ALLERGY
Written by Slawomir (“Swavak”) Gromadzki, MPH
Allergy is associated with human immune system which becomes oversensitive and therefore has tendencies to overreact with inflammation and airway constriction to different environmental factors such as pollen, proteins in various foods, bacteria, viruses, moulds, etc.
Symptoms may include runny nose, sneezing, tiredness, itchy eyes, etc.
POSSIBLE CAUSES & TRIGGERS
Nutritional deficiencies (especially lack of antioxidants, vitamin D, C, selenium, zinc and magnesium), deficiency of probiotic bacteria in the gut, gluten sensitivity, consumption of cow’s milk and all dairy products (especially hard cheeses & pizza), diet high in refined sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, refined oils high in omega 6 pro-inflammatory fatty acids, leaky gut syndrome, dust mites, pollen, cigarette smoke, animal fur, bacterial infections (especially Chlamydia pneumonia), diet low in phytonutrients (many of which have anti-inflammatory effects), systemic inflammation, artificial sweeteners, frequent use of medication such as painkillers and antibiotics, stress, anxiety, depression, stimulants, Candida albicans overgrowth, sedentary lifestyle (lack of exercise), air pollution, preservatives, hypoxia (oxygen deficiency), free radicals, etc.
– Allergy may be a consequence of vitamin D deficiency and also lack of magnesium, zinc, and selenium as all these nutrients are required for the immune suppressor T-cells to function normally and prevent other immune cells from starting the inflammation and from releasing histamine (and triggering allergic symptoms).
At the heart of an allergy lies an excessive reaction to a ‘trigger’; something in the person’s environment elicits a strong response in their airways. This trigger causes the smooth muscle surrounding the myriad of delicate airways branching throughout the lungs to constrict. The result is a series of symptoms that people with hay fever know all too well: wheezing, shortness of breath and a tightening of their chest.
– Dust mites, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke irritates lungs causing inflammation in the airways. It is not known why inflammation occurs. The inflammation irritates the airways and causes them to squeeze (constrict). This causes narrowing of the airways. It is then more difficult for air to get in and out of the lungs. This leads to wheezing and breathlessness. The inflammation also causes the lining of the airways to make extra mucus (phlegm) which causes cough and further obstruction to airflow. One of the principal causes of hay fever is the house dust mite. Less than half a millimetre in size, these minute creatures share occupancy with humans in our soft furnishings (beds, carpets, furniture and so on), eating tiny particles of organic matter – such as our skin. While it’s been known for some time that the mites’ waste contains an allergy-causing protein, it’s only now that the researchers have discovered a way to block this protein’s action. By doing so, they hope to create an entirely new class of anti-allergic drug, targeting the root cause of allergy itself, rather than its symptoms.
– Cow’s milk (A1) may stimulate mucus production associated with respiratory conditions such as allergy. Most dangerous are pasteurised and heated dairy products.
– Egg yolk and egg white proteins may act not only as ingested allergens but also as aeroallergens.
– Formaldehyde may be an irritant as well as serve as an adjuvant for the onset of allergy or hay fever-like symptoms. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (NutraSweet) can be converted to formaldehyde in the human body.
– Attendance at chlorinated indoor pools has been associated with the risk of allergy in adult recreational swimmers.
– Evidence suggests elevated body mass index and dietary patterns, especially intake of dietary lipids (animal and plant fats), contribute to symptoms of allergy. Scientific research demonstrated that overweight and obesity is a risk factor for allergy as there is a link between inflammatory state and adiposity, allergy and allergy. Obesity has been associated with an increased prevalence of allergy and poorer control of this disease.
SIDE EFFECTS OF CONVENTIONAL TREATMENT
Non-steroidal bronchodilators may reduce symptoms but will double the risk of a heart attack and can increase risk of osteoporosis.
Steroids, even though they can help reduce the inflammation in the lungs, lead to serious side effects, including: Cardiovascular disease, impaired growth of the body and internal organs (including brain), infections, cataracts, cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, weight gain, high blood pressure, and other conditions, and even mood swings:
“I would have been willing to tolerate some of the side effects of glucocorticoid use (weight gain, reduced immunity, muscle weakness, weakened bones), but there was one side-effect I could not tolerate. Each time I tried inhaled steroids, I would start experiencing severe mood swings within a few days. One time I even felt suicidal — the first time I had ever experienced that feeling in my life. Glucocorticoids lower both plasma and brain serotonin levels, and are linked to depression and feelings of aggression. My violent mood swings stopped as soon as I stopped using them.”
Also Allergen-specific immunotherapy has long been a controversial treatment for allergy. Although beneficial effects upon clinically relevant outcomes have been demonstrated in randomised controlled trials, there remains a risk of severe and sometimes fatal anaphylaxis. The recommendations of professional bodies have ranged from cautious acceptance to outright dismissal.
