Anti Allergy Drugs will boom in US this spring

Live healthy and long

From Dr. Mercola archives | April 18, 2013 

Many Americans will be afflicted with allergies this spring due to pollen.  Anti - allergy drug is a $14.7 business by 2015.  Most of the allergies will come from air borne allergen from hay causing allergic rhinitis. 

How does an allergic reaction occur? 

It is a sign that body's immune system is working overtime.  The first time your body encounters an allergen, the body plasma releases IgE  (immunoglobin E) an antibody specific to the allergen to the mast cells. Mast cells are found on the surface of the body like skin or lining of the nose and help mediate an inflammatory response.  They can release chemicals like histamines.   

The second time the allergen contacts the mast cells, they release a cocktail of chemicals :   prostaglandins, histamines, leukotrines - that trigger inflammatory response like coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, sore throat, etc.   Histamines can cause airways have spasm which lead to asthma or permeable leading to hives.  Other things can cause allergies to other people:   molds, food, chemicals, insects, insect bites, detergents, cosmetics.

Leaky gut syndrome

Eating nuts and food containing anti nutrients can make your gut permeable in a condition known as leaky gut leading to Crohn's disease or celiac disease.   The gap between the cells of the stomach membrane (enterocytes) allow food, waste and metabolic waste that must be in the intestine to leak to the blood stream leading to auto immune system/inflammation. Leaky gut can also lead to allergic reactions.   To repair the leak, we avoid grains and nuts, and processed food.  "Healing and sealing" food include fermented food to restore proper balance of bacteria in the gut.  

Alternative strategies for treatment of allergies:

1.  Eat right
2.  Acupuncture
3.  Eat local honey
4   Flush nasal cavity with Neti pot (I sometimes clean my nose with Hydrogen Peroxide)
5.  Take vitamin D
6.  Employ acupuncture

Others:
1.  Increase intake of Omega 3 fats. (from fish)
2  Decrease intake of Omega 6 fats  
3.  Avoid pasteurized milk products
4.  Take probiotics
5.  Get regular exercise
6.  Hot peppers
7.  Quercetin
8.  Eucalyptus oil