Posts Tagged ‘allergy’

Each Monday I answer a question posed by one of our readers. If you have an interesting question which you think will have broad appeal please send it to dailydose@righthealth.com. This week’s question comes from Monica M:

Q: Does eating honey help keep allergy symptoms at bay?

A: I picked this question because it’s allergy season again and people are always looking for that wonder cure for their symptoms. Unfortunately, new treatments for allergic rhinitis (aka seasonal allergies, hay fever) have been few and far between. The most common therapies include avoidance of the allergen, antihistamines, nasal decongestants, and nasal steroids. If your symptoms are severe enough, an allergist may try immunotherapy. A couple of things that have been popular in the US in recent years is the neti pot and local honey. A neti pot is a container designed to irrigate your nasal cavity. Some people who use it regularly say it works better than medications. Local honey treatment refers to the idea of consuming raw, unpasturized honey that is produced by bees which live in the immediate region you live. The idea is that you are consuming honey with small amounts of intact pollens and allergens from the plants which you are likely allergic to. In this way, by exposing yourself to small amounts of allergens your body will be less likely to mount a severe immune response over time. This works, in theory. But, studies are still lacking to say that it is a definite cure. As well, keep in mind that this may work for allergies to plants, but not to molds or animals for obvious reasons. If this is something you’d like to try, there are a few cautions which you should heed. Unpasturized honey can cause allergic reactions – especially because there can be a lot of potential allergens in it. Also, honey can contain bacteria which causes botulism, especially in children. Therefore, unpasturized and/or improperly prepared and stored honey should never be given to young children. And as always, it’s a good idea to first speak with your doctor before starting any new drugs or therapies.

Share your comments here.

Tweet This Share on Facebook

Physicians in the UK are reporting a noticeable increase in the number of people developing allergies to fruits and vegetables. Dr Pamela Ewan, an allergist in Cambridge, said the rise in cases appears to be outstripping even peanut allergies. Symptoms include itching and swelling in the mouth and throat, and breathing difficulties. There is also a rise in what is called “oral allergy syndrome“, a condition whereby people who are allergic to pollen become allergic to fruits. It is unclear why this increase is occurring, but it is likely that the condition is being diagnosed more now that physicians are aware that allergies to fruits and vegetables are more common than they think. Do you know anyone with a fruit or vegetable allergy?

Read more and share your opinion.

Tweet This Share on Facebook

Researchers from Cambridge University have successfully treated a small group of children with peanut allergy through a desensitization technique. The children were given daily doses of peanut flour with the dose increasing by a small amount twice a week. By the end they were able to eat 10 whole peanuts without having an allergic reaction. This research is important as there is currently no treatment for peanut allergy. Those with peanut allergy should not try to do this without medical supervision as there is a real risk that a person will react and need emergency treatment. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America estimates that peanut allergy is the most common cause of food-related death.

Read more and share your opinion.

Tweet This Share on Facebook

Milk allergy is the most common food allergy in children. And according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention food allergies in children have risen 18 percent in the last decade, with 3 million children in the United States having at least one food allergy. Having an allergy to milk can be difficult for children since milk products are extremely prevalent in the U.S. But scientists at Johns Hopkins and Duke universities are working on a solution. Their recent research suggest that daily exposure to milk powder can enhance the body’s tolerance to milk proteins. This technique, called oral immunotherapy, “gradually retrains the immune system to completely disregard or to better tolerate the allergens in milk that previously caused allergic reactions,” study senior investigator Dr. Robert Wood, director of Allergy and Immunology at Hopkins Children’s, said in a hospital news release. “Albeit preliminary and requiring further study, these results suggest that oral immunotherapy may be the closest thing yet to a true treatment for food allergy.”

Full story. Share your opinion.

Tweet This Share on Facebook