Allergies and Eczema

Eczema can have an allergic component. Remember that probiotics can help with the food allergies associated with eczema.  Although nearly any food can cause an allergic reaction, a few foods account for about 90% of reactions.  Among adults these foods are peanuts, nuts, fish and shellfish.  Among children, they are egg, milk, peanuts, soy and wheat.

Technical Info.  We could look at vasoactive intestinal peptide ("VIP") functioning as an anti-inflammatory agent.  Or, we could study the anti-inflammatory effects of  Interleukin-4, 10 and 14.   Or, we could look at C Fibers releasing neurotransmitters, chemicals that regulate nerve impulses, the most important of these C-fiber neurotransmitters being substance P ("SP")--which dilates blood vessels and indirectly activates mast cells.  And we could investigate the ability to block the SP receptor, either by gene deletion or receptor antagonists, and the potent anti-inflammatory analgesic effects that could have in man.1  But, we won't do that here.

We will briefly, however, touch upon mast cells and basophils to better understand what's happening.  Mast cells are found in tissue, and basophils are found in the bloodstream.  Mast cells are responsible for the manifestations of allergy and contribute to skin inflammation.  When activated, mast cells release a large number of pro-inflammatory chemicals, including histamine--the amine that causes widening of blood vessels which irritate nerve fibers in the skin and cause redness and swelling of the skin.

From a brochure by NEASE:

"We know that AD is a disease of inflamed skin.  That inflammation is a result of various cells coming into the skin and causing itching, redness and swelling.  Those cells come from the person's bone marrow, then they travel through the blood stream to the target tissues:  the skin in AD, the nose in hay fever, the lungs in asthma.  Something makes these cells over-react.  They generate too much inflammation and they don't stop.  Maybe that's the cause of the disease--cells that create too much damage when they turn on and they don't turn off the way they should.  We don't know the reason for the defective "on/off switch."  We can only try to control AD by preventing the "on" trigger.  Things that turn "on" the switch are called trigger factors."

Excess Inflammation?  Is the body right?  Considering all the inflammatory diseases, I think that in most cases there is a reason for the "excess" inflammation and don't believe it is mostly due to defective "on/off switches" (that would be too many defective switches).   In my case, I also had some candida overgrowth and part of my problem was a pepped up immune system that was trying to fight off the yeast infection.   Most doctors will tell you that an overgrowth of candida in the GI tract is rare.  But, since birth control pills, steroids, antibiotics, and a high sugar and carbohydrate encourage overgrowth of candida, my bet is that many people have too much candida.  Asthma, allergies, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome can also be symptoms of an overgrowth of candida.

See if an anti-candida diet improves your condition by reducing sugars and yeasts.

Magnesium, Hydrochloric Acid and Digestion

Magnesium is needed to reduce histamine levels.  In the book Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, the authors note that food allergies are usually associated with low hydrochloric acid levels and poor digestion.   The authors' rationale for this is that low stomach acid leaves food undigested and fermenting in the intestinal tract.  This fermentation causes gas, bloating and stomach upset, the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.  Undigested and fermented food causes the body to raise histamine levels, which produce allergic reactions.  This is why people take antihistamines for allergies, to lower histamine levels. 

Low stomach acid levels reduce levels of beneficial intestinal bacteria which is needed for absorption of magnesium.  When lab rats are deprived of magnesium, a wide variety of studies have noted that they develop allergy like symptoms.  Their ears turn red and they develop skin problems.  Rats with magnesium deficiencies have increases in histamine levels.  They also have raised levels of white blood cell counts.  Mg deficiency has been implicated in allergies and allergic skin reaction in many studies on humans, too.  Variations of allergies, skin allergies, and raised white blood cells have all been noted as features of many chronic disorders.

My Internal Experience

With my eyes swollen almost closed for 2 months, along with the bridge of my nose, my cheeks became so red until golden liquid bubbled through.  My face was in a cycle of inflammation.

I resorted to internal and external steroids and antihistamines.  They helped reduce the symptoms, but they left the root of the problem untouched.  The topical steroid caused cortisone-induced rosacea (red dots), and the internal steroid (prednisone) caused weight gain and bruising.  They didn't break the cycle of inflammation.

Since my face was swelling, I thought of it as an allergic response.  I learned that some allergies involved with eczema are food allergies.  I was tested by a allergist for all the common allergens, but nothing came back as positive.   My last words to the allergist were, "So, we can safely say it's an allergic reaction to something, but we just don't know to what, right?"  He said, "Right."

Here's some information about testing the blood for delayed hypersensitivity with regard to food allergies.  Many in the naturopathic profession believe that in 65% of cases, this can be the managing key.  Most dermatologists and immunologists, however, won't agree with the naturopaths regarding this kind of testing ... dermatologists says it's mostly genetic and immunologists just do the instant skin tests and don't use this blood test for delayed hypersensitivity.  I side with the naturopaths ... it helped me.   See:  Immuno Laboratories

Fasting

The only thing I could think of was ridding my body of the allergen that I couldn't pinpoint.  I thought about fasting.  It takes 4 days for foods to leave our system.  I began to fast to clear my body of any allergens.  The idea of fasting is that since the body isn't busy digesting food, it can work on eating the other things inside the body that don't belong  (like allergens in the blood).

I began to get better the very first day while fasting.  The second day my eyes were not swelling as they had done every day for the 2 months prior.  Kind of like how the clouds clear and the sun shines, the red patches were clearing and the white skin was showing again.  Two months of swelling eyes had come under control.  I was happy that it didn't take any medicine to do that.  The cycle of inflammation was broken.

I didn't do a total fast; I just fasted in the daytime and ate uncooked fruits and vegetables in the evening.  The Fasting Center International has more information about fasting for allergies.   My immunologist says he doesn't believe it's good, but I do because it's in the Bible and because those who have studied it say it is good to help the body get rid of toxins and allergens.  

The Master Cleanser (Not Recommend For Candida)

This is a wonderful fast by Stanley Burroughs.  It cleanses the body, for "As the lymphatic glands become clogged, they are no longer able to assimilate and digest even the best of foods.  As we cleanse our bodies and free our cells and glands of toxins that clog and paralyze our assimilation, we free our various organs and processes to do their proper jobs."  The Master Cleanser book is found in health food stores for about $6.00.  I went on this fast for 10 days.   "Because it is a complete balance of minerals and vitamins, one does not suffer the pangs of hunger."  The caution is to be careful on how to come off of a fast (slowly and with the right kind of foods is extremely important), or the body can go into shock ... could be fatal coming off a long fast incorrectly, so always, always consult with a professional if you're going fast more than a couple days.  

My External Experience

I hear people say, "Well, I've been using that for years and it has never bothered me, so it can't possibly be that!"  Sometimes it takes a while for people to become sensitized to a chemical.  It's a good idea to switch products now and then so we don't become sensitized to the chemicals (like alternating foods ... same concept ...  so we don't become sensitive to them).  The treatment for chemical sensitivity is avoidance, this decreases total body burden and allows for recovery of the overtaxed detoxification system.