like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's
disease. Food allergies also contribute
to malnutrition, blocking the absorption of crucial vitamins like B12.
Food Intolerances are Different from Food Allergies
Sometimes people confuse food allergies with food intolerances. Intolerances usually occur when we don’t make an
enzyme that breaks down a complex food substance to smaller molecules the body can absorb and
use. For instance, when we are lactose intolerant we no longer make an
enzyme (lactase) that converts a sugar (lactose) found in dairy to simpler ones
the small intestine can absorb. Since these sugars are not broken down
they move through the digestive tract until they reach the large intestine,
where lots of hungry bacteria (what we call our normal flora) are waiting to
pounce! These bacteria are messy eaters and are responsible for those problems associated with lactose
intolerance.
The Source of Food Allergies
In
contrast, food allergies occur when the body mounts an immune response to small
parts of eaten foods. We aren’t sure why this happens but we have some
theories… Some children are born with them, and they run in families. Food
allergies have been known to occur when foods are introduced too early -or too
late - to infants. They also seem to develop in folks that eat the same
foods -day in and day out- without much variety in diet. Sometimes people
are surprised to find out the food they often crave is something they are
intensely allergic to!
The Confusion Regarding Immediate and Delayed Allergic
Reactions
While
most have heard of acute allergies that cause immediate reactions, there are
also delayed ones with a more gradual onset. Recently, quite a bit of
evidence has emerged indicating their presence. Since the symptoms of these
reactions don’t arrive immediately, and last for a while, traditional diagnosis
just by signs and symptoms can be tricky. Immediate allergies are often very
dramatic, causing intense conditions that can be life threatening.
Delayed onset allergies cause symptoms like a stuffy nose, chronic cough,
fatigue, migraines, rashes, and abdominal bloating.
Easier Ways Have Evolved to Diagnose Delayed Food
Allergies
In the old days, our main option as physicians diagnosing
food allergies was to put folks on an elimination
diet -or do highly inaccurate skin scratch
tests. Elimination diets are restrictive meal plans consisting mostly of
rice and water ,that last for many weeks. After all possible offending
foods were eliminated for a while, the patient was slowly challenged with
possible offenders like chocolate or wheat and any reactions were noted.
These diets were stressful, difficult to manage, and usually impossible
to impose on unmotivated children and adolescents.
Some of
the most common allergenic foods are:
Bananas
Peanuts
Dairy
Wheat/spelt/barley (gluten)
Citrus
Corn
Pineapple
Fortunately,
we now have new empowering alternatives! In my practice, I use a reliable
and affordable test that measures allergy markers in the blood. With just
a simple blood draw or finger stick, patients can find out within days what
they are sensitive to. They may then avoid just those foods they are
reactive to and often avoid the stress of diet disruption… I trust this
type of analysis because it is science-based, objective, and reproducible.
Managing Food Allergies can Improve Your Quality of
Life
Being diagnosed with a food allergy does not necessarily
mean that one will always have it. In fact, with identification and then
elimination of an allergenic food, there is the possibility of it losing its
reactivity over time. -Like a fire that smolders and then finally goes
out. Even if the allergy remains, it is possible to manage it by only
having the food periodically instead of with every meal. We can often
lessen its severity by incorporating natural immune
modulators into the diet like omega 3 fatty
acids, flavonoids like quercetin, herbs like tumeric (Curcuma longa) , and vitamins C
and E.
While
food allergies can be a pesky nuisance, and are occurring more often than ever
before, there are now easy and reliable ways to identify and treat them!
Food allergy testing is inexpensive and a simple testing kit –requiring
just a finger prick - may be conveniently mailed to your home and then back to
the lab.
For more
information or a complimentary phone consultation please schedule an
appointment with Dr. James Pendleton at the University Health Clinic (206)
525-8015 -Seattle Washington.
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common pathogen for
humans, spread by intimate contact. This virus infects at least 90% of the
world population, and half of all children have been exposed to it by age five.
Infection with EBV may be expressed differently, depending on geographical
location and ethnicity. To complicate
things even more, exposure to compounds from certain plants like Euphorbia tirucalli
appear to promote cancers and lymphoma during infection with EBV.
Infectious Mononucleosis is Caused by Epstein-Barr Virus
In the United States, acute infection usually appears as a
syndrome called infectious mononucleosis. Folks in the throes of infectious
mononucleosis experience fatigue, chronic fever, sore throat, and swollen
cervical glands (lymphadenopathy). These symptoms stick around for about three
weeks and are occasionally accompanied by other more intense complicationslike
enlarged liver or spleen.
Barring extraordinary circumstances, recovery is usually
complete. However, those infected become carriers for the rest of their lives.
