Ever heard of someone developing a life-threatening allergic reaction from a tiny part of a
peanut, foods such as wheat (gluten), milk and dairy, seafood (shellfish), alcohol, soy, eggs,
peanuts, and certain vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants).These may sound strange but
is true.
Food intolerances should not be confused with food allergies.
Allergies are characterized by the presence of type I IgE antibodies in the blood, which
are responsible for immediate, often severe reactions (e.g. allergy to peanuts). The reaction
normally occurs a short time after consumption of the offending food, which is the culprit.
Intolerances are characterized by the presence of type III IgG antibodies. The reactions
to intolerance can occur from 8 and 72 hours after consumption of the offending food or
additive, & are more difficult to pinpoint.Food intolerance is an adverse food-induced
reaction that does not involve the immune system. Lactose intolerance is one example of food
intolerance. A person with lactose intolerance lacks an enzyme that is needed to digest milk
sugar. When the person eats milk products, symptoms such as gas, bloating and abdominal
pain may occur.
The symptoms that the allergic individual produces are individual in nature. They can range
from a mild asthmatic attack to a severe life threatening allergic response (anaphylaxis). The
complex process of digestion also affects the timing and the location of a reaction e.g., if
people are allergic to a particular food they may first experience itching in the mouth as they
start to eat the food. After the food is digested in the stomach, abdominal symptoms such as
vomiting, diarrhoea or pain may start. When the food allergens enter and travel through the
bloodstream, they can cause a drop in blood pressure. As the allergens reach the skin, they
can induce hives or eczema, or when they reach the lungs, they may cause asthma. All of this
takes place within a few minutes to an hour.
Role of Homoeopathy
Homoeopathic treatment of food allergies can be very beneficial as it treats food allergies
by optimising the overcharged immune system.Most of the allergies can be treated with
homeopathy. Homeopathy views food allergies as an expression of a disturbance in the
patients healing system. Food allergies are not a disease to be cured in themselves, but a
reflection of an underlying imbalance.
Food sensitivity or intolerance can be treated by homeopathic medicines that are specific
to that particular problem. For example, homeopathic medicine Silicea for milk intolerance
in infants, when even the mother’s milk disagrees, or Zingiber for diarrhoea that sets in
after eating melons or Antim crudum for headache that comes after eating fruits, but, these
medicines should be taken under the guidance & after consulting a qualified homoeopathic
doctor.Homoeopathic medicines prevent any exacerbations at first prolonging the time
between episodes and later preventing their occurrence leading to permanent cure.
Controlling and curing the altered immune response:
Homoeopathic medicines offer permanent relief in Food allergy and act by curtailing the
individual’s immune response against allergens, thus decreasing their hypersensitivity
towards triggering stimuli and curing the altered immunity. The development of food
allergy depends upon interaction between susceptible genes and environmental factors. Thus
homoeopathy with its deep acting constitutional remedies offers excellent results.