Hay fever, rhinitis, sinus infections, hives
and more are just some manifestations of
allergies. We know that hyperactivity and
ADD type stuff can be another manifestation
of food allergies in kids or adults too, as
well as animals, for that matter. But here
is a unique allergy indicator: handwriting
changes!
A study was done on school children with
allergies, by having them write a paragraph
before and then 30 minutes after ingesting
some common allergy causing foods (wheat,
dairy, eggs). The changes were really
dramatic! Much "scribbly-er” after the foods
were eaten. So if you ever notice your
handwriting looking a little "odd", ask
yourself what you have eaten previously.
Actually, keeping a food diary is a great
idea, you can see patterns of symptoms and
perhaps connect some of the dots.
-
Your
pulse rate will also go up rather
significantly a few minutes after eating
a food or contacting a substance that is
an allergen for you.
-
Vision changes are another manifestation
of allergic response, occurring within a
few minutes after eating or contacting
an allergen.
-
Many so-called behavioral problems and
even violent antisocial behavior or
depression can be actually allergic
responses in disguise.
In dogs and cats, allergies can appear in
several forms, as well. A great article,
"When They Are Not Immune" by Roger Govier,
Whole Dog Journal, January 2000,
states:
"Dogs usually manifest allergies in the
skin, which is a major eliminating organ.
(Possibly since they don't sweat, I feel -
J). He lists common allergies as:
1. Allergic Rhinitis - sneezing or reverse
sneezing (sort of a sharp, snorty
"inhale" or snarking noise - J)
2. Bronchitis or coughing
3. Flea allergies - the flea bite itches,
then the dog scratches and gets a secondary
bacterial infection
4. Pyotraumatic Dermatitis (pyoderma) or hot
spots
5. Demodicosis or mange - overpopulation of
the mites which normally live in the hair
follicles
6. Allergic Gastritis or Enteritis which are
food allergies or from toxins in the food".
Horses usually manifest allergies as
sneezing or excessive snorting, hives or
skin rashes, and even eventually, as heaves
or chronic respiratory distress if the hives
and rashes are continually suppressed with
steroids. Colic and laminitis can be other
situations triggered by allergic responses.
The immune system can respond in 3 negative
ways:
-
Hyperactively -- with allergies
-
Inappropriately
-- with auto immune disorders like lupus
or rheumatoid arthritis
-
Inadequately
-- as with cancer
So it is not about the allergen per se, it
is about what the immune system does in
response to a challenge.
Writing in his book Power Aging, Dr.
Gary Null says, "An allergy is……due to an
immune system that is in hypervigilant
mode. The more challenge there is to an
immune system, the greater your response
will be…if you have a really strong immune
system, your lymphocytes and phagocytes
(white blood cells - J) are able to
engulf and digest antigens. Therefore, to
eliminate allergic responses we must
strengthen our immune system."
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