Food Allergies | Homeopathic Approach | HDS

• A food allergy is an immune system response to a specific protein present in certain foods.
• When an individual with a food allergy consumes the offending food, their immune system identifies the protein as harmful and triggers an allergic reaction.
• These reactions can range from mild to severe and, in some cases, life-threatening.
• It’s important to distinguish between food allergies and other adverse food reactions, such as food intolerances or sensitivities.

Common Cause :

While any food can potentially cause an allergy, there are eight major allergens that are responsible for the majority of allergic reactions. These include:

1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Peanuts
4. Tree nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc.)
5. Wheat
6. Soy
7. Fish
8. Shellfish

Allergic Reaction Symptoms:

Symptoms of a food allergic reaction can vary widely and may affect different parts of the body. They can include:

1. Skin reactions: hives, eczema, itching, swelling.

2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

3. Respiratory symptoms: sneezing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath.

4. Cardiovascular symptoms: rapid or weak pulse, low blood pressure, fainting.

5. Anaphylaxis: a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction that can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and loss of consciousness.

Diagnosis:

Food allergies are typically diagnosed through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and specific diagnostic tests, such as skin prick tests or blood tests (measuring IgE antibodies). These tests help identify which allergens trigger an immune response in the individual.

General Management :

Avoidance: The primary method of managing a food allergy is to avoid the allergenic food. This often requires careful reading of ingredient labels, communication with food establishments, and meal planning.

Homeopathic Approach to Food Allergies :

1. Natrum muriaticum (Nat-m):

• This remedy is often used for individuals who experience allergic reactions, particularly to foods, with symptoms such as watery or itchy eyes, runny nose, and skin rashes.
• They may also have a craving for salt and tend to be reserved or introverted.
• Unquenchable thirst.
• Cutting pain in abdomen.
• Distended  Pain in abdominal ring on coughing.
• Tachycardia.
• Sensation of coldness of heart.
• Heart and chest feel constricted.
• Diarrhoea, with colic, and evacuation of mucous matter.
• Painless watery diarrhoea.

2. Sulphur:

• Sulphur is sometimes used for individuals who experience skin symptoms like hives or eczema in response to certain foods.
• They may have intense itching and burning sensations on the skin.
• Skin affections after local medication.

3. Pulsatilla:

• This remedy is often associated with allergic reactions that lead to digestive disturbances, such as after consuming rich or fatty foods.
• The person may experience nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Great desire for sweets.
• Complete loss of, or excessive appetite.
• Heartburn. Dyspepsia, with great tightness after a meal; must loosen clothing.
• Vomiting of food eaten long before.
• Pain in stomach an hour after eating.
• After eating, nausea and eructations, regurgitation and vomiting, inflation, and aching in pit of stomach, colic and flatulence, headache, obstructed respiration, ill-humour and melancholy or involuntary laughter and weeping, and many other sufferings.
• Bread, esp., lies heavy on stomach.

4. Arsenicum album:

• Arsenicum is sometimes used for individuals who experience food poisoning-like symptoms from allergenic foods.
• They may have vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and anxiety.
• After a meal, nausea, vomiting, eructations, pains in the stomach, colic, and many other sufferings.
• After having drunk, shivering or shuddering, return of vomiting and diarrhoea, eructations and colic.
• The pains in the stomach manifest themselves mostly after a meal, or in the night.
• Nausea, retching, vomiting, after eating or drinking.
• Everything swallowed seems to lodge in the śsophagus, which seems as if closed and nothing would pass.
• Ill effects of vegetable diet, melons, and watery fruits generally.

5. Lycopodium:

• Lycopodium is used for individuals who experience bloating, gas, and digestive discomfort after eating certain foods.
• They may have a craving for sweets.
• Sensation of constriction in throat, with obstructed deglutition.
• Dyspepsia due to farinaceous and fermentable food, cabbage, beans, etc.
• After eating, pressure in stomach, with bitter taste in mouth.
• Absence of thirst, or burning thirst.
• Vomiting after a meal with salivation.
• The pains in the stomach manifest themselves principally in morning; in open air; after a meal; or after drinking wine.

6. Apis mellifica:

• Apis is used for individuals who experience allergic reactions with sudden swelling, such as hives or swelling of the lips, after consuming certain foods.
• Swelling or puffing up of various parts, odema, red rosy hue, stinging pains, soreness, intolerance of heat, and slightest touch.
• Lips oedematous; upper lip swollen, hot and red.
• Mouth red, burning, stinging, scalding.
• Dry, swollen, inflamed tongue, with inability to swallow.
• Vomiting, with diarrhoea.
• Burning heat in the stomach.
• Face Swollen, red, with piercing pain.

7. Urtica urens:

• This remedy is derived from the common stinging nettle plant and is sometimes used for allergic reactions, including skin rashes and hives.
• Itching swellings all over fingers and hands, resembling “bold hives”; lumps and red spots on hands and fever blisters on lips, itching.
• Erythema, with burning and stinging.
• Heat in skin of face, arms, shoulders, and chest, with formication, numbness and itching.

Worked By : Sunitha Asir (Final BHMS)