- by Dr. Eric Herman, D.C. BioVeda Health & Wellness Center of Bethlehem

What causes allergies and chemical sensitivities?
Over the last decade, important breakthroughs have occurred in the identification and treatment of allergies. Dr. Robert Gardner, Ph.D. professor of nutrition at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah), discovered that specific key chemical agents cause allergic reactions including hayfever. These naturally occurring chemical agents called “phenolic” (aromatic) compounds, are regularly found throughout our environment in thousands of items including most foods, pollen and chemicals.

What is the relationship between allergies and asthma?
Many forms of asthma are caused by allergic reactions from both airborne phenolic compounds and those found in foods. Asthmatic individuals can be helped in the same way as others suffering from allergies. Airborne phenolic compounds are often found in pollen, tobacco smoke, house dust, air pollution, kapok, wool, feathers, animal hair or dander, building materials, furniture stuffing, cottonseed, and chemical odors. Some examples of foods that are most likely to be factors associated with asthma are those eaten daily such as wheat, eggs, chocolate, corn, peanut butter, citrus fruits, potatoes and tomatoes. We have helped many people suffering from asthma by first testing for those phenolics and other agents that can cause or contribute to asthma. We then screen and treat allergies, if indicated, utilizing our clinics’ painless techniques. This treatment also helps strengthen the immune system.

Do I have to restrict my diet to avoid allergies?
Not usually. Since phenolics are found in so many foods and other materials, it would be virtually impossible through dietary restrictions to avoid the phenolics causing the reactions. For instance, one of the phenolics, gallic acid, occurs in about 70% of the foods we eat! Restricting a persons diet or giving injections of whole food extracts in an attempt to avoid this compound seems impractical in light of these discoveries.

However, there is a small, select group of people that are critically sensitive to some foods and should still avoid those items. These people require special therapeutic programs and instructions.

Why should I have allergies and feel tired even if I eat only “good foods”?
The fact that a person eats only “good foods” or even “health foods” may have little to do with whether or not they suffer from allergies. Phenolic compounds occur in “good” foods as well as those items commonly thought of as “junk” foods.
The solution is to strengthen the body’s immune system by neutralizing and desensitizing phenolic compounds within the foods, NOT by avoiding the foods themselves!

What are some of the symptoms of allergies?
Allergies affect people in differing degrees. In fact, many people suffer the effects of allergies but often don’t recognize that their problems are related to an allergy! In the course of treating allergies, the patient is often quickly benefitted by being relieved of symptoms (such as fatigue) that was not originally associated with the allergy. For example, Dr. Abram Ber, M.D. has found that sensitivity to gallic acid contributes to chronic lower back pain, nasal congestion and fatigue.
Furthermore, many other problems such as depression, bedwetting, hayfever, headaches, stomach and intestinal disorders and skin problems have been helped by phenolic neutralization.
Remember, the body is a very complex system. Relief from a stressful condition (such as an allergy) can very easily relieve stress in other parts of the body. In severe cases, it is like removing a crushing pressure from the body which has been held in a “vice-grip” for years!

Are there ways I can tell if I or someone in my family, especially my child. has an allergy?
Many of the symptoms of allergies in children are similar to allergies in adults. Doris J. Rapp, M.D. has reported that some children with allergies show black, blue or red circles under the eyes (called allergic shiners) which appear after a person gets near or eats something to which they are allergic. Another clue is bags under the eyes. Some children have puffiness directly below the eyes and others also have little bags below the outer edge of each eye. Deep creases or wrinkles under the eyes are typical of persons with an allergy. [9] Allergies to foods and chemicals are also linked to learning disabilities, hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children (and adults).

How can allergies be treated painlessly?
Physicians using the homeopathic phenolic neutralization and desensitization techniques utilize advances in technology to help hundreds of people overcome their allergy problems. The use of painless, non-injection methods of diagnosing and treating allergies is the most effective method we have personally witnessed.

These methods have been especially welcomed by parents with children who have suffered from a fear of needles and the discomfort of skin reactions, nausea and other unpleasant reactions caused by conventional provocative allergy testing.

Symptoms of Phenol Sensitivity
Some typical symptoms indicating your child may have a phenol problem are [not all of these need be present]: dark circles under the eyes, red face/ears, diarrhea, hyperactivity, aggression, headache, head banging or other self-injury, inappropriate laughter, difficulty falling asleep at night, and night waking for several hours. The typical adult symptom of phenol intolerance is chronic fatigue syndrome, which is the opposite symptom that most children have, altho some children do present as always tired/lethargic, instead of hyper with sleep and other issues.