TREATMENT
Try to live according to the principles found in the Health Recovery Plan >
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS & HERBS
– Take supplemental Quercetin as it helps ease allergies by lowering histamine. According to a 2000 report from Alternative Medicine Review, quercetin can slow up the release of histamines (a chemical released by the immune system during exposure to allergens causing allergy symptoms including itching, sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes). Also, an animal-based study published in 2007 indicates that quercetin can lower histamine and inflammation in allergies. A study with guinea pigs demonstrated that quercetin was able to reduce airway hypersensitivity and relax the bronchial airways (>). Quercetin exhibits the same anti-allergic potential as the Chinese Food Allergy Herbal Formula, which has been shown to block peanut anaphylaxis in mouse models (>). Quercetin and its derivatives have phosphodiesterase inhibitory activity equal to or superior to the drug AWD12-281 >
– Allergy has been linked to Chronic Bacteria Infections. Antimicrobial therapy (antibiotics) appeared to cure or significantly improve allergy in approximately one-half of treated adults, and the response pattern was consistent with chlamydial pathogenesis. Before using synthetic antibiotics, try natural ones such as garlic, black seed oil, neem oil, etc. Remember to take good quality probiotics such as UltraProbio or DailyProbio for at least three months after each antibiotic treatment.
– Black seed (Nigella sativa) oil contains nigellone, shown by research to be an impressive antihistamine agent, which can be very beneficial in helping reduce symptoms of allergies and hay fever. In a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology, black seed oil was found to reduce allergic symptoms including nasal congestion, itching, runny nose, and sneezing after two weeks. Apart from being beneficial for relieving allergies, black seed oil has been traditionally used for centuries for easing respiratory problems including asthma. Nigella sativa helps asthmatic in many different ways, it lowers histamine levels (>), kills bacteria that often trigger or contribute to asthma, has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties (>), and dilates contracted bronchial tubes improving breathing during asthma attack.
– Raw garlic has been found to help people with allergy! Because of the unpleasant smell of the raw garlic take a good garlic supplement (such as Allicin Max) standardised for the presence of allicin (1 capsule 2-3 times a day with meals).
– Bromelain (an enzyme extracted from pineapple) – has an anti-inflammatory effect that may last for a few hours. People suffering from allergy found that putting one tablet (250-500mg) under tongue (to more quickly absorb the enzyme into the bloodstream) would make them breathe easier within 30 minutes.
– Starflower oil or Evening primrose oil (both high in Gamma-linolenic acid) which have a positive anti-inflammatory effect is a known traditional treatment for allergy in some cultures. To experience a beneficial effect a dose of at least 1000mg a day is recommended. According to some research, Gamma-linolenic acid-containing borage oil may have therapeutic effects in the treatment of allergy.
– Vitamin D3: 5000 IU a day with breakfast (must be taken with 200 mg of good quality magnesium twice daily as vitamin D leads to magnesium deficiency and requires magnesium for its conversion). There’s a very strong connection between vitamin D levels and allergy, as vitamin D can be a very powerful immune modulator. A team at King’s College London stated that low levels of vitamin D were linked to a worsening of symptoms of allergy. Its latest research shows the vitamin calms an over-active part of the immune system in allergy.
– Magnesium: 200mg twice daily. Magnesium significantly improves severe acute allergy in children. Magnesium is also absolutely crucial for the final conversion of Vitamin D3 to D4 in kidneys. In people who are deficient in magnesium (most of us are) Vitamin D3 can’t become active and is not able to regulate immunity.
– Omega 3 fish oil (must be of good quality) or cold-pressed Flaxseed oil (highest plant source of Omega-3): 1000 mg twice daily with meals. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of getting sufficient amounts of high-quality omega 3 fats in your diet. You need both animal and plant-based omega 3, as most of us do not produce a special enzyme necessary to rapidly convert the ALA (plant omega 3) to the DHA and EPA (animal source), which are potent anti-inflammatory agents. According to one study, Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and zinc significantly improved persistent bronchial allergy. Fish oil compared favourably to montelukast (Singular) in reducing the severity of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. While fish oil and montelukast are both effective in attenuating airway inflammation and HIB, combining fish oil with montelukast did not confer a greater protective effect than either intervention alone.
– Good quality Probiotics such as UltraProbio or DailyProbio. Results of one study suggested that Lactobacillus reuteri had an immuno-regulatory action in attenuating response in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation.
– Zinc: 15-30 mg after breakfast. Zinc is used in our body to produce stomach acid. Low stomach acid, therefore, can be a sign of zinc deficiency. That is why when the amount of zinc in our body is insufficient then the protein from food cannot be properly digested in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, these undigested and too large protein molecules enter the bloodstream where they are recognized by the immune system as potentially dangerous foreign bodies, thus inducing immune reaction and histamine secretion which, in turn, creates allergy symptoms.
– Selenium: 100-200 mcg with a meal. Like Vitamin D3 and Zinc, Selenium is required for the immune suppressor T-cells to function normally and prevent other immune cells from starting the inflammation and from releasing histamine (and triggering allergic symptoms). Selenium deficiency may be important in chronic allergy. Observational studies have demonstrated
– Vitamin C: 500-1500 mg 2-3 times daily with meals. Plasma phospholipase A2, an enzyme associated with inflammation, is higher in patients with allergy and higher body mass index and inversely related to plasma vitamin C levels (vitamin C is low in allergy patients). Secretory phospholipases A2 (sPLA2) have functions relevant to allergic inflammation, including eicosanoid synthesis and effects on dendritic cells and T cells. Plasma sPLA2 may provide a biological link between allergy, inflammation, increased BMI, lipid metabolism and antioxidants. Interactions among these factors may be pertinent to the pathophysiology and increasing prevalence of both allergy and obesity.
