Here’s some statistics:
Roughly 7.8% of people 18 and over have hayfever.
Worldwide allergic rhinitis affects between 10-30% of the population.
Sensitization IgE antibodies to foreign proteins in the environment is present in 40% of the population.
38.7% of food allergic children have a history of severe reactions
30.4% have multiple food allergies
in 2012, 5.6% or 4.1 million children reported food allergies in the past 12 months.
These studies are more than a decade ago… And the numbers continue to rise…
Allergies…..
Tis the season.. We’re going to talk about the allergic response, how it happens, what predisposes it, genetic factors and more in this blog so stay tuned:)
Many run to anti-histamines, over the counter or prescribed to help “deal” with allergies. However, these medications come with risks, and also don’t really get to the root cause.
In fact, OTC allergy medications lead to problems with your liver, by shutting down liver phase 2 detoxification. This is why you tend to need to take more and more to get relief. Most of the issues with allergies are in liver methylation problems anyways, so creating more liver problems isn’t the best route.
Key Players is Allergic Responses:
Lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, are a fundamental component of the immune system, and when an immune response becomes dysfunctional, it can create an allergic response.
There are two types of lymphocytes:
– B-lymphocytes
– T-lymphocytes
Both types help guard you body against foreign substances such as invading bacteria, viruses and toxins. They move freely through and among the tissues of the body, travel through the walls of blood vessels, and move between the various lymph nodes and lymph channels. Lymphocytes act like traveling customs agents. They are busy checking the passports of every cell they encounter. When there’s a cell that seems threatening, they immediately begin to makes plans to attack it. Because these foreign invaders cause the production of antibodies, they are called antibody generators, or antigens. After a B cell identifies an antigen, it will make its way back to a lymph node, change into a plasma cell and produce antibodies specifically engineered to fight that particular threat. Amazing right?
Five types of antibodies are made: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgM and IgG. The one responsible for immediate allergic response is IgE.
IgE
IgE antibodies are present in everyone in a properly functioning immune system. In an allergic person’s immune system, the lymphocytes can’t tell that the protein ingested as part of a meal containing shellfish isn’t invading the body. The B cells of an allergic person- “misinformed” at the genetic level, cause the production of large quantities of IgE, which then releases cells called (mast cells) which release histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and cytokines, all of which are inflammatory hormones, known as the sensitizing exposure. I should mention this is the western medical view: the body is confused, mistaken, genetically impaired... Think about it… our ancestors lived outside, without allergies. A genetic problem with a patient can cause them to believe they have a permanent condition., which means “permanent medication”. Understanding the function of the organ systems that address various conditions is key to reversing, to the extent possible the disease state, rather than simply suppressing or inducing remission.
What then, causes the inability of the lymphocytes to distinguish invaders from non invaders? Why does the immune system go “marine, kill all”?
As with anything, it can be multifactorial. But as I said in the comment about our ancestors, its typically our environment (internal)/external) that has changed.
#1. Poor Nutrition/Quality- nutrient deficiencies result in inefficient organ function of the gut, liver and adrenals. In the gut, the epithelial structure breaks down (leaky gut) allowing allergens to pass through the gut wall, creating an exaggerated response. In addition, highly processed, genetically modified and inorganic food sources also create gut and liver inflammation. Glyphosate for example, which is sprayed on all conventional crops, breaks gap junctions in our intestines creating leaky gut. Genetically modified foods look “foreign” to your body, and can create immune system dysfunction. Be aware, Gates Foundation farms have already unloaded from their “farms” genetically modified foods (APEEL)..make sure you check labels, because its not labeled as genetically modified..
#2 Liver Methylation – The liver has the job of detoxifying and breaking down and eliminating the histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes and cytokines, all of which are inflammatory. If the liver is congested (toxins, pathogens, too much processed carbohydrates) with no nutrition to fuel the enzymatic detoxification pathways, then the detoxification is impaired. That means that excessive brew of chemicals from the mast cells does not get neutralized, staying in the blood stream and tissues, inflaming everything it comes in contact with —> hence the red swollen eyelids and nostrils of the allergic patient.
#3 Adrenals– The adrenals handle the inflammation caused by this normal response to an allergen. The adrenals produce cortisol typically demonized as a “bad guy biochemical”, but absolutely necessary in the right context, like bringing down inflammation produced by those chemicals the mast cells release. If the adrenals are taxed from chronic stress or chronic infection load they fail to produce cortisol properly. Chronic stress or emotional traumas can cause allergic responses to malfunction, we call these, neuro-emotional complexes. Often times you’ll find an allergy will emerge shortly after a stressful event like abuse, trauma, divorce, neglect, rejection, death in family, etc…
What about allergy meds? They are prostaglandin antagonists- they prevent prostaglandins( a normal, necessary component of the allergen response) from binding to cells, which means the capillaries aren’t signaled to let in the antibodies to neutralize the allergen, but the inflammation is stopped. The defense mechanism wasn’t allowed to finish, so the allergy isn’t really resolved, just the inflammation.. Antihistamines are another type- again no resolution to the allergy, because we chemically shut off the kill mechanism. And cortisone to block inflammation… isn’t that the adrenal’s job? yes, it is.. unless they are tanked, which they likely are..