List of High Phenol Foods
Here is a short list of high phenol foods from Karen Seroussi’s book. They are food dyes, tomatoes, apples, peanuts, bananas, oranges, cocoa, red grapes, colored fruits, and milk.

Here is the Feingold list of highly phenolic/high salicylate foods: toiletries, cleaning supplies, art supplies — that has any of the following ingredients: Synthetic/artificial colors and flavors [for example, FD&C colors, vanillin], BHA, BHT, TBHQ, [all the preceding are made from or related to petroleum], Natural Flavoring (may contain salicylate), Natural Coloring (may contain salicylate), Aspirin and products containing aspirin or salicylic acid, Salicylates, Almonds, Apples, Apricots, Berries (all), Cherries, Chili powder, Cider & cider vinegar (apples), Cloves, Coffee, Cucumbers & pickles, Currants, Grapes & raisins, Nectarines, Oranges, Paprika, Peaches, Peppers (bell & chili), Plums, Prunes, Tangerines, Tea, Tomatoes, Wine & wine vinegar (grapes), Oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate). Other items to consider are perfumes and fragrances, nitrites and nitrates, monosodium glutamate [MSG], Hydrolized Vegetable Protein [may contain MSG], sulfites/sulfiting agents, benzoates, and corn syrup [made from hydrogen sulfide + corn starch and many other added chemicals].

Advanced Treatment
Allergies are an error! The body is reacting inappropriately to a completely harmless substance, food or stimuli. STRESSORS are substances, foods or stimuli that place STRESS upon your nervous system.

Many of these STRESSORS can cause symptoms of allergies and sensitivities!

Your body can be retrained to accept these STRESSORS by no longer perceiving them as a threat. We do not treat and chase the symptoms, rather we get to the core of the problem…the nervous system’s inappropriate response to these STRESSORS. “We treat the person, not the condition”  Learn more:  Contact a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center near you!

Several articles came to our attention this week as must reads when it comes to a natural approach to overall health and wellness.  Here’s the latest in health news across the web!

Food Allergies Make Kids a Target (CNN.com)

More children with food allergies may experience acts of bullying and other targeted negative behaviors than their peers, Sicherer said. A 2001 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development study found that about 17 percent of children in grades six to 10 reported being bullied. By comparison, 50 percent of kids in that age group in the food allergy study were reported to have experienced bullying, teasing or harassment. Read more.

Top Ten Toxins and How to Protect Your Family (USA Today)

What can you do to protect your family from everyday toxins? Plenty, writes USA TODAY health reporter Liz Szabo, in Fresh: Women’s Health Guide, a new USA TODAY publication that hits newsstands today. Here’s Szabo’s list of the toxic 10, in no particular order, with ideas for avoiding them. Read more.

What’s Wrong with Our Food “System”? (TedX Next Generation)

Why go organic?  11 year old, Birke Baehr speaks out about the risks of genetically modified foods, CAFOs, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and food irradiation.

Watch the video.

Hot Pepper for High Blood Pressure (Dr. Andrew Weil)

Capsaicin, the compound that adds the spicy zing to hot peppers, seems to have some benefit in blood pressure control. Chinese researchers have reported that long term consumption of capsaicin as part of the normal diet of rats bred to have high blood pressure helps relax blood vessels so that pressure falls. Read more.

- By Dr. James Augustine, D.C.

Myth: Food intolerance and food sensitivity are the same thing.

Not true. And neither one are the same as food allergy.

Experts say “food intolerance” and “food sensitivity” are often used interchangeably by the public, causing misunderstanding. Add “food poisoning” to the list, and people become even more confused.

• Food intolerance occurs when the body lacks a particular enzyme to digest that food. Two common examples are lactose intolerance and celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the gastrointestinal tract cannot process gluten, a protein in wheat-based products such as cereal and bread. An intolerant person avoids the foods that trigger a reaction, but these reactions aren’t caused by the immune system and they are not life threatening.
• Food sensitivity, an understudied area, generally means people have an unpleasant reaction to certain foods; perhaps they develop acid reflux, nausea, or abdominal cramps, but again, these are not immune system reactions, and these reactions do not always occur in the same way when eating the food.

You could also have a bad reaction to food tainted by bacterial contamination or not properly prepared. That’s food poisoning. Symptoms often involve diarrhea and vomiting and typically clear up in 24-48 hours.

Dr. Augustine’s comments:
Good clarification here. Another vote for taking digestive enzymes, which clears up acid reflux and most other issues with food intolerances, as well as can prevent tainted food issues.