– Pycnogenol (Pine bark extract) administration is effective for better control of signs and symptoms of allergic allergy and reduced the need for medication.
– Vitamin B3 and Vitamin B12 have been found to be low in allergy patients. Both vitamins are important as they lower antihistamine levels and reduce wheezing.
– Vitamin B6 – 100-200mg a day with breakfast. Vitamin B-6 has shown to significantly improve symptoms of bronchial allergy and reduced the need for bronchodilators and cortisone.
that patients with chronic allergy may have lower levels of selenium than their control. Nevertheless, selenium supplementation has not been recommended with drug therapy for allergy.
– Chlorella has been reported by some users to be beneficial in reducing allergy symptoms. Chlorella can be effective in reducing allergy attacks: “16 years of severe allergy suffering & the side effects of the prescribed drugs, have hopefully have come to an end. The only difference that I have made is by taking 20 tablets a day of Chlorella. Steroids, steroids, steroids, seemed to be the only answer to my allergy problem. Many trips to the hospital via ambulance, many days in intensive care. You name it, I tried, No dairy, no wheat, ephedrine, Butekyo, swimming, different teas etc. etc. I then had a talk to a lady whom was married to a doctor but herself more involved with natural medicines. She had been poisoned with mercury during a dentist visit. After many years of severe problems associated with mercury poisoning, she had great success in relieving her symptoms after trying Chlorella. It was her praise for the “superfood” that had sparked word of mouth reviews. Many people had returned a favourable result from many different problems, with allergy being one of them. I was willing to give it a try and I am so grateful. I don’t know what else I could possibly put it down to as it’s the only thing that I am doing differently.”
– L-arginine may have a beneficial effect on airway hyper-responsiveness and airway inflammation in allergy.
– Boswellia‘s immunomodulatory properties may make it ideal for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
– Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) can reduce serum markers of airway inflammation.
– Petasites hybridus extract Petadolex is an effective and safe therapy for the treatment of allergy.
– Increased consumption of genistein (organic soy products or soy isoflavones) is associated with better lung function in patients with allergy.
– A combination of Astaxanthin, Ginkgo biloba and Vitamin C is equal to or better than ibuprofen for reducing allergy-associated respiratory inflammation.
– Also, Turmeric, Coltsfoot (folium farfarae) and Pau d’Arco are often mentioned as helpful in reducing symptoms of allergy.
DIETARY & LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS
– Every day eat yellow and red onion as it is high in quercetin polyphenols which reduce allergy better than drugs. Yellow onions and most red onions have some quercetin in it. Sweet white onion may not have enough. You can also chop raw onion and soak in alcohol to make an extract high in quercetin. Then shake and take a teaspoon with a glass of water when needed, for example before bedtime to improve breathing at night.
– Eat more unprocessed, uncooked, and unrefined plant foods, especially raw vegetables (carrot, green leafy, etc.)
– Avoid trans-fats (margarines, etc.) and pro-inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids (most plant oils).
– Use only raw organic coconut oil and cold-pressed flax oil & virgin olive oil.
– Do not consume even smallest amount of dairy (especially hard cheeses and pizza), meat (especially pork), gluten, foods and drinks with sugar, white flour products, hot spices, stimulants, chocolate, cola, fried foods, processed foods.
– Instead of gluten-containing grains try other grains such as quinoa, millet, brown rice and buckwheat.
– According to one study, breathing exercises have a therapeutic role in the treatment of allergy.
– Exercise every day breathing through the nose (especially out in fresh air if you have an allergy) is actually crucial as it increases insulin receptor sensitivity, and as a result, your body produces less insulin, which helps to reduce inflammations and symptoms of allergy.
– Think positive, learn to control stress & anxiety. Children with allergy receive benefit from art therapy that includes decreased anxiety and increased quality of life.
– Expose your body to the sun whenever it is possible.
– Avoid taking antibiotics for a longer period of time and if you use them always take high doses of a good probiotic formula.
– Drink more water, avoid all caffeine, and include some sea salt in your diet has worked for some people. All caffeinated beverages — even green tea — are dehydrating (chronic dehydration is linked to bronchoconstriction).
– If you believe in the existence of God don’t forget about prayer and reading good spiritual literature. All this will greatly increase the effectiveness of your improved diet and lifestyle: “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.” (1Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV); “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).
Because from my own experience I know and remember how difficult it was, in my case, to change my eating habits and give up on junk food and stimulants using my own pathetic at that time will power, I recommend to you reading or listening to two excellent books: “Steps to Christ” and “Ministry of Healing” by Ellen White. You can find them online (free of charge) in Word, PDF and audio formats. >
If you carefully study all the information presented there and follow the steps, you will not only become victorious but will actually experience an inward transformation which will enable you to enjoy your new lifestyle (including diet and physical activity).
– Desire of Ages – most beautiful book about the life of Jesus (audio) >
– Steps to Christ (PDF) by Ellen G White >
SOURCES
– 253 Abstracts with Allergies Research > https://www.greenmedinfo.com/disease/allergies
RELATED ARTICLES
– How Fruits and Vegetables Can Treat allergy,
Any information or product suggested on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Consult your primary healthcare physician before using any supplements or making any changes to your regime.
