In order for us to understand an immune system gone awry (which is what allergies are all about), we must first understand the normal immune response. When any foreign particle enters our body, a host of defenders rushes to the site. These defenders are called “white blood cells,” and they perceive the foreign substance as the enemy.

We call the foreign substances “antigens.” These may be infectious agents, pollen in the air, dander from animals, mold spores, chemicals, or other allergens.

Some of the defenders are called “macrophages.” They are capable of digesting the foreign material, much like PacMan. Another white blood cell, called a “basophil,” releases pro-inflammatory substances. In medical jargon, these pro-inflammatory substances have names like interleukins, cytokines, prostaglandins, and histamines. These cause inflammation, pain, and swelling at the local site.

These basophils also stimulate the immune system, which attracts antibodies and T lymphocytes to the area. The antibodies bind to the infectious agent and create what we call an antigen-antibody complex. All that means is that the antigen and the antibody have connected to each other. The liver destroys these antigen-antibody complexes.

The other thing the antibodies do is initiate a series of steps called a “complement cascade,” which causes the lysis, or destruction, of the antigen.

This cascade will also digest the dead parts and release more pro-inflammatory substances. The T lymphocytes consist of three different types: one has a memory that remembers the previous exposure to this particular (usually infectious) agent. This is similar to when we get exposed to a virus as a child. Our body creates these memory lymphocytes that immediately attack that same virus in later years, so the virus cannot cause symptoms of an actual infection. There are also T lymphocytes that are called helper cells that assist in the overall destruction of these foreign agents.

Perhaps the most important of the T lymphocytes are called killer cells. Why are they called “killer cells?” Because they have the capability of providing the final blow to kill infectious agents and cancer cells.

When the immune system is functioning properly, it provides an excellent protection against the many foreign substances that exist in our world. When, however, the reaction to these foreign substances is prolonged or overwhelming, we see the abnormal immune response that may create allergies, autoimmune disease, recurrent infections, or even cancer.

Let's say that the liver gets overwhelmed with the volume of the antigen-antibody complex. The liver cannot then keep up with the destructive process of the antigen-antibody complex (the enemy is swarming down the hill, so to speak — and there are too many of them), so those complexes start being deposited in tissue. We now have a foreign substance in tissue, which creates an inflammatory response and tissue damage.

Because we now have an antigen or foreign substance in contact with normal tissue (let's say a joint), the body mounts a T cell memory response, starts to attack the antigen-antibody complex, and gets rid of the infectious agent. Unfortunately, at the same time, the body has now identified the joint or other tissue as the enemy, and starts to attack it. We call this “autoimmune disease.”

If the T cells remain stimulated without a break, they will continue to attack infectious agents and cause tissue damage as collateral damage. This tissue damage is seen as fibrosis, which is hardening of the tissue, or metabolic dysfunction, which is enzyme and biochemical malfunction in the cells. Inflammation becomes rampant, free radicals are released increasing tissue damage, and soon we see a chronic disease pattern. This results in organ dysfunction and accelerated aging.

Food Allergy

Now that we have looked at the normal and abnormal immune response, let us turn our attention to food allergy as a model for its application. In order to fully understand the reason why food can become an allergen (enemy), let's understand the normal digestion and absorption of food. The normal digestive process starts in the mouth with the chewing of food and the enzymes and saliva that break food down. The esophagus is merely a tube that conducts the food to the stomach.

In the stomach, which is a muscle, the food is churned or mixed with acids and enzymes to break the food down. When the food gets into the liquid form, the pyloric valve opens and permits the progression of the food contents into the small intestine.

If there is fat in the food, the food will be immediately bathed in bile from the gall bladder, which permits the fat in the food to be emulsified, or surrounded by particles that permit the fat to be more easily digested. The pancreas also releases enzymes that break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

The small intestine surface is composed of outpouching and inpouching called “microvilli.” If we were to take all the microvilli and lay them down flat, the surface of the small intestines would be approximately the size of a tennis court. This is all contained within the 22 feet of small intestine.

These microvilli have enzymes that can only break down the already broken down food into a state where absorption of nutrients can take place. After the majority of the nutrients have been absorbed, this liquid leftover is transmitted out the ileocecal valve into the large intestine. The large intestine reabsorbs the water (so that we don't have diarrhea), absorbs a limited number of vitamins, and elimination finally takes place.

Unfortunately, if food is not completely digested, then these big food molecules have the potential to cross the intestinal tract wall and be identified as an allergen, or the enemy, and an allergic reaction then ensues.

Let's look at some potential causes that result in incomplete digestion of food. If we don't chew our food adequately, the large boluses of food may not permit the digestive juices and acids of the stomach and other pancreatic enzymes to break the food down.

Insufficient stomach acid (which happens when we take antacids or ulcer medications that reduce total acid production, or we age) may result in insufficient breakdown of proteins. Insufficient bile, which takes place when the gall bladder has been removed, will not permit the proper emulsification of fats and will not permit their proper digestion and absorption into the body. Insufficient pancreatic enzymes will likewise cause insufficient breakdown of food.

If the bowel wall is inflamed, the swelling will not permit the proper enzyme reaction with the microvilli that allows the proper digestion of food to take place. There are many things that can cause inflammation of the bowel wall. These may include infections, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or even food allergies. Leaky gut is a term that describes the breakdown of the bowel wall, where there is a loss of the close cell-to-cell connection, opening up holes where large food molecules may cross the bowel wall and get into the immune system directly outside the bowel wall.

