We are in the midst of an allergy explosion. It’s estimated that 30–75% of Americans have sensitivities. In the United Kingdom, it’s estimated that up to half of all kids suffer from some kind of allergic condition.
Additionally, the CDC reported that food allergy in children doubled between 1997 and 2011, including peanut allergy. And the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology reported a 700% rise over the last decade in allergic reactions among European children.1
Reasons for the allergy explosion
There are 5 big reasons why allergies are on the rise:
- A longer growing season: These days, in the US, spring starts approximately 10 days earlier than it did right after World War II. Europe is experiencing the same thing. This means a longer growing season, which for people with inhalant allergies means almost two extra weeks of suffering. Many people who have never had allergies are experiencing them for the first time.
- A new seasonal calendar: In addition to a longer growing season, today we can enjoy an incredibly wide variety of food from all over the world. As we’re exposed to a greater variety of foods, the chance we’ll become sensitive to some of them increases.
- Greater exposure: So many new substances are now present in our environment. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, more than 80,000 chemicals currently in use in the United States have not been tested for their effect on human health.2
- Hygiene hypothesis: Our use of hand sanitizers and the like could be lowering our resistance, particularly for the young. A Bristol, England, study of 14,000 children showed correlation between frequency of hand-washing and likelihood for developing asthma.3 A decrease in childhood infection leads to increased prevalence of allergic disease. Now, no one’s suggesting that civilization return to the days when about half of all children died before the age of 5, but we have to acknowledge the effect that hyper-hygiene has had on allergies and sensitivities.
- Altered environments: The allergy increase is particularly noticeable in industrialized nations, especially cities. Tightly sealed, energy-efficient homes and offices often have less ventilation, with more dust and fumes from carpets, furniture, and cleaning products. The majority of trees and shrubs now sold and planted in the United States are male, because they’re less messy, but they’re actually more allergenic. In the United States, allergies are now the #6 cause of chronic illness.
Allergies and the immune response
An antigen is anything that induces an immune response, which means an antibody is made to do it. An allergen is an antigen that produces a vigorous immune response where the immune system fights off a perceived threat that would otherwise be harmless to the body. Common examples are dust, food, pollen, pet dander, or certain chemical substances in food or water.
After being activated by antigens, immune cells release signaling molecules that do things that are important to immune function. Unfortunately, they also cause local organ dysfunction and systemic symptoms.
Histamine is the signaling molecule most people have heard of. When histamine gets released in the blood stream, here’s what can happen:
- Headache
- Fast pulse, low blood pressure, irregular heart beat
- Itching or burning followed by flushing and an unpleasant heat
- Increased stomach acid release with crampy abdominal pain
- An asthma attack
- Anxiety and agitation with a diffuse, odd body sensation
Along with histamine, other signaling molecules such as cytokines cause a range of other, often severe, symptoms.
Reducing immune system allergies and sensitivities
Before looking at ways to support the immune system to reduce allergies, it’s important to understand the distinction between allergies and sensitivities. Scientists assert that the only true allergies are those that result from the activation of IgE antibodies.
However, millions of people experience symptoms of sensitivity to a food or other substance without the IgE antibody reaction, and often without any increase of antibodies of any type. These reactions may be referred to as reactivity, intolerance, hypersensitivity, or sensitivity. However, I find that “sensitivity” is the best term because it’s the most accurate.
Thousands of books have been written on how to go about improving or supporting the immune system. Although there are a variety of things you can do to support your immune system, the 6 tips below are some of the best for reducing allergies and sensitivities.
1. Clean up your personal environment
This is easier said than done and can be very expensive. Get an air filter. Filter your water. Leave your beds unmade so the sheets will dry. Dust mites die without that moisture.
2. Get adequate rest/sleep
I used to sleep great, not so great now that I’m over 60. I found that a sleep mask can make a big difference, as most people sleep better in a dark room.
3. Improve nutrition
Everyone seems to have different ideas on nutrition. I say stop eating industrial seed oils, sugar, and, for most people, modern grains. Skip a couple of meals once in a while. Fasting does great things for the body.
4. Reduce emotional stress
And because you’re always going to have some stress, learn how to handle it better.
5. Exercise more or less
For most people, this means start exercising. But there is such a thing as overdoing it.
6. Go through the SET-DB™ program
While the 5 tips above can help to reduce your allergies and sensitivities, from my experience, one of the best ways to eliminate sensitivities is through the Sensitivity Elimination by Dr. Boothe™ program. You can learn more about this program by following the link in my bio below.
About Dr. Teryl Boothe
Dr. Teryl Boothe developed Sensitivity Elimination Treatment by Dr. Boothe™ over 15 years in private practice. He found his greatest success treating fibromyalgia patients, achieving a 67% improvement in their overall symptom profile. He retired from private practice to write novels and screenplays (under the pen name “Everett Powers”) as well as consult with practitioners who wish to practice SET-DB™. To learn more, visit Dr. Boothe’s website at SET-DB.com.
Sources:
1. Bassett, Clifford W. The New Allergy Solution (New York, NY: Avery, 2017).
2. “Toxic Chemicals.” Natural Resources Defense Council. Nrdc.org.
3. “Too clean for our own good.” University of Bristol. Bristol.ac.uk.