BioVeda Health & Wellness Centers offer a digestive enzymes supplement product called “HealthZymes” which are advanced digestive enzymes.

Maybe you are having occasional problems with your digestive system, you are not alone. This discomfort of bloating affects up to 30% of adults. This is without the mention of other abdominal signs– like irregular bowel movements, passing gas, or stomach discomfort. If you add these in, the percentage shoots through the roof! Many are dealing with social embarrassment because of occasional bloating or stomach discomfort. Many times you find yourself losing out on the fun of sitting down to a good meal because of the price you will pay later. All because your digestive system is not working properly.

If your body does not break down and absorb nutrients correctly, the effects will go far beyond occasional stomach discomfort that you are feeling. It has been said that maintaining a healthy digestive system is the core of all health. After all your digestive system in the source of all nutrients that your cells need. A healthy nutritious diet is essential, but if your stomach and intestines are not working correctly then the diet will not do much for your health. This is going to prevent you from absorbing the nutrition building blocks that your body depends on. In order to help your digestive system do its job, you have got to understand what goes on inside your stomach and small intestine. You have probably tried many different strategies to work with your digestion. Yet for some reason it still is not working as well as it can. You may just need a little help.

Here is how digestive enzymes work: There are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, as well as vitamins, minerals and other components. To absorb these nutrients into your bloodstream, you have got to break down these large molecules into smaller pieces. Your body has evolved a chemically engineered system to do just that. While you are finishing your meal, digestive enzymes are rushing into your small intestine from your liver, gall bladder, and pancreas to break down the large food pieces into smaller pieces. that are easier to absorb. These enzymes are special proteins designed to break apart a specific molecule in your foods.

• Proteases (proteolytic enzymes)–break down protein
• Lipases–break down fat
• Amylases–break down carbohydrates

Introducing, HealthZymes, a BioCore product for ultimate digestion*!  Contact a BioVeda Health and Wellness Center near you to learn more!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

A recent report from Children’s Hospital Boston indicates that food allergies in children are becoming more common and more severe.  In fact, the number of food allergy cases at this hospital doubled in 2006. In addition, the number of kids with food allergies went up 18 percent from 1997 to 2007, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 3 million children younger than 18 had a food or digestive allergy in 2007, the CDC said.  There are many theories as to why more and more children are becoming allergic.  This rise in allergies could be due to our Western diet, making us more susceptible to developing allergies and other illnesses. CNN further explores this possibility in their article “Why are food allergies on the rise?“:

The children in the African village live in a community that produces its own food. The study authors say this is closer to how humans ate 10,000 years ago. Their diet is mostly vegetarian. By contrast, the local diet of European children contains more sugar, animal fat and calorie-dense foods. The study authors posit that these factors result in less biodiversity in the organisms found inside the gut of European children.

The decrease in richness of gut bacteria in Westerners may have something to do with the rise in allergies in industrialized countries, said Dr. Paolo Lionetti of the department of pediatrics at Meyer Children Hospital at the University of Florence. Sanitation measures and vaccines in the West may have controlled infectious disease, but they decreased exposure to a variety of bacteria may have opened the door to these other ailments.

“In a place where you can die [from] infectious diseases, but you don’t get allergy, obesity, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disease, the flora is different,” Lionetti said.

This study only looked at a small number of children, but the findings support the widespread notion of the “hygiene hypothesis” — the idea that cases of allergies are increasing in number and severity because children grow up in environments that are simply too clean.

“That our immune system is skewed away from fighting infections, and toward fight things that it’s not supposed to be fighting, like things in the environment or foods — that’s one thing that people think may be in play,” Rudders said.

Another reason presented for this rapid increase in food allergies and food sensitivities in children is the idea of delayed introduction of high allergen foods. A study published in the Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics, “Age at First Introduction of Cow Milk Products and Other Food Products in Relation to Infant Atopic Manifestations in the First 2 Years of Life: The KOALA Birth Cohort Study” has found that delaying the introduction of certain common allergen foods, particularly cow’s milk, is not favorable and does not prevent the development of allergic response such as eczema, wheezing or atopic dermatitis. They studied data from 2558 infants in the Netherlands to come to this conclusion, through questionnaires administered at 34 weeks of gestation and 3, 7, 12, and 24 months postpartum. They then measured allergic sensitivity at age 2, through blood sampling. They determined that delaying introduction of common allergens may actually increase the risk of eczema at age 2 and beyond.