ALLERGY
Translated by google translator article by Slawomir Gromadzki
Allergy can be defined as an abnormal congenital or acquired immune system response to certain chemicals. Normally the immune system does not react to these factors in such a hypersensitive manner. However, in the organism of a person experiencing allergy the immune system mistakenly recognises these chemicals as something that may pose a threat to the body and begins to attack them (producing antibodies to combat it). In this way the immune system exerts a destructive effect on the body and causes various unpleasant symptoms, such as: widening of blood vessels (caused by the release of histamine), runny nose, headache, hay fever, itching, cough, rash, general weakness, breathing problems, swelling, etc.
Among the most common allergens (factors causing an allergic reaction) are the following: dairy products (especially cow’s milk, cheese and eggs), chocolate, shellfish and fish, certain drugs, pollen, moulds, pat’s fur or hair, dust, sulfites (wine, etc.), metals, preservatives and food additives, nuts, gluten, soy, etc.
Another common cause of allergic symptoms are sulphites used to preserve food.
Allergy is often induced by consuming fish which have neither fins nor scales. In the Bible, this kind of fish is called “unclean” and its consumption is forbidden (Leviticus 11).
Frequent use of aspirin results in accumulating even greater amount of allergens in the body.
It is believed that allergic reaction to certain foods, chemicals and metals may be related to inflammation and swelling of the brain in Alzheimer’s disease. Such swelling of the nerve endings can cause brain dysfunctions, odd behaviour or hallucinations. This idea can be proved by the fact that certain drugs used against allergy also help to reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
It is a well-known fact that zinc deficiency is often regarded as the worst nutritional deficiency problem, and there is no doubt this problem should be also regarded as one of the most important factors leading to allergy. Zinc deficiency is usually caused by insufficient consumption of unrefined and rich in this mineral food such as seeds, nuts, whole grains, wholemeal bread, legumes, millet, garlic or mushrooms. The deficiency is also exacerbated by certain drugs and eating too much of refined foods (all white flower products including white bread, refined sugar, sweets, pizza, spaghetti, etc.) which contain very little or no zinc. Apart from that, frequent sex and masturbation seem to deplete huge amounts of this very important mineral from the body.
The problem is that when the amount of zinc in the body is insufficient then the protein from food can not be properly digested in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, these undigested and too large protein molecules enter the bloodstream where they are recognized by the immune system as a potentially dangerous foreign bodies, thus inducing immune reaction and histamine secretion which, in turn, creates allergy symptoms.
Allergy can also occur as a result of excessive amounts of Candida albicans (yeast) in the body. This should be considered as a possible cause of allergy especially when someone is not allergic to one, but many allergens. In this case, there is a high probability that the main cause of allergy is Candida albicans (see candidosis – yeast infection). The combination of food allergies and excessive amounts of Candida albicans (yeast) in the body may greatly contribute to the development of athlete’s foot and other types of mycosis (nail, skin, etc).
There is no doubt that allergy is mainly the result of the failure and oversensitivity of the human immune system. Thus, it must be remembered that the condition and efficiency of this system largely depends on the amount of oxygen inhaled and delivered to cells (including white blood cells which constitute our immune system). Therefore, one of the reasons why allergy is such a common problem today is the fact that most people live a very sedentary lifestyle and often stay in overheated rooms deprived of fresh air. This, in turn, leads to hypoxia of the body (oxygen deficiency) resulting in white blood cells dysfunction.
A similar problem can be caused also by the consumption of heated foods rich in animal protein (boiled milk, boiled or fried eggs, meat, etc.), as it leads to a phenomenon called “leukocytosis” (raised white blood cell count). Every time this kind of food is consumed, the whole immune system is alarmed and activated, resulting in an increased number of leukocytes in the blood. Unfortunately, as a result, the immune system becomes overloaded and weak, which may lead to dangerous dysfunctions and abnormalities such as acute leukaemia (rapid increase in the numbers of immature blood cells) or allergy (white blood cell hypersensitivity).
In case of individuals whose immune system very quickly or immediately triggers an allergic reaction, to be able to find out which food causes the symptoms the person needs to relax and rest for a while until the pulse reaches the normal level (50 to 70 beats per minute). In order to ran the test correctly, the pulse must be measured before the consumption of the product and also about 20 minutes after. If 20 minutes later pulse rate is increased by more than 10 strokes it may mean that the food contains an allergen.
However, most people begin experiencing allergic symptoms after a long time, which makes it difficult to determine what is the cause of their allergy. The food which is most often responsible for such delayed reaction is dairy (especially milk containing products). According to Dr. Agatha Trash, milk may cause any of the possible allergic symptoms, including inflammation of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. She also explains that allergy to cow’s milk is a type of late reaction, which makes patients unable to relate the symptoms to their milk consumption. Apart from that, allergy is often the result of absorbing not only present in the milk protein (casein, lactoglobulin, etc.) or sugar (lactose), but also antibiotics. Therefore, eliminating all the products which may contain milk is often the only way of effective treatment. However, it should be remembered that often the positive results of this milk and dairy-free diet can’t be seen immediately, but may occur even after several months (“Food Allergy”, p. 19-21).
Allergist – Dr. Frederic Speer, says that milk is almost always the main cause of the middle ear infection (Otitis media). Also symptoms such as bedwetting, asthma, headache, diarrhoea, bad odour from the mouth, tension, fatigue, and excessive sweating can be a caused by hypersensitivity to allergens found in milk and its products.
