Food Intolerance (Allergies and Sensitivities)

Some food, especially when consumed in excess, can cause slow digestion, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms can be easily relieved by homeopathic medicines Food allergies need medical attention. They usually cause rashes (see "Hives") that can also be relieved with homeopathic medicines. Metabolic intolerances (diabetes, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, phenylketonuria, etc.) require medical supervision.

Primary Remedies

Carbo vegetabilis

This remedy relieves intense flushing of the face, aggravated by drinking wine or spirits, and improved by being fanned.

Lycopodium clavatum

This is used to relieve discomfort and indigestion from intolerance to onions and garlic, with bloating around the waist and gas.

Nux vomica

Nux vomica relieves nausea and cramps from indigestion, especially after excessive eating of spicy food and drinking of alcohol.

Petroleum

This is often used to relieve diarrhea after eating cabbage or sauerkraut, associated with general feeling of cold, and hunger after bowel movements.

Pulsatilla

This homeopathic remedy relieves gastric discomfort caused by eating too much fatty food, cakes and ice cream, with bloating, belching and slow digestion.

Other Remedies

Antimonium crudum

This remedy relieves indigestion from eating too much, especially rich or acidic foods or cured meat. Symptoms are relieved by applying heat to the abdomen.

Cinchona officinalis

This is used to relieve painless, but exhausting, diarrhea with bloating of the abdomen and foul-smelling gas.

Kali bichromicum

This relieves indigestion, nausea and vomiting from intolerance to beer.

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Sensitivities and Allergies (part 3)

Holistic Options

Acupuncture may be helpful in the treatment of some types of allergy. Studies of mice treated with acupuncture provide evidence of an anti-allergic effect with results similar to treatment with corticosteroids (cortisone-like drugs). A preliminary trial found a significant decrease in allergy symptoms following acupuncture treatment. It was found that the decline in symptoms coincided with a decline in laboratory measures of allergy. Relief persisted for two months following the treatment. Other preliminary trials have also demonstrated positive results. One controlled trial reported a reduction in allergic complaints following acupuncture treatment, but the results were not statistically significant. In the future, controlled trials with larger numbers of subjects may help to determine conclusively whether allergies can be successfully treated with acupuncture therapy.
Provocation-neutralization is a controversial method of both allergy testing and treatment. Treatment consists of injecting minute dilutions of foods, inhalants, or (in some cases) chemicals into the lower layers of the skin. This approach is not the same as traditional desensitization injections given by medical allergy specialists. Preliminary and double-blind research suggests treatment of allergies by provocation-neutralization may be effective, though negative double-blind research also exists.
Allergy treatment using extracts of allergens taken orally is another controversial method advocated by some alternative healthcare practitioners. Most but not all double-blind trials have found this approach effective for house dust allergy. Preliminary and double-blind trials have reported success using this method for other allergies as well.
Treatment of food allergy using very small but increasing daily doses of actual foods has been reported, and in one controlled trial 12 of 14 patients successfully completed the program and could tolerate previously allergenic foods.
All desensitization programs require the guidance of a healthcare professional. While none of these approaches has been unequivocally proven, several show promise that people with allergies may be treatable by means other than simple avoidance of the offending food or inhalant substance.
What tests can detect allergies? Several tests or procedures are used by physicians to detect allergies. Most of these tests remain controversial.¹⁴³ Some clinicians (cited below), however, believe some of these tests can be effective.

Scratch testing

This form of testing is one of the most widely used. A patient’s skin is scratched with a needle that contains a portion of the food, inhalant, or chemical that is being tested. After a period of time, the skin is examined for reactions. If there is a reaction, it is determined that an allergy exists. Although this test is accepted by most allergists, scratch testing is subject to a relatively high incidence of inaccurate results, some tests showing positive when the person is not truly allergic to the substance (false positive) and some tests showing negative when an allergy really exists (false negative).

RAST/MAST/PRIST/ELISA (and other tests that measure immunoglobulins)

The radioallergosorbent test (RAST) indirectly measures antibodies in the blood that react to specific foods. It is used by many physicians and has been shown to be a somewhat reliable indicator of allergies. It does not, however, help diagnose non-allergic food sensitivities and is therefore associated with a high risk of false negative readings. In an attempt to avoid this problem, a variety of modifications have been made to tests related to RAST (such as MAST, PRIST, and ELISA). Some of these changes may have reduced the risk of false negative readings somewhat but are likely to have increased the risk of false positive readings. A number of conditions associated with food sensitivities, such as migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome, have shown remarkably poor correlation between RAST results and the actual sensitivities of patients.

