Asthma and allergies are on the rise. The increased shift of our environment away from its natural state towards industrialization has been closely correlated with an increase in allergies, as the immune system is exposed to increasing numbers of allergenic and possibly toxic substances. Studies have shown increased prevalence of allergies and asthma primarily in developed countries, and mostly in urban environments, as opposed to rural communities. Today, people eat diverse and exotic foods, many containing artificial preservatives and additives; spend more time indoors, increasing contact with dust, synthetic materials, and household chemicals; are more likely to maintain pets indoors; and are exposed to more overall pollution. To top all of this off, many people are living with severe stress levels, which cause significant imbalances in the proper function of the nervous system and immune system. It is the culmination of all of these factors that sets the stage for respiratory illness and chronic illness.

What is an allergy?

Allergies are reactions of the immune system to specific substances called allergens (such as pollen, stings, drugs, or food). The most severe form of allergy is anaphylactic shock, which is a medical emergency that typically requires use of an Epipen, antihistamines, and in some cases steroidal medications to quickly reduce inflammation. Mild to moderate allergy symptoms are far more common and can range from symptoms such as sinus congestion, hives, digestive complaints, migraines, etc. and can be triggered by a forever-growing list of offending substances. It is these mild to moderate allergic responses that can quickly add up and create a significant burden on the body’s systems and therefore overall health.

What’s the difference between Allergy, Sensitivity, and Intolerance?

Allergy is a term used in the medical profession and by allergy specialists to denote the specific response involving IgE (immuno-globulin, type E). These IgE antibodies can be measured by a blood or via scratch test. This type of reaction includes substances that can cause anaphylaxis, such in the case of severe peanut allergy or severe allergy to cats. During an allergic process, the substance responsible for causing the allergy, or allergen, binds to allergic antibodies present on allergic cells in a person’s body, including mast cells and basophils. The mast cells and basophils then release inflammatory chemicals such as histamine and leukotrienes, resulting in allergic symptoms. The allergic person can make allergic antibodies, or IgE antibodies, against a variety of allergens, including pollens, molds, animal danders, dust mites, foods, venoms and medications. This occurs through a process called sensitization, where a person’s immune system is exposed to enough of the allergen to make the body produce allergic antibodies to that substance. For example, food allergies are an immune system reaction in which undigested food particles are absorbed into the bloodstream and perceived as if they were foreign proteins. The body makes antibodies against the undigested food because the immune system views these proteins as unrecognizable and thus as a foreign invader. With later exposures, that same allergen binds to its corresponding IgE on allergic cells, and the body reacts with symptoms of allergies. Allergic symptoms can vary somewhat with the type of allergen and route of exposure (airborne pollen exposure may cause different symptoms than eating a food to which you are allergic).

Sensitivity is similar to an allergy, but generally involves IgG antibodies instead of IgE antibodies. IgG antibodies are the slowly occurring variety, and do not appear in the blood until 24 to 72 hours after exposure to an offending food or substance. This will result in a delayed onset of symptoms. IgG antibodies can also be detected by a blood test or through bio-communication technology. An example of this would be the presence of eczema at least 24 hours after ingesting eggs or milk products for those particular patients. These are the most common type of allergy found particularly in the case of chronic illness.

Intolerance: Here, the problem is not with the body’s immune system, but, rather, with its metabolism of a specific substance. This term refers to a food intolerance, which is characterized by a missing enzyme that is needed to digest a particular food. Familiar examples include the enzyme lactase, which is necessary to digest milk products, and cellulose, which is an enzyme needed to digest beans and fibrous material. Both cause intestinal problems, mostly gas from the fermentation of the food instead of digestion. The most extreme form of this type of reaction is in the case of Celiac Disease, where gluten can cause significant damage to the gastrointestinal lining, thereby setting the stage for chronic allergy, sensitivity, and intolerance to a myriad of substances.

Today, in western medicine, skin-scratch testing is still considered the gold standard by allergists even though it has only been found to be 85% accurate for environmental allergens and only 50% accurate for food allergens and only includes one type of allergic reaction (IgE). Even after the diagnosis of the specific allergens is made, the typical procedure prescribed includes immunotherapy (allergy shots) for months, if not years, combined with decongestants and antihistamines. Clinically, we have found that many patients who have undergone this procedure end up with no significant improvement, little improvement, or an overall worsening of their symptoms. We often find that patients end up being allergic to an entirely different group of allergens after prolonged immunotherapy. Allergy shots are then prescribed for the new substances and the cycle continues.

It is a sign of imbalance and dysfunction when the body begins to react negatively toward innocuous substances such as pollen, foods, dust, or animal dander. We offer a strategy that is very effective at neutralizing your body’s reaction toward innocuous substances by promoting balance within the nervous system and the immune system. We find and remedy the true cause of allergies and this is why our protocols are so effective at providing permanent relief.* The stronger your body is, the less likely you will have allergy symptoms. We offer a fast, gentle, and effective method for remedying the underlying cause of allergies.*

At Cypress Natural Medicine, we have a very innovative approach that can both accurately assess various types of allergies and sensitivities within the body and alleviate them effectively.* This process relies on the patient’s history and laboratory findings combined with the use of our bio-communication technology. We have utilized and streamlined this approach for thousands of patients over the last 15 years to make it more effective than ever before.*