Milk allergies can also lead to confusion, poor brain function in children and much physical suffering. Babies suffer the most since cow’s milk is often their only food. Children may experience pain, loss of appetite, itching or burning of the mouth with ulcerations, all due to cow’s milk (A. Trash, Food Allergy, p. 19-21).
Swelling of the lips, and tongue, constipation, asthma, chronic coughing, bronchitis, rhinitis, urinary bleeding, and recurrent pneumonia can be caused by milk allergies.
Ulcerative colitis has been shown to have acute exacerbations with the use of milk. According to Dr. Julie Klotter “cow’s milk, especially processed one, has been linked to a variety of health problems, including: mucous production, haemoglobin loss, childhood diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis, arthritis, kidney stones, mood swings, depression, irritability, and allergies” (Townsend Medical Letter, May, 1995).
It is worth remembering that the people who are allergic to cow’s milk, may also be allergic to goat’s milk.
Allergic symptoms often get worse after consuming eggs, cheese, yogurt, shellfish, fish, chocolate, cola drinks, and alcohol (especially wine and beer). All these products not only induce the release of histamine in the body but also contain relatively large amounts of this hormone (especially cheese and alcohol such as red wine). Our body has its own histamine tolerance level. Therefore, as soon as this level is too high, the excessive amounts of histamine in the body leads to allergic symptoms.
Histamine is produced when food is fermented. Thus, all fermented foods such as cheese, alcoholic drinks, or vinegar, contain histamine, whereas some other popular foods often cause histamine to be released. Therefore, avoiding these histamine laden foods is necessary in order to reduce allergic symptoms.
Chocolate should be regarded as the product which contributes to allergy, all the more since it contains milk, and apart from that, it weakens the immune system. In susceptible people chocolate allergies may lead to asthma symptoms, especially when someone is allergic to more than one ingredient present in the chocolate. Some of this common ingredients include: milk, cocoa, caffeine, gluten, theobromine, phenyl-ethylamine, and dyes.
Allergy symptoms induced by chocolate may include: anxiety, irritability, confusion, headache, eczema, itching, hives, nausea, runny nose, coughing, heartburn, difficulty breathing, and anaphylaxis or shock.
A diagnosis can be done through a proper blood or skin tests which should detect antibodies presence in the blood.
Treatments that can help to reduce the symptoms include antihistamines, corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and epinephrine. Avoidance is again necessary to prevent the same problem in the future.
Allergies can certainly be related to psychological factors. It is often associated with the inability to control stress. Oversensitive defence system, which triggers the allergic reaction and symptoms, is undoubtedly related to excessive stress, nervousness, depression, fear, or pessimism. Therefore, the basis for the effective treatment in case of allergies is finding the way to calm the nervous system, because this, in turn, will positively effect the oversensitive immune system. It is extremely important since both systems are mutually related.
For this reason, it is very important to control stress through regular physical activity, proper unrefined diet, positive thinking, laughter, joy, adequate rest, going to sleep as early as possible, frequent prayers, and regular study of the Word of God. All this will calm down the nervous system, which in turn will positively influence the white blood cells. As a result the immune system will stop responding to allergens in the wrong way.
As far as the diet is concerned, the main rule to many people is quite painful, since in case of allergy the most important is to avoid the following products: beer and wine, cheese, pizza, chocolate, and milk products. As a matter of fact, for the best results, it is even recommended to avoid eating all animal foods, including meat products and dairy products for at least several months. Instead of cow’s milk, soy milk, or rice milk can be used. Other foods which are recommended are: Millet, brown rice, fruits and vegetables, carrots, dried and fresh apricots, garlic, onions and onion greens, soy yogurt, Tofu, soy ice creams, and other soy products and dairy and meat supplements.
In addition, you should also be used (according to the instructions on the leaflets), the following measures, which perfectly support the treatment of allergies, exerting a beneficial effect on the immune system: Pau d’Arco, Cat’s Claw, Omega 3, Borage oil, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Zinc – 50 to 100 mg daily (after meals).
HERBS: Chamomile, Hops, Lemon Balm (folium Melissae), Valerian root, Horsetail herb, Birch leaf, Dandelion root, Elder flowers, Eyebright, Euphorbia, Yarrow, Comfrey leaf, Nettle leaf, Plantain.
You can use these herbs separately or try to collect as many of them as possible, and 50 grams of each herb mix together thoroughly. Store it in a closed container. Three tablespoons of this mixture add to 1 litre of boiling water in a thermos flask. Drink 1 glass of this tea three times a day between meals for 3 month. After a month break the treatments can be repeated.
Another good herbal remedy is called “Allergy Support”. It relieves the symptoms of all types of allergies, including hay fever and allergic asthma, by strengthening the body’s resistance and immune system. Ingredients: Angelica, Tribulus terrestris, Pomegranate, Smaller cardamom, Long pepper, Tribulus terrestris (Small caltrops), Saffron, and Himalayan mirabilis.