Cytotoxic testing

The cytotoxic test views a patient’s serum under a microscope to see whether it is reacting to certain substances. The test is subject to numerous errors and is not generally considered to be reliable.

Clinical ecology (provocation-neutralization; end-point titration)

This branch of medicine is considered very controversial. Testing is done using intra-dermal (under the skin) injections of minute dilutions of foods, inhalants or (in some cases) chemicals. Based on reactions, additional dilutions are used. This test not only determines whether an allergy exists but also operates on the theory that one dilution can trigger a reaction while another can neutralize a reaction. Preliminary research suggests this approach may have beneficial effects, A similar method uses these dilutions under the tongue to test for allergies. Double-blind research has not found this method effective.

Elimination and reintroduction

The most reliable way to determine a food allergy is to have the patient eliminate a suspected food from the diet for a period of time and then reintroduce it later. Once a food is eliminated, the symptoms it may be causing either improve or resolve, typically after several days to three weeks. The body then becomes more sensitive to the food, so when the food is reintroduced, the symptom is more likely to recur. This tool shows with a high degree of certainty which foods are problem foods. The testing requires a great deal of patience and, as with all other forms of allergy testing, is best undertaken with the help of a physician who can monitor the diet. Reintroduction of an allergenic food has been reported to lead occasionally to dangerous reactions in some people with certain conditions, particularly asthma—another reason this approach should not be attempted without supervision.

Other tests

Bioelectric tests are controversial procedures that attempt to measure changes in electrical activity at acupuncture points when a potential allergen is brought into proximity. A preliminary study reported that the EAV (Electroacupuncture According to Voll) device, also called the Vega test, identified the same allergens as RAST testing in 70.5 percent of tests. Another preliminary study found the Vega test identified the same neutralization doses as clinical ecology testing (see above) in 66% of tests. More research is needed to better evaluate these testing techniques.

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Sensitivities and Allergies (part 2)

The following conditions may also be related to allergies and other sensitivities:

Bed-wetting (Nocturnal enuresis)

If there is no medical cause for bed-wetting, allergies should be investigated. Several researchers have reported that allergies appear to be an important cause of bed-wetting.

Cyclic vomiting syndrome

Allergies to foods, especially cows’milk, may play a role in cyclic vomiting syndrome, a disorder characterized by repeated unpredictable, explosive and unexplained bouts of vomiting. This condition affects nearly 2% of school-aged children.

Gastrointestinal symptoms

Vague gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea) that are not caused by serious disease can sometimes be triggered by food sensitivities. In one double-blind trial, people with vague GI problems believed to be caused by dairy were given dairy to see how their bodies would react. These people were not lactose intolerant. Various indicators of immunity changed as a result of the dairy challenge, showing their bodies were reacting to the dairy in an abnormal way. However, the indicator of a true dairy allergy (milk-specific immunoglobulin E) was normal in most of these people. This study suggests that vague GI symptoms unrelated to serious disease can be caused by food sensitivities that reflect neither lactose intolerance nor true allergies.

IgA nephropathy (autoimmune kidney disease)

In a small, preliminary trial, people with IgA nephropathy consumed a hypoallergenic diet (rice, olive oil, turkey, rabbit, lamb, green vegetables, potatoes, pears, apples, salt, and water) for 14 to 23 weeks. Laboratory parameters for kidney function improved significantly, and all participants remained relapse-free while maintaining the diet.

Multiple Food Protein Intolerance (MFPI) of infancy

Many infants who are intolerant to one food have been found to also be intolerant to several other food proteins, including soy formula and extensively hydrolyzed formula. This syndrome has recently been dubbed Multiple Food Protein Intolerance (MFPI) of infancy. As a group, these infants tend to have symptoms of severe colic, gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus due to irritation by stomach acids from repeated episodes of reflux), or atopic dermatitis (eczema). As many as 30% of infants may suffer from these symptoms, but it is not yet clear how many of them may be suffering from this syndrome.

Multiple chemical sensitivity

Multiple chemical sensitivity, also known as idiopathic environmental intolerances, is a poorly understood and controversial chronic disorder in which a person may have a variety of recurring symptoms believed to be due to reactions to very small amounts of substances in the environment. Avoidance of these substances, though often difficult, has been reported to bring at least partial relief, and psychological counseling has also been reported to be helpful.

