Alleviating allergies

Are allergies making you miserable? Soothe your sniffles, itches and tears with natural approaches that encompass lifestyle change, diet, herbs and your mind.

- CAROLINE ROBERTSON

Decades ago, food allergies were relatively rare. Today allergies are among the fastest-growing conditions in Australia, according to the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA). Approximately 20 per cent of Australians have an allergic disease with 10 per cent of infants experiencing immediate food allergies. Food allergies and eczema are more common in children. Insect allergy, drug allergy, asthma and allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) are more prevalent in older people.

Allergens are substances that provoke allergies. Potential allergens are everywhere — in the air, animals, food, drink, cleaning agents, personal care products, insect stings, medicines, plants, metals, latex and agricultural products. Studies show that while we can outgrow allergies to cow’s milk, egg, soy or wheat, approximately 75 per cent of children have persistent allergies to nuts, sesame and seafood. The mechanism of allergies is clear but their cause and cure remains hazy.

Allergies explained

There are two types of allergies, IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated.

An IgE-mediated response is when the body reacts to a usually harmless substance by releasing immunoglobulin E antibodies. These attach to mast cells that then release granules and chemicals such as histamine, cytokines, leukotrienes, heparin and proteases. Many mediators cause characteristic allergy symptoms such as rashes, hives, itching, streaming eyes, congested or runny nose, asthmatic breathing, tingly mouth or lips, swelling and anaphylaxis in severe cases.