Clay stops allergies and Hay Fever
Testimony: “Hello, Using healing gray and greenish clay named “Chuma” I was cured from a horrible food and pollen allergy. For me and my family the effects of the internal use of the clay is simply amazing. Once I suggested my frend whose son was suffering from allergy to try this clay as he tried to get rid of the problems for a long time with no success. After using clay his allergy is gone too. Regards, Mariola Antczak ( [email protected] )
The following is an excerpt from Ran Knishinsky’s book, The Clay Cure:
“Allergies and hay fever are caused by the release of histamines. The liver becomes plugged up with toxins and fatty tissue and therefore cannot produce the necessary antihistamines to neutralize the allergic reactions. The first thing to do is clean and rebuild the liver. Once that is done, the allergies and hay fever may disappear.
The good news about clay is that not only will it help stimulate the eliminatory channels, but it can effectively treat allergies and hay fever. Adsorption is a relatively quick process–almost instantaneous in certain cases. The adsorptive surfaces of the clay prevent the allergic reaction by quickly neutralizing allergens before these foreign invaders can attach themselves to the blood cells. In addition, any histamines produced by the allergens that have “gotten away” can also be quickly adsorbed. Water-soluble allergens are bound up by clay because if its intense hydrophilic (water-loving) nature.
Some people, after taking the clay, notice an immediate improvement in their condition. Sometimes the allergies and hay fever disappear altogether. Others see no sudden improvement and must keep taking the clay quite a while before they obtain visible results. The reaction, of course, depends on the state of the liver and the condition of the immune system. A healthier liver will bounce back more quickly than one that is sick.
If you do not achieve results relatively quickly, then give the clay time to work. One heaping teaspoon once per day in a glass of freshly squeezed lemon water will be sufficient. In the meantime, take advantage of homeopathic detoxification remedies and herbal formulas to stimulate cleansing”.
Here is also what Dr. Bernard Jensen wrote about bentonite clay in his book “Guide to Diet and Detoxification”:
“When used with the elimination diet, these products assist in producing the most thorough elimination possible.” He goes on to suggest that they are helpful because they do not further bulk the impactions often found in the bowel.
The notion of eating clay to produce internal healing will no doubt strike many as farfetched if not a little primitive. But natural clay, especially the form known as bentonite, has not only been used medicinally for centuries by indigenous peoples around the world, but has, in recent years, been increasingly prescribed by practitioners of alternative medicine as a simple but effective internal cleanser to assist in reversing numerous health problems.
Clay is a great healer, according to clay expert Ran Knishinsky in The Clay Cure (Healing Arts Press, 1998), who quips “I have been eating dirt every day for the past six years.” Indeed, in over 200 cultures worldwide, every day people eat or drink clay—the medicinal form of “dirt”—as both a nutritional supplement and detoxifying agent, observes Knishinsky.
It is not ordinary “dirt” of course. The name bentonite refers to a clay first identified (or named) in cretaceous rocks in Fort Benton, Wyoming. Although bentonite deposits occur worldwide, many of the largest concentrations are found in the Great Plains area of North America.
Bentonite is not a mineral but a commercial name for montmorillonite, the active mineral in many medicinal clays and which comes from weathered volcanic ash. This name derives from Montmorillon, France, where the medicinal mineral was first identified. Sometimes mineralogists use the term smectite instead to describe the same substance.
A VOLCANIC DETOXIFIER—Bentonite, a medicinal powdered clay which is also known as montmorillonite, derives from deposits of weathered volcanic ash. It is one of the most effective natural intestinal detoxifying agents available and has been recognized as such for centuries by native peoples around the world. Whatever the name, liquid clay contains minerals that, once inside the gastrointestinal tract, are able to absorb toxins and deliver mineral nutrients to an impressive degree, says Knishinsky. Liquid clay is inert which means it passes through the body undigested.
Technically, the clay first adsorbs toxins (heavy metals, free radicals, pesticides), attracting them to its extensive surface area where they adhere like flies to sticky paper; then it absorbs the toxins, taking them in the way a sponge mops up a kitchen counter mess.
There is an electrical aspect to bentonite’s ability to bind and absorb toxins. According to Yerba Prima, a company based in Ashland, Oregon, which markets Great Plains® Bentonite, the clay’s minerals are negatively charged while toxins tend to be positively charged; hence the clay’s attraction works like a magnet drawing metal shavings. But it’s even more involved than that.
Once hydrated (combined with water), bentonite has an enormous surface area. According to Yerba Prima, a single quart bottle can represent a total surface area of 960 square yards or 12 American football fields. Bentonite is made of a great number of tiny platelets, with negative electrical charges on their flat surfaces and positive charges on their edges.
When bentonite absorbs water and swells, it is stretched open like a highly porous sponge; the toxins are drawn into these spaces by electrical attraction and bound fast. In fact, according to the Canadian Journal of Microbiology (31 [1985], 50-53), bentonite can absorb pathogenic viruses, aflatoxin (a mold), and pesticides and herbicides including Paraquat and Roundup. The clay is eventually eliminated from the body with the toxins bound to its multiple surfaces.
According to Sonne’s Organic Foods of North Kansas City, Missouri, a company that markets Detoxificant (a liquid montmorillonite), “There is no evidence that bentonite has any chemical action in the body. Its power is purely physical.”
Clay’s adsorptive and absorptive qualities may be the key to its multifaceted healing abilities. Knishinsky reports that drinking clay helped him eliminate painful ganglion cysts (tumors attached to joints and tendons, in his case, in his wrist) in two months, without surgery.