Another study involving Jewish children in the United Kingdom and Israel has found that the Israeli children who were exposed to peanuts frequently during infancy were 10 times LESS likely to develop a peanut allergy than their UK counterparts.

“The most obvious difference in the diet of infants in both populations occurs in the introduction of peanut. Israeli infants are introduced to peanut during early weaning and continue to eat peanut more frequently and in higher amounts than UK infants, who avoid peanut, as per Department of Health recommendations.  The observed differences in Peanut Allergies between the UK and Israel are unlikely to be explained by genetic differences. Our findings raise the question of whether early and frequent ingestion of high-dose peanut protein during infancy might prevent the development of Peanut Allergies through tolerance induction. Paradoxically, past recommendations in the United States and current recommendations in the UK and Australia might be promoting the development of Peanut Allergies and could explain the continued increase in the prevalence of Peanut Allergies observed in these countries.”

Whatever the reason for the increase, it’s time to look at alternative methods of addressing these allergies in children.  BioVeda Health & Wellness Centers offer a variety of holistic therapies that can help reduce or eliminate symptoms related to food allergies.  Contact a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center to learn more!

A clinical study conducted at the School of Exercise Science at Australian Catholic University has shown that taking high quality calcium plus vitamin D significantly improved bone density, mass and strength in girls ages nine to 13- exactly what experts want to achieve in that time of life to prevent future skeletal issues.

“Experts regard osteoporosis as a pediatric disease because the best time to prevent is during childhood and early adolescence,” says Dr. Tim Wood, Executive Vice President of Research and Development at USANA Health Sciences, Inc. “Women put on 50% of their adult bone mineral mass during their teenage years. As such, this is the best time to grow strong, mineral rich bones and the most effective way to prevent osteoporosis later in life.”

Risks of Osteoporosis Increase IF:

• You have a family history of osteoporosis
• You have a poor diet
• You have a sedentary lifestyle
• You are a white female
• You are small boned, with thin body frame
• You are a smoker
• You take medications such as cortisone, thyroid hormone and some depression medications

The National Osteoporosis Foundation tells us that we need more milk as a source of calcium to build strong bones, yet scientific evidence does not support this. Americans have the among the highest osteoporosis rates worldwide, while our dairy intake is also among the highest. A 1997 study indicated that of 78,000 nurses, those who drank more than one glass of milk per day had a 45% greater chance of hip fractures (American Journal of Public Health, 1997).

Boron Copper, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, Vitamin C and proper fluoride levels are just as important as calcium for optimal bone density.  Vitamin D is also essential for calcium absorption.  These vitamins and minerals can be found in many foods that promote bone density such as:

• Black strap Molasses & Real Maple Syrup
• Collard Greens & Dark Salad Greens
• Cabbage
• Broccoli
• Green Beans
• Cucumber
• Peas
• Soybeans & Most Beans
• Kiwi
• Brown Sugar
• Tomatoes
• Pink Salmon & Sardines with Bones

Exercise and avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, salt and carbonated beverages can also help to prevent decreases in bone density.

If you’re concerned that you may not be getting sufficient amounts of minerals such as calcium and Vitamin D from your diet and sun exposure, supplementation is the next best thing. BioVeda now offers the following high quality, dietary supplements that may help reduce your risk for developing osteoporosis and help you maintain optimal bone health.

Vitamin D3 Natural: The Most Effective Vitamin D Spray Available Today!

BioVeda’s Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is a pre-hormone that has long been known for its important role in regulating body levels of calcium and phosphorus, and in mineralization of bone. Vitamin D3 can also help with heart health, cell formation and longevity, skin health, aging, hearing, reproductive health, eye health, respiratory health, immune support,  weight management, muscle function, and strong, healthy bones because Vitamin D encourages calcium uptake.

Researchers found that increasing levels of vitamin D3 could prevent diseases that take nearly 1 million lives throughout the world each year! And other studies showed that you can decrease your risk of cancer by MORE THAN HALF simply by optimizing your vitamin D levels.  In addition, it is extremely rare for someone with optimized vitamin D levels to come down with the flu.

The most important thing to keep in mind if you opt for oral supplementation is that you only want to supplement with natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is human vitamin D.  Do NOT use the synthetic and highly inferior vitamin D2. This is typically prescribed by many well intentioned doctors who seek to take advantage of a patient’s prescription coverage. Unfortunately this form is far more expensive than the real vitamin D3, which is one of the least expensive vitamins we have. But more importantly it does not work nearly as well as D3 and can actually block the real D3 from working properly. Bottom line: ONLY use vitamin D3 when supplementing.