Musculoskeletal pain (including back pain)

Ingestion of allergenic foods has been reported to produce a variety of musculoskeletal syndromes in susceptible people.

Nephrotic syndrome

Several studies have found a link between nephrotic syndrome (a kidney disease) and allergies. In one study nephrotic syndrome patients responded when the allergens were removed from their diet; however, in another study patients did not respond.

Leaky gut syndrome

Allergy to food has been associated with increased permeability, or “leakiness,” of the intestine.^{114, 115} Some alternative health practitioners believe that this increased permeability, sometimes referred to as the “leaky gut syndrome,” is an important treatable cause of food allergy. However, the reverse may also be possible. Allergic reactions in the intestine tend to cause temporary increases in permeability, which would explain the apparent connection between the two. More research is needed to better understand the role of intestinal permeability in the development and treatment of food allergies.

Healthy Lifestyle Tips

People with inhalant allergies are often advised to reduce exposure to common household allergens like dust, mold, and animal dander, in the hope that this will reduce symptoms even if other, non-household allergens cannot be avoided. Strategies include removing carpets, frequent cleaning and vacuuming, using special air filters in the home heating system, choosing allergen-reducing bed and pillow coverings, and limiting household pets’ access to sleeping areas.

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Chronic Candidiasis

About This Condition

An overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract of the usually benign yeast (or fungus) Candida albicans has been suggested as the origin of a complex medical syndrome called chronic candidiasis, or yeast syndrome.^{1, 2}
Purported symptoms of chronic candidiasis are fatigue, allergies, immune system malfunction, depression, chemical sensitivities, and digestive disturbances.^{3, 4} Conventional medical authorities do acknowledge the existence of a chronic Candida infection that affects the whole body and is sometimes called “chronic disseminated candidiasis.“⁵ However, this universally accepted disease is both uncommon, and decidedly more narrow in scope, than the so-called Yeast Syndrome—a condition believed by some to be quite common, particularly in people with a history of long-term antibiotic use. The term “chronic candidiasis” as used in this article refers to the as yet unproven Yeast Syndrome.

Symptoms

Symptoms attributed to chronic candidiasis include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, belching, indigestion, heartburn, recurrent vaginal yeast infections, nasal congestion, sinus problems, bad breath skin rashes, allergies, chemical sensitivities, rectal itching, muscle aches, cold hands and feet, fatigue, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and dizziness.

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Chronic Candidiasis

Chronic candidiasis can be hard to spot,as its symptoms are the same as those of a number of other health issues. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.

• Eat foods low in refined carbs and sugarsWhite flour, refined sugars, and fruit juices may help yeast grow in the intestine, so cut them out of your diet
• Try some beneficial bacteriaTake a probiotic supplement that contains 10 billion colony-forming units a day of acidophilus or bifidobacteria to control yeast in the intestine
• Check out antifungal supplementsTo reduce yeast in the intestine, try caprylic acid (1,500 mg a day), supplemental garlic (5,000 mcg a day of allicin potential in an enteric-coated supplement), or oregano oil (0.2 to 0.4 ml a day of a coated supplement)
• Get a doctor’s opinionTests can help you make sure your symptoms are not the result of another health problem
• Avoid eating foods like bread and cheese, which contain yeast and moldEliminating these types of foods may reduce possible reactions due to sensitivities

About This Condition

An overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract of the usually benign yeast (or fungus) Candida albicans has been suggested as the origin of a complex medical syndrome called chronic candidiasis, or yeast syndrome.^{1, 2}
Purported symptoms of chronic candidiasis are fatigue, allergies,immune system malfunction, depression, chemical sensitivities, and digestive disturbances.^{3, 4} Conventional medical authorities do acknowledge the existence of a chronic Candida infection that affects the whole body and is sometimes called “chronic disseminated candidiasis.“⁵ However, this universally accepted disease is both uncommon, and decidedly more narrow in scope, than the so-called Yeast Syndrome—a condition believed by some to be quite common, particularly in people with a history of long-term antibiotic use. The term “chronic candidiasis” as used in this article refers to the as yet unproven Yeast Syndrome.

Symptoms

Symptoms attributed to chronic candidiasis include abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, belching, indigestion, heartburn, recurrent vaginal yeast infections, nasal congestion, sinus problems, bad breath skin rashes, allergies, chemical sensitivities, rectal itching, muscle aches, cold hands and feet, fatigue, depression, irritability, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and dizziness.


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