According to Knishinsky, benefits reported by people using liquid clay for a period of two to four weeks include: improved intestinal regularity; relief from chronic constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, and ulcers; a surge in physical energy; clearer complexion; brighter, whiter eyes; enhanced alertness; emotional uplift; improved tissue and gum repair; and increased resistance to infections. “Clay works on the entire organism. No part of the body is left untouched by its healing energies,” he notes.
A medical study by Frederic Damrau, M.D., in 1961 (Medical Annals of the District of Columbia) established clearly that bentonite can end bouts of diarrhea. When 35 individuals (average age 51) suffering from diarrhea took two tablespoons of bentonite in distilled water daily, the diarrhea was relieved in 97% (34 of the 35 patients) in 3.8 days, regardless of the original cause of the problem (allergies, virus infection, spastic colitis, or food poisoning). According to Dr. Damrau, bentonite is “safe and highly effective” in treating acute diarrhea.
Knishinsky’s research suggests that the regular intake of liquid clay (typically one to three tablespoons daily, in divided doses) can produce other benefits including parasite removal from the intestines, allergy and hay fever relief, and elimination of anemia and acne. For example, clay helps anemia because it contains both types of dietary iron (ferrous and ferric) in an easily assimilated form; it reduces discomfort from allergies by quickly neutralizing allergens that would otherwise produce allergic reactions; and it reduces heartburn and indigestion by absorbing excess stomach acids.
However, clay’s forte is probably its role as a general internal detoxification and cleansing agent. According to Keith Payne of White Rock Mineral Corporation in Springville, Utah, clay scrapes and cleans the lining of the colon. “As the colon becomes cleaner, its ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients increases, making the minerals even more bioavailable, thus giving more energy.”
White Rock’s clay, called Bentonite Minerals™, contains 71 trace and ultra-trace minerals, including many that are probably unknown to most consumers, such as ruthenium, tellurium, and thulium. Trace minerals enable the body to absorb nutrients—“they are the bonding agents in and between you and food,” explains Payne.
Bentonite Minerals are derived from an ancient seabed formation in Utah; according to geologists, the clay formed when a layer of volcanic ash fell into what was, long ago, a shallow inland sea. “As the ash filtered through the seawater, it collected pure minerals, forming a layer of highly mineralized clay,” says Payne.
The best way to drink clay is on an empty stomach, or at least an hour before or after a meal or immediately before sleeping at night, says Knishinsky. Typically, clay is available as a thick tasteless, pale-grey gel, but it also comes as a powder or encapsulated.
Generally, it is advisable to start with one tablespoon daily, mixed with a small amount of juice; observe the results for a week, then gradually increase the dosage to no more than four tablespoons daily, in divided doses. Drinking clay can be an annual spring cleaning of your gastrointestinal tract or it can be a symptom-focused, self-care method.
Calcium Montmorillonite (Edible) Clay Is Effective Against Allergies and Hay Fever
Calcium Montmorillonite Clay also known as edible clay or living clay is principally composed of minerals that enhances enzyme production in living organisms.
Edible clay is known to adsorb the toxins such as heavy metals, pesticides and free radicals technically, attracting the same to the extensive surface finally where they can adhere for long and then absorb all the toxins, thereby removing them from the body. The absorptive and adsorptive properties of edible clay are the key to the multifaceted healing capabilities of this miraculous clay.
Did you ever think that something like clay could do such wonders for our body? Well, it’s fortunately true; clay does help our system in many ways. It can help us in improving our health conditions, it can cure many chronic ailments like diarrhea, constipation, anemia, skin problems like acne and eczema and chronic infections. It can as well cure heavy-metal poisoning, arthritis, allergies, stress and hay fever, and of course all of it can be done naturally.
Allergies are the most common complications that we experience. It affects almost 20% of America’s populace. Allergic conditions are equally common in men, women and children. Hay fever happens to be the most prevalent type of allergy that is characterized by inflammation of our nasal passage and is principally caused by certain irritants.
Several studies have been conducted for identifying the cause of allergies, but no proper cause could be identified. Some studies have established a link between allergies and diabetes and it is presumed that both of these conditions are caused due to immunization. Recent studies however have revealed that allergies are less common in the poor and in people who have grown up in joint families or in unsanitary conditions. Why? The study explains that it is due to the immune system and its busy functions.
Allergies are often treated with strong drugs having side effects that do not help in curing the disease completely. For better results, Calcium Montmorillonite Clay can be used for treating allergies and hay fever. Edible clay or Calcium Montmorillonite Clay contains approximately 67 vital minerals that includes sufficient amount of iron, boron, manganese, potassium, magnesium, silica and calcium. With such rich essential nutrients contained in it, edible clay is considered to be one of the best alternative treatments for allergies and it helps in strengthening our immune system while preventing various allergies and illnesses from affecting us.
Most of the allergic reactions or allergies are caused due to the improper discharge of histamine in our bloodstream. Calcium Montmorillonite Clay helps in absorbing as well as neutralizing histamine, thereby preventing the development of allergies and allergic reactions. Additionally, edible clay also has exceptional detoxifying properties that can help the body in getting rid of toxins, bacteria and irritants. It is effective and works really fast by attracting as well as absorbing the toxins and eventually removing them from our body before they cause any further internal damage.
By absorbing as well as neutralizing histamine and then keeping the immune system in the best condition, it actually helps in avoiding allergies and hay fever.