Calcium Plus: A Complete Source of Calcium

Calcium is often talked about as the solution for building strong bones, but although the majority of this mineral is found in your bones and teeth, it’s important for other bodily functions as well. For example, calcium has a large role in muscle contraction, blood clotting and cell membrane function. It also helps regulate the activity of enzymes, and if your body does not have enough available calcium, it can drastically effect your health — and even shorten your life.

According to recent research, men who ate the most calcium-rich diets — taking in nearly 2,000 milligrams of calcium a day — had a 25 percent lower risk of dying from all causes, and a 23 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease, compared to men who ate about 1,000 milligrams a day. Calcium’s benefit come from several areas, including reducing blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar levels, according to researchers. Calcium is so important to your body’s ability to function that if you don’t have enough of it in your blood from dietary sources, your body will tap into its stored source, bones.

Cell Trace: A Nutritional Supplement for Trace Mineral Support

Cell Trace is a proprietary blend of 78 trace minerals. It is an ALL NATURAL product, free of binders and fillers. No chemicals have been added to this formula.

Minerals are an essential part of life, and are just as important to a human as breathing. Minerals and trace minerals play a major role in our everyday lives and internal bodily functions.  In the past, eating a healthy diet could provide the body with the minerals required for not only survival, but optimal health. Today however, naturally occurring, nutrient-rich soil is becoming scarcer with rapidly diminishing amounts of minerals available through even the best of diets. Eons of vegetation growth and aggres- sive modern farming techniques have brought many of the earth’s minerals to the surface where they have been washed away.

Our bodies rely on trace minerals to conduct and generate billions of tiny electrical impulses every second of our existence. Trace minerals are the key for the health of every body system and function. Just as our bodies need vitamins, they need minerals as well. With Cell Trace by BioVeda, you never again have to wonder if the trace minerals your body needs are present in your food. You and your body can feel good about the all-natural ingredients in Cell Trace.

Click here to order these high quality BioVeda products, today!

Contact a BioVeda Health & Wellness Center to learn more about how you can optimize your health today!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

- by Dr. Eric Herman, BioVeda Health and Wellness Center of Bethlehem, PA

The word “allergy” did not even exist a century ago, and yet, respiratory allergies today are the 5th leading chronic disease in the U.S. and are the 3rd most common chronic disease among children under 18 years old. [1] It has been estimated that one in seven Americans had a respiratory allergy in 1950, but one in four have one now.

Homeopathy is highly effective in the treatment of allergies and fully capable of stimulating the organism to heal to the point of complete relief from all allergy symptoms.

Many of us have suffered from allergies at one time in our life, and usually the best treatment offered was symptomatic relief through avoidance of the allergen or through medication. Homeopathy, on the other hand, addresses the cause of the sensitivity to allergens at the deepest possible level; avoiding the allergen (the substance responsible for the allergic response) or resorting to suppression of symptoms through ongoing symptomatic treatment becomes unnecessary once this sensitivity has been eliminated.

An Allergist is the medical specialist that commonly uses small doses of an allergen in order to desensitize a person to that allergen. This concept of using small doses of what might cause a problem in order to help prevent or heal the person is an ancient observation of healers/physicians all over the world, and it is the basis for a type of natural medicine called homeopathy.

It is therefore not surprising that one of the three physicians who founded the American Acade­my of Allergy was a San Francisco homeopathic physician, Dr. Grant L. Selfridge. [2] Another small and forgotten footnote in medical history involves a homeopathic physician from Scotland, C.H. Blackley, who in 1871 was the first physician to identify pollen as the cause of hay fever. [3]

The truth is that allergies can be permanently overcome. The body is incredibly made and has all the mechanisms built within that allow us to attain and maintain great health. Our innate healing abilities are so powerful that we naturally overcome the majority of problems we encounter in life.

“Think about this for a minute – what if headaches didn’t come and go, they just came and stayed? Or, imagine if you still had every cut, scrape and injury you had ever gotten – you would be a mess. Obviously, you naturally recover from many conditions because your body has internal healing capabilities”.

Symptoms are often mistaken as the cause of the problem, when really they are caused by the problem. Treating a symptom instead of a root cause is like turning off a fire alarm instead of putting out the fire. Take headaches for example. Say you choose to use aspirin or ibuprofen to control the symptoms. Time and time again, you must take these pills (why do you think you get so many aspirin in a bottle?). In most cases, the underlying cause of the headache is not changing and therefore the headaches keep coming back! Wouldn’t you rather target the underlying cause and stop the headaches from returning at all?

