Natural Medicine :
Allergies
Allergies are often more than a simple rash or runny nose. Allergies may lend to faulty thinking and to minimal brain
dysfunction in children.1 Allergies are the number one cause of chronic disease, according to American Family Physician.
A large proportion of the physical suffering in the United States is caused by allergies. Yet many are convinced that proper
management of diet from birth to old age could eliminate much of the trouble.
Allergens
Twelve of the most frequent allergens include milk, caffeinated and decaffeinated drinks (e.g. chocolate, coffee, tea, and colas),
eggs, cereals (especially corn and wheat), oranges and orange juice, tomatoes and tomato juice, meat (pork, beef, chicken),
fish, nuts, vitamin preparations, drugs, and food additives.
Substances not native to milk may be present in cow's milk causing human reactions, including wheat, peanuts, linseed,
cottonseed, ragweed, bacteria, antibiotics, hormones, and other drugs and chemicals.
Common Symptoms:
Allergic symptoms include headache, fatigue, tremor, collapse, and manifestations in the intestinal, respiratory, cutaneous,
hematologic, neurologic, urinary, and cardiovascular systems.
Milk Allergy:
Since dairy milk and related products (cheese, yogurt, cottage and cream cheese, buttermilk, butter, sodium caseinate
and lactate) are the cause of 60% of food sensitivities, a discussion of milk and its relation to disease follows. Pain in the
rectum is thought to be caused by milk allergy in infants or in adults. Loss of appetite for cow's milk is not uncommon in
milk sensitive children. Itching or burning of the mouth with ulcerations of the lining of the mouth are often due to cow's
milk. Swelling of the lips and tongue may occur. Allergy to milk may also induce chronic cough, asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis,
urinary bleeding, constipation, and recurrent pneumonia.
Malabsorption of nutrients because of diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or interference with the absorption of other
nutrients (especially minerals such as calcium, zinc, iron and other substances) are a result of gastrointestinal manifestations
of milk allergy. Ulcerative colitis has been shown to have acute exacerbations with the use of milk. The history of the use of
cow's milk from the first month of life is twice as common in patients with ulcerative colitis than among control cases.
Electroencephalogram abnormalities have disappeared after allergens of any kind were avoided. According to some
researchers, about one-fifth of children with cow's milk allergy have central nervous system disorders. Bedwetting has
been ascribed to milk allergy along with cystitis and the nephrotic syndrome. Failure to thrive and sudden infant death
syndrome may also be due to milk allergies. In adults, the tension-fatigue syndrome may be due to milk allergy.
Allergy Prevention
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| 1. |
Avoid, as much as possible, any chemicals that touch the skin, including soaps, lotions, cosmetics, detergents,
nail polish, costume jewelry containing nickel sulfate, merthiolate, medicines, dyes, etc.
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| 2. |
Avoid breathing anything that has an odor except natural vegetation odors, including gasoline, aerosols,
cosmetics and perfumes.
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| 3. |
All drugs and medicinals, vaccines, venoms, molds, fungi, bacteria, and insects can cause allergies.
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| 4. |
Elastic in clothing, nylon, and other synthetics are a frequent cause of allergies and should touch the skin as little as
possible. Cotton clothing is best.
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| 5. |
Chilling of extremities, especially the ankles and backs of arms, is the cause of much chronic sinusitis. Cool or cold skin
anywhere on the body is abnormal.
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| 6. |
Overeating and evening meals aggravate chronic sinusitis. Chew food to a cream before swallowing to prevent fermentation.
Use only two or three dishes at a meal with bread to avoid a "war" inside.
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| 7. |
The use of sweets, milk, and too many concentrated or heavy foods (nuts, wheat germ, even bread) can
make sinusitis worse.
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| 8. |
The ten food groups that most commonly cause allergies are:
Dairy products (over 60% of all food allergies)
Chocolate, colas, coffee and tea
Eggs, pork, beef, fish
The pea family, including peanuts and soybean products
Citrus fruits and juices
Tomatoes and potatoes
Grains, including corn, rice, wheat; and yeast
Cane sugar, cinnamon and other spices
Beer, alcohol, artificial food colors
Strawberries and apples
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Treatment for Chronic Sinusitis
| 1. |
Fasting one to two days per week may be beneficial. Drink eight to ten glasses of water on days of fasting.
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| 2. |
Applications to the sinus areas of the face with hot water compresses (three minutes) and cold compresses (thirty seconds)
four times daily for the first week and once daily thereafter until sinusitis has cleared.
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| 3. |
Take regular deep breathing exercises.
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| 4. |
Eat three to four olives with each meal for about three weeks.
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| 5. |
Take six charcoal tablets twice daily for approximately one week (taken midmorning and mid-afternoon).
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| 6. |
Take a one-hour walk everyday with the head up, shoulders back and down while breathing deeply.
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Treatment for Eczema:
For eczema, take a hot foot bath at 104-106 degrees for twenty minutes. If sweating occurs,
take a shower at 65 degrees for
fifteen to thirty seconds. Before drying with a towel, take unscented vaseline and spread it
evenly over the rash. Then rub the
area lightly and quickly to mix the vaseline and water to form a milky-colored emulsion. Allow
to dry without toweling. You may
gently blot the skin. Avoid chilling the skin as this retards healing.
References:
| 1. |
Journal of the American Medical Association 212(l):33-34, April 6, 1970.
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| 2. |
Bahna, Sami L., M.D. and Douglas C.Heiner, M.D., ALLERGIES TO MILK. Grune &
Stratton, 1980, pp. 47, 52, 67,109
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