Allergy therapy distinguishes itself from more traditional forms of medicine by taking a proactive role in not only determining the cause of an allergic reaction, but also preventing (if possible) that particular allergen from coming into future contact with the sufferer.
Allergy therapy attempts to pinpoint the offending allergen in the sufferer’s life using natural approaches – such as the tedious (but rewarding) process of elimination diets. Once the likely allergens have been identified, allergy therapist then strive to implement ways of preventing this allergen from causing more havoc to a sufferer.
Types of Allergies
The most identifiable and prevalent allergy recognised in allergy therapy are food allergies - which tend to affect people from a wide demographic. The most common food allergies are:
- Peanuts
- Dairy Products – especially Milk
- Shellfish
- Coffee
- Wheat
- Alcohol
- Berries
Another type of allergy, though not as identifiable as food allergies, is environmental allergies. When we discuss environmental allergies we are taking into consideration external elements which may be triggering an allergic reaction. 
The most common environment allergies are:
- Pollen
- Dust-mites
- Fur
- Chemicals
- Light
- Mould
Are you allergic to something?
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Symptoms of Allergies
Remember, not all people will exhibit allergic reactions instantly – some may take years to develop any sign of an allergic reaction at all, and when they do they are likely to misinterpret the symptoms and assume it is an “instant” reaction to something they may have touched or eaten when in reality it could be something they have been in contact with for many years without any reaction until now.
The symptoms of an allergy will oftentimes be distressing for a sufferer. Symptoms of an allergic reaction (assuming there is no pathological cause) can be indicated by:
- Lethargy or fatigue, unrelieved by rest
- Fluctuating weight with no apparent cause
- Swellings in areas such as the hand, feet or abdomen
- Heart irregularities, such as palpitations
- Prolific sweating
- Rashes or hives on skin, particularly around the face, arms or legs
- Shaking, especially in the hands
- Digestive disturbances, such as diarrhoea or constipation
- Certain food cravings or bingeing
Treating Allergies
If the sufferer is unaware of what triggered the allergic reaction, the thought of treating the symptoms by medication, and not investigating the cause, may cause frustration as they are vulnerable to suffering another allergic reaction.
A more worthwhile approach would include identifying possible food allergens. One way to do so is for the sufferer to engage in an elimination diet. This natural therapeutic process works by eliminating certain “common” food allergens from a diet for a set period of time (usually between two weeks and a month) and then monitoring any reactions or symptoms over that period.
Once it has been determined that a specific food, or food group, causes no allergic reaction then these foods can be considered “safe” and reintroduced into the regular diet. If a specific food, or food group, does cause an allergic reaction then these foods need to be considered “allergy foods” and eliminated from the diet altogether.
Realistically, elimination diets can be arduous for a sufferer, with results that are rarely quick or clear, but over the long-term these elimination diets can provide insight into food allergies that a sufferer may not have been aware of, and by eliminating the allergen they can restore their good health and wellbeing.
Elimination Diet Tips
- Keep a diary; this will help you to monitor your progress. Firstly you will need to list the food or food types you are eliminating, and for what set period of time. For example, you may be eliminating diary foods, and for a set period of four weeks.Additionally you will need to record all the foods and food types you do eat during that same period of time, their serving size and at what times these foods were consumed. You may also like to record any possible allergic reactions during that set period as well.
- Stick to eliminating one food or one food type during an elimination diet. Do not eliminate, and then quickly reintroduce, foods as this is likely to cause confusion as to the actual cause of your allergic reaction.
- Try to recall when you first tried a specific type of food or food type. Your initial reaction will indicate whether you are allergic, or are intolerant, to this food. For example, did the first time you drank coffee make your heart palpitate? Did the first time you ate processed sugar give you a headache? Did the first time you consumed yoghurt make you feel bloated?Unfortunately many of us would have been introduced to some foods and food types when we were still babies, so we would be unsure as to our initial reactions. Perhaps asking a parent what our reactions were may offer insight, but this is not necessary as practising an elimination diet will likely show us what we are allergic to, or intolerant of.
- Do not stop midway through an elimination diet because you notice you are still having allergic reactions. You may find that, over the days, you allergic reaction becomes less severe as the foods you have eliminated are slowly released from your body systems.
- Always consult your GP before engaging in any form of elimination diet.
Understanding Allergies
If you have a few minutes to spare, why not watch some of the videos below. I have found them very helpful in understanding the cause of allergies, and how we can work around them.
To browse the full playlist for each section, press the
button in the bottom tool bar.
And what of Tony Abbott – his approval ratings are the lowest they have been since he became Liberal leader last year – so much so that the Liberal party has started removing him from their promotional material, so as not to ‘turn off’ voters.
