Alltop.com

I think you do have choices. This is how I got my brother to feel better from his allergies: This is from an MD and Author... I market specific products that may help you feel better. They are the products this doctor uses to get his results. My contact details are on my website if you want to benefit as well...if nothing else this is educational.

Allergies occur when you immune system reacts to a foreign substance like pollen, dust, bee sting, and a host of other substances. Most of these foreign substances do not bother the average person. However, in the person who tends to be more sensitive to their environment the immune system produces antibodies to a particular allergen as if it were potentially harmful to the body. Once these antibodies are produced, every time you are exposed to the allergen your immune system kicks in and attacks the allergen. This creates the release of histamines and other substances that cause an allergic response and allergy symptoms.

Allergies can cause reactions and symptoms involving the skin, sinuses and upper airways (hayfever), or digestive system. Allergy symptoms can vary from very mild to severe and vary from person to person. An allergic skin reaction can present as hives or eczema. Upper airway allergies presents as nasal congestion, sneezing, and sinus congestion. Gastrointestinal allergies can present as nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Some types of allergies can trigger severe reactions called anaphylaxis and may even be life-threatening. This is certainly true for some drug allergies, peanut allergies, and bee sting allergies.

Basically, when you suffer from allergies, your immune system is mistaking a normally harmless substance for a dangerous invader. Your immune system is producing antibodies that are always on the alert for exposure to a particular allergen. When it identifies this allergen as being present, it sets off an immune response that creates a tremendous amount of oxidative stress, inflammation, and release of histamines and other inflammatory products. This chronic inflammatory response actually places a tremendous strain on the immune system and the body. It is much like fighting a chronic infection. It can certainly lead to a depleted immune system, fatigue, and secondary infections.

My experience is the fact that like in autoimmune disease we are dealing with a confused immune system and not an over active immune system. Since the immune system is normally our great protector, anytime it identifies a harmful foreign substance like a virus, bacteria, or foreign body it sets off an immune response to rid the body of this invader. However, in the case of an allergen, the foreign substance is not harmful. However, the immune response is harmful to the body. Like in autoimmune disease where the body is attacking self and not a foreign body our immune system becomes our enemy. Because of the chronic inflammatory response depletes our antioxidant defense system there can be significant damage to the surrounding normal tissue. As mentioned earlier, it also taxes our immune system and leads to a depleted immune system. This is why a person who begins to have allergies can quickly become worse and worse and the allergies can become more severe. The individual can also begin to react to more and more allergens. The end to this vicious cycle is a patient who ends up with what is referred to as an "environmental illness." In other words, they seem to react to everything around them in their environment.

An aggressive nutritional supplement program can attack allergies from two different directions. First of all, it can replenish the antioxidant defense system and decrease the damage and reaction caused by this inflammatory response. Over time (usually about 6 months), you are able to build up your immune system and I feel it becomes less confused. In my clinical experience, almost all allergies will improve. Some will improve dramatically and some will improve moderately. However, they all seem to improve. I tell my patients if they start their aggressive nutritional supplement program in the fall they will be better in the spring. If they start in the spring, they will be better in the fall.

Now I have my patients continue all of their allergy medication. However, if they begin to have a positive response, they will naturally use their medications less and less. You must also remember if you have a serious allergy to a medication or something like bee stings or peanuts, you still must avoid exposure to these allergens at all cost.