Do you think that taking various over-the-counter drug products for symptoms is the best way to deal with allergies? Why use temporary solutions over and over again? Your immune system needs to be normalized and strengthened so you do not have to live with allergy symptoms.

Do you know about the possible side effects of antihistamines and decongestants, the primary ingredients in many over-the-counter allergy medications? Many allergy products can cause nervousness, insomnia, dry mouth, negative reactions to other substances, stomach upset and over-sensitivity to sunlight. Additionally, many of these products will cause a rebound effect, a worsening of symptoms when the drug is discontinued. Homeopathy helps your body naturally overcome allergy symptoms with no side effects, while you stay fresh and alert.

Homeopathy is the purest form of natural medicine I have found. With over 200 years of clinical use, there are no negative side effects, no known reactions with other drugs, no contraindications for use and no addictive or habit forming properties. These outstanding results are unprecedented in the history of medicine.

Homeopathic medicines have become the first of all the natural remedies to be registered by the FDA as a drug product. Homeopathy offers a safe, natural solution backed by science, clinical experience, FDA registration and, most importantly, the tests of time.

Homeopathy is designed to work very quickly. Most people will notice initial results as early as 30 seconds to 3 minutes. Others may see results in a few minutes to a few days. Others experience a sense of lightness, accompanied by an emotional release. The corresponding sense of well being or an increase in overall energy, alertness and awareness indicates the healing response is taking place within you. Another positive sign of the healing response being activated is that you will require less and less of this natural medicine as time goes on, not more and more.

Homeopathic natural medicines are powerful. Homeopathy can be safely and effectively combined with nutritional and herbal products, as well as conventional drugs and procedures. The end results of using an all-natural approach are well worth it! Natural relief is a far healthier and often permanent solution.

Homeopathy is a very individualized healing art. A single remedy for one person with allergies may not be the same as that needed for another. Treating 10 people with allergy symptoms may require just as many different homeopathic remedies.

Homeopathy offers formulas designed to strengthen you from the inside by activating your body’s natural response system to stimulate its ability to heal itself. This approach offers relief of allergy symptoms, while formulas which work specifically on the immune system may even prevent future allergic reactions. A second approach in homeopathy acclimates you for the outside by providing homeopathic preparations of the specific weeds, grasses, trees, molds and pollens found in your geographic region. Over time, your body becomes less sensitive to the exposure of these allergens, reducing the severity and frequency allergic reactions. Using both of these approaches together provide the most complete approach to allergy correction.

Using The Bax Aura system Dr. Eric Herman and other Bioveda practitioners can assess thousands of environmental, chemical and food substances to determine which ones cause neurological stress. The Bax Aura harmonic imprinter can then create custom Homeopathic Medicines specific to your sensitivities. Imagine being able to pin point your exact needs and have a natural medication custom made for you. Can you think of any other doctor or clinic on the planet that can offer this? After taking your custom Homeopathic Medication for a period you can then return and be re-tested to specifically measure the degree of improvement you have experienced.

This contemporary homeopathic approach is the only treatment method besides immunotherapy or allergy tests and shots that offer a chance for lasting relief or potential cure from allergies. Obviously, homeopathy offers the simplest, safest, and less costly and time-invested approach. Homeopathic allergy relief is applicable to anyone with allergies and should be the practical first choice for allergy care and correction.   Contact a BioVeda Health and Wellness Center to learn more!

[1] Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America

[2] Cohen SG. The American Academy of Allergy: a historical review. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1979;64: 332-333.

[3] Reilly D, Taylor MA, McSharry C, Aitchison T. Is homoeopathy a placebo response? Controlled trial of homoeopath­ic potency, with pollen in hayfever as model. Lancet October 18, 1986; ii: 881-886.

By Dr. Andrew Moore, D.C., A BioVeda Health and Wellness Center in Alamo Heights

1. Pollens. Pollens are the number one allergy triggers in the United States. Pollens are produced by vegetation – trees, grass and flowering plants – and are spread by air. When inhaled, they cause a reaction on people who are allergic to them. Most plant life release pollen into the air from spring to autumn, but there are also some plants that produce pollen in winter.

2. Animal hair. As lovable as dogs and cats are, the oil they secrete to coat their hair contains protein that can cause allergic reactions. The sad thing about it is that allergy to animal dander can develop over time and can end the relationship between a pet and its master.

3. Dust mites. Dust mites live in the dust that collect in homes and workplaces. They cannot be seen by the naked eye, and they feed on bacteria, fungi and dead skin cells in dust balls. The proteins that their waste products contain can cause allergic reactions.