This means that though these people appear healthy, the virus is still there,
and may be shed in the saliva. In fact, studies show that up to 25% of
previously infected adults still shed virus. Controversy exists regarding the
possible association of EBV with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
Epstein-Barr Virus Hides in B-Lymphocytes
The virus is good at hiding out in cells of the upper
respiratory and immune systems. Researchers are still trying to understand how
this latency works and why, in some folks, reactivation occurs. Apparently
there are hereditary components as well as environmental triggers.
Some genetic variations in individuals may allow the virus
to hide in B-lymphocytes and turn off elements that normally kill infected
cells. These antibody-producing white blood cells then act as a reservoir for
future infections. From time to time, they arrive in the nasopharyngeal region,
where they lyse (pop), littering local epithelial tissue with virus. Those
tissues then become infected.
Stress Reactivates Epstein-Barr Virus Infection
Physical and emotional stresses appear to play a crucial
role in the reactivation, and smoldering infection of EBV. Several studies with
subjects ranging from astronauts to college
students have shown that as individuals are stressed, saliva levels of
EBV increase. One relatively recent study correlated low socioeconomic position
with increased infection and chronic virus shedding. According to this study,
females with little education had consistently higher levels of active virus.
There was also a higher incidence in non-Caucasian groups. EBV reactivation has also been correlated
with maternal depression.
Chronic EBV Diagnosed
with a Blood Draw
Those with chronic EBV infections may experience varying
degrees of fatigue, fever, lymph node enlargement, and myalgia.
Elevated levels of immunoglobulin G directed against early
antigen are a prominent indication of reactivated EBV. Signs of reactivation may not necessarily manifest
in the patient feeling ill effects. This may be why the spread of EBV is so
insidious. The US CDC has a great site explaining
this…
Treating Epstein-Barr
Virus with Herbs and Nutrients
I’ll list some important materials but I’m not going
to give dosage instructions... Treating EBV
is a serious situation that should involve a capable health care professional. For a specific plan tailored to your condition please contact my office or search the official AANP site for a naturopathic physician in your area.
Do research the following list –but please enlist your doctor when taking these…
Kushwaha, S., S. Roy, et al. (2012). "Chemotypical
variations in Withania somnifera lead to differentially modulated immune
response in BALB/c mice." Vaccine30(6): 1083-1093.
Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) is a
plant with known ethnomedicinal properties and its use in Ayurvedic medicine in
India is well documented. The present investigation reports on immunomodulatory
efficacy of aqueous-ethanol extracts of roots of three selected Withania
somnifera chemotypes designated as NMITLI 101R, NMITLI 118R and NMITLI 128R.
Each chemotype was administered 10-100 mg/kg orally to BALB/c mice once daily
for 14 days. The immunomodulatory consequences were recorded by determining the
humoral immune response with the help of hemagglutination, plaque forming cell
assay and cellular response by measuring delayed type hypersensitivity
reaction. Additionally, other immune parameters such as proliferation of T and
B cells, intracellular and secreted Th1 and Th2 cytokines along with modulation
in ROS production by peritoneal macrophages were monitored after feeding with
lower doses (3-30 mg/kg/day) of these three chemotypes individually. NMITLI
101R incited both humoral and cellular immune response in terms of higher
number of antibody producing cells and enhanced foot pad swelling at the 10mg
dose as also dose dependent B and T cell proliferations. Levels of intracellular
and secreted cytokines post-NMITLI 101R treatment illustrated generation of
mixed Th1/Th2 response that remained more polarized towards Th1. This chemotype
also generated maximum reactive oxygen species. NMITLI 118R provoked
comparatively reduced immune response in all humoral and cellular parameters at
lower doses but induced highly polarized Th1 cytokine response. In contrast,
NMITLI 128R led to enhanced antibody production with minimal cellular response
demonstrating marginally Th2 dominance at a lower dose. Taken together, it may
therefore be concluded that there were distinct modulation in the immune
response exhibited by the three chemotypes of Withania somnifera and NMITLI
101R appeared to possess a better immunostimulatory activity than the other chemotypes
at lower doses.
Harikrishnan, R., C. Balasundaram, et al. (2012).
"Immunomodulatory effect of Withania somnifera supplementation diet in the
giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) against Aeromonas
hydrophila." Fish Shellfish Immunol32(1): 94-100.
The effect of Withania somnifera
extract supplementation diets on innate immune response in giant freshwater prawn
Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) against Aeromonas hydrophila was
investigated. The bacterial clearance efficiency significantly increased in
prawn fed with 0.1% and 1.0% doses of W. somnifera supplementation diet against
pathogen from weeks 1-4 as compared to the control. The innate immune
parameters such as, phenoloxidase activity, superoxide anion level, superoxide
dismutase activity, nitrate, and nitrite concentrations were significantly
enhanced in prawn fed with 0.1% and 1.0% doses of W. somnifera supplementation
diet from weeks 1-4 against pathogen. The total hemocyte counts (THC)
significantly increased in prawn fed with 0.1% and 1.0% doses diet from weeks
1-4 against pathogen as compared to the control. These results strongly
suggested that administration of W. somnifera through supplementation diet
positively enhances the innate immune system and enhanced survival rate in M.
rosenbergii against A. hydrophila infection.
