Solutions for Your Seasonal Allergies

Allergies are a leading cause of chronic disease, and in America, allergies are skyrocketing. What are the root causes? And how can allergies be effectively treated?

 

What is an Allergy?

 

When the immune system identifies common allergens like pollens as foreign invaders, the body can overreact and mount an often violent response to expel the threat. An allergic reaction occurs when a specific antibody, IgE, links the allergen to a specialized white blood cell called a mast cell, releasing histamine into circulation. Read Dr. Tenpenny’s substack, Worms, Wheezes and Weird Diseases for a more comprehensive view of IgE.

 

The results are the commonly recognized symptoms of an allergy: itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose. Allergic reactions can also manifest as an asthma attack, violent abdominal cramping or an immediate, severe skin reaction recognized as hives. The most severe type of allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, can result in loss of consciousness and even death.

Why Allergies Are Increasing…Unsuspected Causes

Many substances can induce the production of IgE antibodies. For example, the preservatives found in vaccinations — mercury, aluminum and gelatin — have all been reported in the medical literature as increasing IgE concentrations, and therefore they play a potential role in the development of allergies.

 

Kids are particularly susceptible; a newborn’s immune system is not fully developed, so infancy and early childhood is a high risk period for allergic sensitization. Events that occur early in life, such as vaccination, have the potential for inducing the development of allergies and asthma later in life.

 

Many children are increasingly experiencing asthma, and the incidence of asthma is linked to a well-documented cause: exposure to a protein found in cockroach droppings. One in five US children is allergic to cockroach allergens.

 

Exposure to antibiotics has also been linked to the development allergies. Studies show that children given antibiotics during the first year of life are over four times more likely to develop asthma than children who have never taken antibiotics.

 

Common health problems linked to allergies

Allergies are often the underlying cause of a whole list of seemingly unrelated health problems. Many people do not realize that symptoms such as body aches, fatigue, indigestion, headaches, ear infections, irritability, hyperactivity and learning disabilities can be symptoms of overlooked food and environmental allergies. In fact, hyperactivity, distraction and aggressive behavior associated with ADD and ADHD can be triggered by food intolerances.

What can be done?

In hypersensitive individuals, taking a supplement that supports immune balance is important. A targeted blend of flavonoids, antioxidants, proteolytic enzymes and botanicals can provide comprehensive support for seasonal challenges caused by common environmental allergens. My private label Opti Seasonal Support includes quercetin, bromelain, stinging nettles leaf, and N-acetyl cysteine, offering a powerful combination that actively promotes healthy nasal and sinus passages for individuals with elevated histamine and respiratory irritation.

I even offer Opti Seasonal Support Jr., a great-tasting, chewable tablet that includes the same targeted blend of ingredients to provide comprehensive support for children with seasonal challenges caused by common environmental allergens.

Kinesiology is also an unusual but effective way to identify and treat allergies. This method is more commonly referred to as muscle testing. With this method, the patient holds a vial containing a suspected allergen in his hand while the practitioner applies gentle pressure to the opposite arm to measure muscle strength. If the muscle tests weak, a sensitivity to the substance is likely present. I developed a form of kinesiology testing called Tenpenny’s Sensitivity Reduction Technique, or T-SRT. This method focuses on allergy elimination using techniques to “re-pattern” the immune system so it no longer reacts to harmless substances as if they were a threat. Remarkably, successful treatment means that you no longer need to avoid the allergen.

You don’t have to suffer. There are great solutions for your seasonal allergies.