Food Allergy

As many as two out of five Americans believe that they have allergies to certain foods. In fact fewer than 2 percent have true food allergies. A food allergy occurs when the body's immune system reacts to otherwise harmless proteins in certain foods. While most food allergies are mild in some cases they can cause anaphylactic shock a serious sometimes life-threatening reaction. Food allergies affect mostly young children. With the exception of peanut allergy the majority of children outgrow their allergic sensitivities.

Signs and Symptoms

• Swelling or itching lips tongue and mouth
• Dermatitis or hives
• Runny and itchy nose
• Headache
• Stomach pain or upset

The following symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency.

• Immediate and extreme facial swelling and itching
• Breathing difficulties
• Rapid increase in heart rate
• Rapid drop in blood pressure
• Itching or tightening of the throat
• Sudden hoarseness

What Causes It?

The foods that most commonly cause allergic reactions are peanuts tree nuts (walnuts pecans almonds) milk eggs soy fish shellfish and wheat. In most cases allergies occur when an individual who has a genetic sensitivity to certain allergens is exposed to the substance.

What to Expect at Your Provider's Office

Your health care provider may use one or more of the following tests.

• Blood tests
• Skin tests—small punctures made with needles containing tiny amounts of allergens
• Challenge or provocative testing—your provider may place food extracts under your tongue or inject them.

Treatment Options

Treatment Plan

There is no cure for food allergies. Treatment includes avoiding the foods that cause your allergy and treating symptoms when they occur. Antihistamines can relieve mild itching swelling rash runny nose and headache caused by food allergies. The most serious allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock. It usually requires an injection of epinephrine. If you have a history of anaphylactic shock you should keep a preloaded syringe of epinephrine with you at all times.

Drug Therapies

Prescription

• Antihistamines—such as clemastine (Tavist) or loratadine (Claritin); reduce itching swelling rash runny nose and headache; side effects include drowsiness irritability dry mouth and heart palpitations
• Antispasmodics—such as hyoscyamine (Levsin Anaspaz); relieve diarrhea cramping nausea and bloating; review side effects with your provider
• Adrenaline—epinephrine injection for anaphylactic shock

Over the Counter

• Antihistamines—such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl); reduce itching swelling rash runny nose and headache; side effects include drowsiness irritability dry mouth and heart palpitations

Complementary and Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies reduce inflammation minimize hypersensitivity reactions and heal the digestive tract.

Nutrition

Note: Lower doses are for children.

• An elimination/challenge trial may help uncover sensitivities. Remove suspected foods from the diet for two weeks. Reintroduce one at a time and watch for reactions. Do not perform a challenge with peanuts if there is history of anaphylactic shock.
• A rotation diet in which the same food is not eaten more than once every four days may be helpful in minimizing allergic reactions.
• Reduce pro-inflammatory foods in the diet including saturated fats (meats especially poultry and dairy) refined foods and sugar. If you are sensitive to antibiotics eat only organic meats.
• Increase intake of vegetables whole grains and essential fatty acids [cold-water fish nuts (unless allergic to them) and seeds].
• Flax seed borage or evening primrose oil (1 000 to 1 500 mg one to two times per day) are anti-inflammatory. Children should be supplemented with cod liver oil ( 1/2 to 1 tsp. per day).
• Zinc (10 to 30 mg per day) and beta-carotene (25 000 to 50 000 IU per day) support immune function.
• Vitamin C (250 to 1 000 mg two to four times per day) inhibits histamine release. Vitamin C from rose hips or palmitate is citrus-free and does not cause allergic reactions.
• B-complex vitamins (25 to 100 mg per day) help immune function.
• Selenium (50 to 200 mcg per day) helps metabolism.
• Bromelain (100 to 250 mg between meals) decreases inflammation.
• Pancreatin (8X USP) one to two tablets with meals for digestion.
• Pro-flora supplements (one to three capsules per day) can help normalize bowel flora.

Herbs

Herbs may be used as dried extracts (capsules powders teas) glycerites (glycerine extracts) or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated teas should be made with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5 to 10 minutes for leaf or flowers and 10 to 20 minutes for roots. Drink 2 to 4 cups per day.

• Quercetin (100 to 250 mg three times per day before meals) minimizes reactions to food.
• Rose hips (Rosa canina) tea is anti-inflammatory high in hypoallergenic vitamin C and healing to the digestive tract. Drink 3 to 4 cups per day 4 oz. three to four times per day for children.
• Marshmallow root tea (Althea officinalis) may soothe and promote healing of gastrointestinal inflammation. Soak 1 heaping tbsp. of marshmallow root in 1 qt. of cold water overnight. Strain and drink throughout the day.
• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) milk thistle (Silybum marianum) celandine (Chelidonium majus) and chicory (Cichorium intybus) stimulate liver function.
• To enhance digestion and reduce spasm choose three or more of the following to make a tea to sip before meals. Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) peppermint (Mentha piperita) passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) meadowsweet (Filependula ulmaria) fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and catnip (Nepeta cataria).

Homeopathy

Homeopathy may be useful as a supportive therapy.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture may help restore normal immune function.

Massage

Therapeutic massage may help reduce the effects of stress.

Special Considerations

If you have allergies there is a greater likelihood that your baby will develop food allergies. Studies show that breastfeeding can delay development of food allergies.

Supporting Research

American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology. Accessed at www.allergy.mcg.edu on January 1 1999.

Carey CF Lee HH Woeltje KF eds. The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics. 29th ed. New York NY: Lippincott-Raven; 1998:216–271 223–225.

Dambro MD. Griffith's 5 Minute Clinical Consult. Philadelphia Pa: Williams & Wilkins; 1998:400–401.

Fauci AS Braunwald E Isselbacher KJ et al eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. St. Louis Mo: McGraw-Hill; 1997.

The Food Allergy Network. Accessed at www.foodallergy.org/ on January 1 1999.

Klag MJ ed. Johns Hopkins Family Health Book. Harper Resource; 1998.

Murray MT. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin Calif: Prima Health;1996:448–449.

Murray MT Pizzorno JE. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rocklin Calif: Prima Publishing; 1991:321.

Murray MT Pizzorno JE. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed. Rocklin Calif: Prima Publishing; 1998:464–475.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. National Institute of Health. Accessed at www.niaid.nih.gov/ on January 1 1999.

Sampson HA. Food allergy. JAMA. 1997; 278:1888–1894.

Werbach M. Nutritional Influences on Illness. New Canaan Conn: Keats Publishing Inc; 1987:23–28.

Copyright © 2000 Integrative Medicine Communications

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application use or misuse of any of the information contained herein including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability negligence or otherwise. No warranty expressed or implied is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor pharmacist nurse or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage precautions warnings interactions and contraindications before administering any drug herb or supplement discussed herein.