I will address the topic of environmental medicine and detoxification. How are we to deal with this? Con-
ventional medicine’s approach is usually to treat the symptoms and calm down the immune system with the use of anti- histamines (of which there are different kinds), leukotriene inhibitors (mostly used with asthma), mast cell stabilizers, anti- inflammatory medications, and/or steroids. Another method that many are familiar with is immunotherapy (desensitization) or allergy shots, where very small amounts, in gradually increasing doses, of the offending substance(s) are injected into the subcu- taneous tissues. Sometimes this is done orally. These medications are not without their side effects. The most common with anti-histamines (particularly first generation) are drowsiness, dry mouth, urine retention, difficulty concentrating, and blurred vision. Leukotriene inhibitors’ common side effects include headache, earache, sore throat, re- spiratory infections, heartburn, fever, stuffy nose, cough, and rash. Mast cell stabilizers can cause throat irritation, coughing, or skin rashes. Eye drops may cause burning, stinging, or blurred vision.
Allergy shots tend to be painful and can cause anaphylaxis. Although they can help a lot of people, evidence has shown them to be clinically efficacious only in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and insect venom. Inhaled corticosteroids have side effects of nasal irritation, and sometimes there is nasal bleeding or perforation of the nasal septum. Long-term use of oral/systemic corticosteroids can cause osteoporosis and a depressed immune system.
By definition, an allergen is an IgE-
mediated and Th2-cell immune response. Physical disruption of tissue and various substances can trigger histamine release directly, independent of IgE. Mast cells are widely distributed but are most concentrat- ed in skin, lungs, and GI mucosa; histamine facilitates inflammation and is the primary mediator of clinical hypersensitivity. My treatment approach, as with most naturopathic physicians, is to first reduce the allergen burden as much as possible, and second, to change this Th2-dominant immune response to the less inflamma- tory Th1 response. This will help calm the
over-reactive immune system and mitigate allergy symptoms. Third is to heal the gas- trointestinal tract. Fortunately, there are many natural sub- stances that can change this Th2-dominant state. There are also natural anti-histamines, mast cell stabilizers, leukotriene inhibitors, and medicines that have corticosteroid-like effects. Examples of Th2 down regulators include zinc, astragalus membranaceus (also known as Huang qi), all medicinal and edible mushrooms (avoid the white button in stores and make sure the mush- rooms are preferably organic), and fish oils. Natural anti-histamines and mast cell
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