4. Insect bites. An insect stings or bites as part of its defensive mechanism. However, when an insect bites, it leaves proteins in the skin that are also allergy triggers for some people. The allergy can manifest as mild swelling and itchiness, but it can also be life-threatening for some people.

5. Mold. Mold develops on damp and dark areas. When mold spores are touched or inhaled, they irritate the air tract and cause allergic reactions. Molds act almost the same way as pollens do, except that they persist even in sub-freezing temperatures.

6. Food. Some people are predisposed to developing allergies to food such as shellfish, peanuts, wheat and milk. Such people produce antibodies against the substances found in the food they are allergic to. When they eat this food, their antibodies release histamine and trigger allergic reactions. You can use food intolerance testing kit to identify possible food intolerance of your body for 96 different food types.

7. Latex. Latex is made from the sap of the rubber tree, and this sap contains proteins that can be an allergy trigger for some people. When these people come in contact with latex, they immediately show an allergic reaction. This can be problematic, given that many items used in the health care business are made of latex.

8. Medicine. Some people have immune systems that are not friendly with substances found in some drugs, like penicillin and salicylates. When these people ingest medicine containing these allergens, they can break out.

9. Perfume. There are people who cannot stand the smell of perfume, no matter how good the perfume smells. The chemicals in the perfume irritate the lining of their nose and trigger the allergy.

10. Cockroaches. Cockroaches are creepy; nobody likes them. But more than that, the proteins that their feces contain can irritate the skin and cause an allergic reaction.

By Dr. Jack Epter – Natural Health Allergies, Chiropractic, and Nutrition

IgE is an indication of a hypersensitivity or true allergy. IgG is a secondary response usually associated with a previous exposure to an antigen.

IgE Food Allergies
The best known and well-studied form of food allergies is called a Type 1 immune reaction (classical food allergy, immediate-onset, IgE-mediated, atopic food allergies, etc.). Type 1 food allergies occur in approximately only 2-5% of the population. Type 1 food allergies occur mostly in children and are less frequent in adults. Usually occurring in the genetically predisposed individual, the immune system begins creating a specific type of antibody called Immunoglobulin E (IgE) to certain foods. One side of the IgE antibody will recognize and bind to the allergic food. The other side of the antibody is attached to a specialized immune cell packed with histamine, called a Mast cell. Primed for action, the IgE antibody now only has to patiently wait for re-exposure to food allergens. When you eat the allergic food the next time, IgE antibodies hungrily latch onto the food. Instantaneously histamine and other allergy-related chemicals (chemical mediators) are released from the mast cell, quickly bringing on the unwelcome appearance of stomach cramping, diarrhea, skin rashes, hives, swelling, wheezing or the most dreaded of all Type 1 reactions, anaphylaxis.

IgG Delayed Onset Food Allergy
Type 3 immune reactions are much more commonly involved in food allergy than Type 1 reactions. In fact, 45-60% of the population has been reported as having delayed food allergies. Delayed food allergy or food sensitivity also involves the immune system. They occur when your immune system creates an overabundance of antibody Immunoglobulin G (IgG) to a specific food. The IgG antibodies, instead of attaching to Mast cells, like IgE antibodies in Type 1 allergies, bind directly to the food as it enters the bloodstream, forming food allergens bound to antibodies circulating in the bloodstream. The allergic symptoms in Type 3 immune reactions are delayed in onset – appearing anywhere from a couple of hours to several days after consuming allergic foods. Delayed food reactions may occur in any organ or tissue in the body and have been linked to either causing and/or provoking over 100 allergic symptoms and well over 150 different medical diseases. An estimated 60 to 80 million Americans suffer from clinically significant food allergies and most all of whom suffer delayed symptoms.

Symptoms of IgG Food Allergy may include:

• Abdominal Pains
• Aches and Pains
• Acne
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Autism
• Bloating
• Celiac Disease
• Chronic Fatigue
• Chronic Infections
• Constipation
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Eczema
• Enuresis (Bed Wetting)
• Fibromyalgia
• Fluid Retention
• GI Problems
• Hyperactivity
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Itching
• Lethargy
• Loss of Appetite
• Migraine
• Nausea
• PMS
• Psoriasis
• Recurrent Ear Infection
• Recurrent Sinus Infections
• Rhinitis
• Sinusitis
• Skin Rashes
• Stomach Cramps
• Tension
• Urticaria
• Weight Gain
• Weight Loss
• Wheezing

Food Allergies don’t cause Everything, BUT Food Allergies CAN cause ANYTHING!