Yamada, K., P. Hung, et al. (2011). "A comparison of
the immunostimulatory effects of the medicinal herbs Echinacea, Ashwagandha and
Brahmi." J Ethnopharmacol137(1): 231-235.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Herbs, as food or
medicine, can strengthen the body and increase its resistance to illnesses by
acting on various components of the immune system. For example, Echinacea is
noted for its ability to enhance immune function, primarily through activation
of the innate immune responses. Here, we investigated the potential for two
herbs commonly found in India, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and Brahmi
(Bacopa monnieri), to enhance immune function and compared their effects to
that of Echinacea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats were fed a diet
supplemented with 1% (w/w) Echinacea, Ashwagandha, or Brahmi for 4 weeks to
examine their effects on immune function. RESULTS: The Brahmi diet stimulated
more secretion of IgA and IgG in the serum compared to Echinacea or
Ashwagandha. Whether or not lectin was present in the diet, the production of
IgA, IgG and IgM in spleen lymphocytes increased with herbal supplements. The
concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-2 treated with LPS and ConA were
significantly higher in the dietary herb than in the control. On the contrary,
TNF-alpha production in rats receiving dietary herbal supplements was significantly
lower compared to the control animals. CONCLUSION: Herbal remedies based on
Echinacea, Brahmi, or Ashwagandha can enhance immune function by increasing
immunoglobulin production. Furthermore, these herbal medicines might regulate
antibody production by augmenting both Th1 and Th2 cytokine production.
Roxas, M. and J. Jurenka (2007). "Colds and influenza:
a review of diagnosis and conventional, botanical, and nutritional
considerations." Altern Med Rev12(1): 25-48.
The common cold is the leading cause
of doctor visits in the United States and annually results in 189 million lost
school days. In the course of one year the U.S. population contracts
approximately 1 billion colds. Influenza infection is still a leading cause of
morbidity and mortality, accounting for 20-25 million doctor visits and 36,000
deaths per year in the United States. Conventional therapies for colds and flu
focus primarily on temporary symptom relief and include over-the-counter
antipyretics, anti-inflammatories, and decongestants. Treatment for influenza
also includes prescription antiviral agents and vaccines for prevention. This
article reviews the common cold and influenza viruses, presents the conventional
treatment options, and highlights select botanicals (Echinacea spp., Sambucus
nigra, larch arabinogalactan, Astragalus membranaceous, Baptisia tinctoria,
Allium sativa, Panax quinquefolium, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Andrographis
paniculata, olive leaf extract, and Isatis tinctoria) and nutritional
considerations (vitamins A and C, zinc, high lactoferrin whey protein,
N-acetylcysteine, and DHEA) that may help in the prevention and treatment of
these conditions.
Ko, H. C., B. L. Wei, et al. (2006). "The effect of
medicinal plants used in Chinese folk medicine on RANTES secretion by
virus-infected human epithelial cells." J Ethnopharmacol107(2):
205-210.
The accumulation of inflammatory
cells in the infective sites has been reported to play a crucial role in the
progression of chronic inflammation and multiple sclerosis after viral
infection. In the present study, nine ethanol extracts of Forsythia suspensa
Vahl. (Oleaceae), Lonicera japonica Thunb. (Caprifoliaceae), Isatis indigotica
Fort. (Cruciferae), Strobilanthes cusia (Ness.) O. Kuntze (Acanthaceae),
Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge. (Leguminosae), Hedysarum polybotrys
Hand.-Mazz. (Leguminosae), Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Ness.
(Acanthaceae), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer. (Leguminosae) and Ligusticum
wallichii Franch. (Umbelliferae), medicinal plants traditionally used in China
for treating conditions likely to be associated with inflammation and viral
infection, were screened for their effect on RANTES secretion by influenza A virus
(H1N1)-infected human bronchial epithelial cells (A549). With exception of
Lonicera japonica, Isatis indigotica, Astragalus membranaceus and Hedysarum
polybotrys, all plants tested at concentration of 200 microg/ml possessed more
than 50% suppressing effect on RANTES secretion by H1N1-infected A549 bronchial
epithelial cells. Among the plants tested, Andrographis paniculata showed the
most promising property to inhibit RANTES secretion with an IC(50) of 1.2 +/-
0.4 microg/ml while the next two were Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Forsythia
suspensa (IC(50) ranging from 35 to 48 microg/ml).