Allergy Results

Every organ of the body can be affected by these allergens. Ear problems, including ear infections and fluid behind the ear, are common symptoms. The eyes and nose can become congested and itchy. This congestion does not permit the sinuses to drain, causing sinus problems.

The whole respiratory tract, including the pharynx, trachea, and bronchi, is susceptible to allergic symptoms, including itchiness, swelling, hoarseness, and coughing. Headaches are not uncommon symptoms of allergies as well. The skin may get hives, eczema, or hyper-reactivity to scratches and bumps

The central nervous system may become anxious as it detects a breakdown in the defense. It may also become irritable and send abnormal messages to the rest of the body.

Gastrointestinal symptoms may include cramping, gas, bloating, or burping. Sometimes we experience loss of appetite, constipation, or diarrhea. Fatigue is also a fairly common symptom of allergies. Joints may become swollen, painful, and inflamed. As you can see, every organ of the body can be affected by allergies.

Let's review the ways to assess allergies, and explore the limitations of each procedure.

1. Skin tests are the classic allergy assessment method recognized by allopathic medicine. These will only evaluate IgE-mediated reactions, which is only one of many types of allergy sensitivities. Skin tests can be used to evaluate pollen allergies, dust, molds, dander, and some food. They typically do not test for all foods, and do not test for chemical sensitivities.
2. RAST tests are blood tests that test for the same IgE-mediated responses that the skin tests do.
3. ELISA food testing is an IgG-mediated test that tests for approximately 130 different foods. This is a blood test.
4. Provocative neutralization tests are intradermal tests that test for a limited number of foods in different dilutions. These tend to be time consuming but the treatment with sublingual drops is extremely effective for the limited number of common food allergens that are tested.
5. Food challenge is a way to expose the body to a limited number of low-allergenic foods; for instance, chicken and rice only as a diet. This is done for 10-14 days to see if the possible allergy symptoms are related to foods. If symptoms diminish, then foods are added, one at a time, until the offending foods can be identified and thereby eliminated from the diet. Unfortunately, there are often minor foods that may not be sufficient to cause actual symptoms by themselves, but they may be part of background allergies that may not be able to be identified by this technique. In other words, it may take several of those low-allergic foods in combination to trigger an allergic response, thus making it difficult to determine all of the ones which are the culprits.
6. Muscle testing (kinesiology) takes advantage of the recognition that muscles change their strength when the body is exposed to substances (or the frequency of those substances) that are harmful to the body. The offending foods can then be avoided.
7. Electrodermal sensitivity testing is a machine that is capable of sensing and evaluating the body's response to a multitude of foods and other substances very rapidly. This machine is also capable of creating a homeopathic solution that may be able to neutralize the harmful effects of the offending substance.
8. MELISA is a blood test that is capable of assessing a Type IV allergy to metals. This is easily available in Europe, while there is only one laboratory in the United States that can perform this procedure.

Now let's look at the kinds of materials that are included in a complete allergy assessment, any of which could be included in an allergy picture.

1. Inhalants , including pollens, dust, dust mites, animal dander, and molds
2. Food sensitivity
3. Chemical sensitivity
4. Toxic metals
5. Foreign substances in the body (amalgams, implants, stents)
6. Fungal , both from an infection standpoint and from an allergy standpoint
7. Other chronic infections . These are included because they often play a prominent part in the overall assessment of an allergic patient. Chronic infections may be dental, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and even cell-wall deficient organisms.
8. Nutrition
9. Autoimmune disorder

Finally, let's talk about allergy treatment.

1. First and foremost, avoidance . If there are things in the home, work, or hobbies that cause reactions, an adjustment may need to be made. Foods may need to be avoided or placed on a rotation diet. The classic rotation diet includes eating a food no more than every four days.
2. Removal of sensitizing metals and toxins, which may include chelation therapy, far infrared sauna, and mercury amalgam filling removal.
3. Treat infections.
4. Replenish nutrients. This will include avoiding processed food and sugar, chewing food slowly and thoroughly, and avoiding stomach antacid products (and keep your gall bladder if you haven't had it removed!)
5. Supplements: quercetin to stabilize the cell membranes of cells that release histamine; milk thistle and alpha-lipoic acid to support the liver and its detoxification process; glutathione as a chelating agent and antioxidant; high doses of pancreatic enzymes taken between meals to break up the immune complexes in the body (if the pancreatic enzymes are taken with food, they will assist in the digestion of the food, but will not get into the body to break down immune complexes)
6. Allergy desensitization, which may include NAET and Ellen Cutler's food allergy technique. This is an effective process that utilizes muscle testing to evaluate the allergens or sensitivities a person has to any substance. Small blocks of these substances may then be exposed to the patient. Then, through the use of stimulation of energy pathways (including the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems), and using acupressure to open up the meridian lines of acupuncture, the treatment results in a reprogramming of the body to be less sensitive or have no sensitivity to the originally offending substances. I have had more than nine years of experience in traditional allergy skin testing and allergy shots, and I have found this technique to be equally effective, long lasting, and it is capable of desensitizing people to foods, chemicals, and other substances that cannot be put into allergy shots.
7. Sublingual desensitization drops, as described previously
8. Allergy shots
9. Medications, including steroids, antihistaminics, decongestants
10. Surgery (for example, for nasal polyp removal)