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reports this month on a study showing peanut allergies in American children have more than tripled over 11 years, from 1997 to 2008. Peanut allergies are one of the few allergies that children do not grow out of, and are also one of the most dangerous.

“Our research shows that more than 3 million Americans report peanut and or tree nut allergies, representing a significant health burden,” researcher Scott Sicherer, MD, of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City says in the news release. “The data also emphasize the importance of developing better prevention and treatment strategies.”

Its increase could be attributable to the “hygiene hypothesis” — the idea that less exposure to allergens and bacteria in childhood leave the immune system underdeveloped and vulnerable, the researchers speculated.

Or it could be the timing of when the food is introduced, or how the food is prepared, the researchers said. Roasted peanuts, for instance, have increased allergenicity because cooking changes the nature of the proteins in the nut.

This increase in allergic response is despite the American Academy of Pediatrics’ original recommendation of delaying a child’s introduction to peanuts until the age of three, which was later rescinded in January 2008.  They now recommend that solid foods not be introduced before four to six months of age, but that the timing of introducing common allergens (such as dairy, eggs, and nuts) is no longer believed to have an impact on a child’s later probability of developing allergic diseases.  In fact, a study involving Jewish children in the United Kingdom and Israel found that the Israeli children who were exposed to peanuts frequently during infancy were 10 times LESS likely to develop a peanut allergy than their UK counterparts.

“The most obvious difference in the diet of infants in both populations occurs in the introduction of peanut. Israeli infants are introduced to peanut during early weaning and continue to eat peanut more frequently and in higher amounts than UK infants, who avoid peanut, as per Department of Health recommendations.  The observed differences in Peanut Allergies between the UK and Israel are unlikely to be explained by genetic differences. Our findings raise the question of whether early and frequent ingestion of high-dose peanut protein during infancy might prevent the development of Peanut Allergies through tolerance induction. Paradoxically, past recommendations in the United States and current recommendations in the UK and Australia might be promoting the development of Peanut Allergies and could explain the continued increase in the prevalence of Peanut Allergies observed in these countries.”

Food allergies such as nut allergies are on the rise and have become a significant health burden.  There are many alternative and holistic options for dealing with allergies such as a peanut allergy.  Contact a BioVeda Health and Wellness Center near you to learn more.

– by Dr. Waterman, BioVeda Health and Wellness Center of San Ramon, CA

Does your child hate drinking cow’s milk? Does he often complains of stomach aches or skin rashes after drinking cow’s milk? If yes, then your child most likely is not throwing a tantrum but is suffering from milk allergy. Allergies from milk and dairy products are more common among children as compared to adults. Estimates suggest that 2 to 5 % of infants are allergic to milk. 80% of these children will “outgrow” the milk allergy by the age of 6. Still, it leaves a considerable percentage of children who carry their milk allergy into adult hood without finding allergy relief.

Cause

An allergy is caused when the immune system reacts inappropriately to a substance. The immune system performs the function of recognizing foreign proteins (antigens) present in the body (primarily when food is consumed) and forms antibodies called Immuno-Globulins. When the IG’s come across antigens, these antibodies fight them, leading to destruction of that specific microorganism. In those with allergies, the immune system misbehaves by forming antibodies or markers against safe protein substances by misidentifying them as harmful and marking them for destruction.

Those allergic to milk are actually allergic to many proteins present in cow’s milk. The two main components of milk proteins are Casein and Whey. 80% of the protein in milk consists of casein and the rest is accounted for by Whey. The immune system considers these milk proteins to be dangerous foreign elements, and initializes a series of reactions to remove them out of the body.

Symptoms

Milk and dairy allergy symptoms include:

* Skin Reactions: These include hives, eczema, red rashes, swelling of lips, face, tongue, mouth or throat.
* Intestinal and Stomach Reactions: These symptoms include stomach ache, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea and bloating.
* Misc. Symptoms: Besides above mentioned specific symptoms, there are other symptoms like excessive sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, increased coughing, sneezing, decreased brain function, and decreased immune health.

What is disturbing is that none of the above symptoms can confirm milk allergy. The only way to ascertain a milk allergy is to closely monitor the diet and subsequent reactions.

Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no allopathic cure to properly treat milk allergy. Allopathic medication too fails to provide any cure. The problem is the fact that milk and dairy products are an integral part of the diet. Be it adult or children, milk is fundamental to every diet. The only sure shot method is to avoid the allergen, which in this case are milk and other dairy products. However, it is not easy as a major portion of diet comes from dairy products especially milk.