Asthma and Allergies
Submitted by: Willow Tree Wisdom, Amsterdam, NY
Parents
might be keeping their children to clean for their own good. The rate of
increase in asthma and allergies could be due to too much hygiene. A study
conducted by Von Mutius et al. Indicates
that children who grow up on working farms are much less likely to develop
hypersensitivities than any other group of children. It seems that sleeping with animals, working
in hayfields and drinking raw milk stimulates a child’s immune system at an
early age. A study in 2000 conducted by
Folkerts, Walzl and Openshaw and published in “Immunology Today” concluded that
common childhood infections ‘teach’ the immune system not to be allergic?” So,
lay off all that hand sanitizer take your kids outside and play in the dirt.
Individuals’
who currently suffer from allergies and asthma can use diet and herbs to
stimulate innate immunity and modulate hypersensitivity. Many of the commercial
products on the market may help temporarily relieve symptoms, but do not improve
overall health or immune response. The liver plays a large role in filtering
toxins from our bodies, but its efficiency is inhibited by the sheer amount of
chemical and natural substances in the environment. When the liver is not able
to properly do its job, the toxins have to go somewhere. Blood becomes “dirty”
and the response is inflammation. Inflammation is a result of the body’s
reaction to dirty blood.
Inflammation
doesn’t always have to come from a clearly “offending” substance or event such
as chemical exposure or a cut. Sensitivities may be caused, in some people, by substances
that others would not react to at all.
This is the definition of an allergy.
Wheat is an example of a substance well tolerated by some and not by
others. The idea of toxic blood is an
over simplification of what causes allergies to a substance in some but not
others.
“To
understand “dirty blood”, think of our bloodstream as having a certain quota of
“toxicity” which, when exceeded, causes symptoms of inflammation to appear. If
you think of “toxins” as entering the body through the gut or through the lungs,
you can begin to see what organ systems might be involved in protecting the
blood (a deeper level) from these “toxins”: a functional respiratory system
will trap most harmful substances and remove them through the expectoration of
mucus; a functional digestive system will sterilize food (unless it’s horribly
tainted…), digest many proteins, poisons, and other chemicals that can cause
inflammation, and eliminate toxic waste quickly and effectively; a strong liver
will metabolize chemicals absorbed from the gut, reduce their toxicity, and
eliminate them through the bile; and, although not the most important in a
discussion of allergies, the urinary system helps eliminate undesired
substances from the blood. Weakness at any of these points can lead to an increase
in “toxins” present in the blood. Finally, the immune system is responsible for
the general level of sensitivity to the blood’s “toxicity” (actually
sensitivity to the presence of antigens): in effect, it sets the quota ( Guido
Mase, 2012).”
Along with
getting outside and exercising, the diet should be considered. There are also
wonderful herbs that can help reduce toxicity and restore balance. Milk thistle
helps to build and restore the liver. Dandelion root can be used for liver
detoxification. Astragalus is a wonderful immune system modulator and can help
strengthen the body’s own immune system. Nettles and Goldenrod both help reduce
histamine and reduce inflammation.
Chocolate and green teas are full of
flavonoids and also can help reduce inflammation. Depending on the other systems
that are affected, there is an entire array of herbs that can be used. Not just
to treat symptoms, but to restore the body to health.