#4 V@ccin@tions- These are designed to create an immune response, correct? Regardless of their effectiveness, as they create immune system changes when utilized they also create immune system malfunctions. Substances in these concoctions make the immune system react to whatever is traveling with it(remember “marine”). Nuts, eggs, milk protein, antibiotics, aborted fetal cells and other materials like formaldehyde and aluminum/mercury are also in those jabs. So while they are trying to create an alert in the immune system of some pathogen, they also create malfunctions in the immune system to tag food proteins and other substances as harmful when they aren’t. This is a huge reason for rise in peanut allergies.
#5 Toxins and Pathogens- These go back to the gut and liver methylation. But important to mention what could be clogging up those organs. Toxins like BPA, household chemicals, mold or mycotoxins, beauty products, radiation from your phone and electronics, glyphosate are some examples of toxins. Pathogens like liver or intestinal parasites also cause inability to breakdown histamine, which creates more allergic reactions. Often the liver is so overburdened with toxins and pathogens it can’t handle breaking down food or histamine. Other infections like those from Lyme disease, or fungal, viral, bacteria in the gut and liver can also create inflammation here. I’d say my most common culprits that affect histamine breakdown are : Mold and mycotoxins, Intestinal parasites/liver flukes, and Lyme Disease related infections.
#6 Genetic Variations in DAO, HDC, HNMT enzymes also play a part in allergy responses. Depending if you have a homozygous variation(70% decrease) or heterozygous variation (30% decrease) determines how effective the enzymes are at working optimally here. However, genetic variants do not mean that the gene is expressing. Typically, the body is overwhelmed with toxins, pathogens, food and stress, and THEN the genetic variation goes haywire. This is however helpful information in dealing with histamine overload cases. Supporting those genetic variations WHILE cleaning out the toxins and pathogens, and changing the diet is the best key. This helps liver methylation tremendously.
The key is this: REBUILD the physiology, while providing symptomatic relief as necessary.
Fixing the gut, healing the structural lining, killing any pathogens, and restoring proper pH to the gut restoring a healthy microbiome is typically the FIRST plan of action.
- Since every person is different with different pathogens and biochemistry it’s hard to give recommendations here. But for calming down the gut you can use chlorophyll, Vitamin A, which will help the gut-mediated immune function, and is an epithelial healer, okra pepsin to restore mucus layers and then customized herbals to help kill the parasites, fungal, viral or bacteria species depending on whats going on. Vibrant Labs Gut Zoomer is a great place to start if you aren’t a current patient. You can purchase your own kit here- https://drrachelhamel.wellproz.com/patient/home.
- Clean up your diet. Switch to whole foods: organic, non GMO foods! I also highly recommend gluten free/grain free diet to help decrease intestinal inflammation.
- Support the liver- As I’ve said previously I like to customize liver methylation based on genetic variations and diet, but again if you aren’t a current patient some great liver supports are milk thistle, or standard process Livaplex which helps de-congest the liver at about 6 daily.
- Adrenals- chronically depleted you’ll want to use dessicated adrenal gland organ support. You need to feed the adrenals. Then you can use adaptogenic herbs like ashwanganda or rhemmania to help balance them.
- Binders- binders help a lot to soak up toxins in the liver and gut. Cellcore has some great binder products to use, or additionally, GI absorb from standard process for more chemical based toxins just in the gut. Mold is a huge one that lays dormant in the sinuses causing allergic responses that are crazy!
- Symptomatically- Here are my top three recommendations:
- Standard process Antronex- assists the liver in detoxification of histamine, and its a natural antihistamine accelerating the clean up process of histamine
- Standard process Allerplex- This blend facilitates better function of the liver, gut and adrenals from a cellular level.
- Standard Process Albizia Complex or AllergoCo- modulates the degranulation process, or amount released by the mast cells It can inhibit histamine release by 60%.
- Lymphatic flow- I recommend cranial work and lymphatic work to move around stuck fluids. Also if you can’t breathe through your nose, lymphatic fluid gets backed up, and can cause inflammatory sinus problems. Balancing your nervous system and airway is super helpful!
I hope this was informational and helpful to you!! I can tell you personally suffering from hayfever massively as a child and young adult to being able to be outside during high pollen seasons with zero reactions it can happen!. I had to clear tons of old toxins both physical and emotional, clear parasites, lyme infections, mold and heal my gut, open my airway to take stress off my brain all helped me WIN!