Encyclopedia of Homeopathy

206 • SERIOUS AILMENTSALLERGIESAn allergy is defined as a condition that is caused by an inappropriateor exaggerated reaction by the body’s immune system. Harmlesssubstances are misidentified by it as potentially dangerous, so theimmune response is to form antibodies. These attack the perceivedirritants—or allergens—on the surface of the offending substance.The reaction between antibodies and allergens stimulates therelease of substances within the body, such as histamine, whichcause a variety of irritating symptoms.AllergenAntibodymoleculeMastcellSymptoms• Rash or itchy swelling on the skin.• Hay fever: irritation of mucous membranesin the sinuses, causing sneezing and theproduction of watery catarrh.• Asthma: possible spasms and narrowingof the airways.• Inflamed and possibly watering eyes.• Possible nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.• In severe cases of type I allergy (see right),possible anaphylactic shock—a severe, nervousreaction that includes breathing difficulties,a drop in blood pressure, abdominal pain,swelling of the tongue or throat, and diarrhea.CausesConventionally, allergies are described in termsof four categories of hypersensitivity reaction.Type I is the most common of the four, andis known as anaphylactic or immediatehypersensitivity. It includes allergies to pollens,animal dander, house dust, dust mites, somedrugs, yeast, insect venom, and certain foods,especially milk, eggs, shellfish, nuts, and somedried fruits. These allergens stimulate the bodyto produce a specific kind of antibody calledimmunoglobulin E (IgE), which coats cells inthe skin, sinuses, lungs, and stomach. When afurther exposure to the allergen occurs, theimmunoglobulin antibodies become attachedto cells in body tissues called mast cells. Inresponse, these cells release chemicals, mainlyhistamine, which cause allergic reactions.Asthma, hay fever, urticaria, anaphylacticshock, some forms of eczema, and food allergyare type I allergies.Types II, III, and IV are all much lesscommon than type I. In the case of type II,antibodies bind themselves to antigens oncell surfaces, resulting in the damage to anddestruction of cells, as in certain autoimmunedisorders. With type III allergies, antibodiescombine with antigens to form particles calledimmune complexes. These travelaround the body in the bloodstreamand can lodge anywhere, stimulatingthe immune system further. Thismechanism is responsible for reactions toimmunization and allergic alveolitis(inflammation of the alveolar walls in thelungs). Type IV is known as delayedhypersensitivity. T-cells (white blood cells)combine with antigens and releasechemicals called lymphokines, which causeinflammation. These chemicals are responsiblefor measles rashes and contact dermatitis.Another possible cause of allergyconsidered in complementary medical circlesis leaky gut syndrome, whereby cells in thelining of the bowel are not as adherent as theyshould be. Parts of proteins may pass into thebloodstream, triggering antibody production.Leakage may occur from birth, or be causedby infection or by taking certain drugs.Conventional careAllergies are investigated by means of skintesting.A small amount of the suspectedallergen is pin-pricked under the skin, or placedbeneath a patch resembling an adhesive bandage,and the reaction is monitored. Blood tests canmeasure the reactions of antibodies andallergens that have been highlighted by dyes.Elimination and challenge, whereby a suspectedirritant is removed from the diet or thesurroundings for a while and then reintroduced,is another method of allergy identification.Once an allergen has been identified, theeffects of the antibody–antigen reaction can berelieved, using mainly antihistamine drugs.These block the effects of histamine, thuspreventing allergic symptoms from developing.Other drugs include sodium chromoglycate,used mainly to treat asthma, and corticosteroids.Allergic skin reactions can be treated withointments containing corticosteroids. Drugs mayAllergen encountersantibodyHistamine released inresponse to allergenANTIBODIES AT WORK When under threat fromharmful substances—or antigens—the bodyproduces antibodies that attach themselves tospecial immune cells (mast cells) and can destroyinvading particles. An allergic reaction occurswhen large numbers of antibodies are activated inresponse to harmless, misidentified substancescalled allergens. This triggers the release ofhistamine, causing unpleasant side-effects.be combined with vitamin supplements,reflexology, hypnotherapy, and desensitization,the last of which involves the gradualintroduction of the source of irritation in orderto increase a person’s level of tolerance untilthey no longer have an allergic reaction.Homeopathic medicineWhere there is only one allergy (a fixedallergy), homeopathic treatment is similar toconventional treatment. Constitutionaltreatment is used to correct imbalances in thebody, and to discourage the immune systemfrom overreacting. Such treatment is even morebeneficial when there is not a fixed allergy buta cyclic allergy situation. This is when, eventhough the sources of irritation are removedfrom the diet, the body develops oversensitivityto something else. In this case, it is necessary toinvestigate the malfunctioning of the immunesystem, which may be due to an inheritedweakness or body imbalances.The choice of constitutional remedy willlargely be determined by an individual’ssymptoms (see page 18). Apis is indicated forallergic swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, or