FRENCH GREEN CLAY MONTMORILLONITE SUPERFINE – ORIGINAL. CAN HELP REMOVE TOXIC SUBSTANCES, FIGHT INFECTION, IMPROVE IMMUNITY, PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MINERALS, CLEANSE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM, RAISE ENERGY.
Green clays consist of curative volcanic ashes which are found near ancient volcanoes, 20-50 meters below the ground surface. It contains only natural material treated mechanically, without any chemical additives. They are rich in magnesium and trace elements, as well as organic plant matter which alongside iron oxide determines its soft green colour (illite has a lighter hue of green than montmorillonite). They detoxify, restore mineral balance and act as an absorbents. There are two types of Green clay used in natural medicine – Montmorillonite and Illite. Montmorillonite is part of the smectite group of clays and is named after a French region Montmorillon where it was first discovered, and Illite, named after the state Illinois, USA, where it was first found in 1937. Both clays take equally important places in the restoration and maintenance of health. However, as mentioned earlier, there are certain differences.
French Green Montomorillonite & French Green Illite – Two Different Clays
Following information has been offered to me by the manufacturer.
Illite is found in certain regions in the North of France and in the Atlantic basin. Montmorillonite is found mainly in the South of France.
Illite is is a non-swelling highly absorbent clay (30% – it absorbs 30% of water), and has a relatively low remineralisation power (12%). It is used in cases where detoxification and decongestion is important. Illite contains less magnesium than Montmorillonite. The active minerals in illite include calcium, silicium, several important mineral oxides, magnesium, potassium, dolomite, silicium, manganese, phosporous, copper, and selenium, as well a relatively small percentage of montmorillonite.
Montmorillonite of the South of France enjoys the sun 260 days per year. It lies in the Mediterranean basin and is rich in magnesium. Its sorptive properties are less than those of the Illite (it absorbs 20% of water), but its remineralisation properties are very high – 70%.
Cationic (ionic) exchange rate, alongside their sorptive properties, is one of the most important factors of clays. In fact, each type of clay exchanges mineral elements with the environment they are in and has a certian coefficient of absorption which varies from one clay to another. Montmorillonite has 60-70 Meq/g catioinic exchange rate, while Ilite has around 12 Meq/g, . This fundamental property is used in natural treatments to neutralise toxins, poisons, as well as to bring to the body the minerlas it needs to stay healthy. Magnesium plays a particularly important role in health maintenance taking part in about 350 reactions in the body, and is part of the ATP (the energy molecule). Without sufficient magnesium we develop all sorts of problems. Green mopntmorillonite clay is high in magnesium.
CATION/ ION EXCHANGE RATES FOR ALL THE FRENCH CLAYS sold by Natural Russia:
Green montmorillonite: +/- 70 meq / 100g Green Illite: +/- 12,5 meq/ 100g Red Illite: +/- 32 meq/ 100g Yellow illite: +/- 32 meq/ 100g Kaolin: +/- 72 meq/ 100g Pink clay: +/- 26 meq/ 100g
Both Illte and Montmorillonite clays absorb water. However, the Montmorillonite clay is called ‘the swelling’ type, while illite clays are called ‘non-swelling’. I have been wondering – why? They both absorb water, so both should be referred to as ‘swelling’ clays. I have asked the manufacturer to explain the difference. The reply I received was something I could not find anywhere. Apparently, the illite clays have a highly poprous crystal structure, so the water gets inside the crystals, which makes the clays so absorbent. With montmorillonites, on the other hand, the water gets between the flat layers in the clay particles, which causes the layers to move apart, causing the ‘swelling’ effect. Both the Green Montmorillonite and the Green Illite can absorb a large amount of water. For the other Illite clays and the Kaolinite the absorption rate is lower.
Green Montmorillonite Clay – Therapeutic Properties, Uses & Applications
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES
French Green Montmorillonite is a swelling clay, since montmorillonite is a swelling mineral. This means that its crystalline structure can shift outwards when hydrated with water, increasing its active surface. Recent research indicates that French Green clay has the ability to bind mycotoxins in the digestive system of animals as well as several bacteria in-vitro. “In experiments, the clay killed up to 99 per cent of superbug colonies within 24 hours. Control samples of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) grew 45-fold in the same period. The clay has a similar effect on other deadly bacteria tested, including salmonella, E. coli, and a flesh-eating disease called buruli, a relative of leprosy which disfigures children across central and western Africa. It has been classed as “an emerging public health threat” by the World Health Organization (WHO).” The effectiveness of the French green clays, which are mostly made of minerals called smectite and illite, was first demonstrated by Line Brunet de Courssou, a French doctor fighting buruli at clinics in Ivory Coast and Guinea.” The Independent, 28 October 2007.
A German scientist once described the bactericidal properties of clay: “The curative properties of clay are founded in its special physical characteristics, above all in the distribution of its minute particles. Individual clay particles are smaller than many bacteria. If infected mucous membranes are more or less flooded with clay, the bacteria are completely surrounded by clay particles and are thus separated from their source of nourishment and become imbedded in the inorganic material. Growth and the survivability of the bacteria are thus halted almost instantaneously, and from this explained strikingly speedy abatement of the symptoms of infection and/or symptoms of poisoning in acute infectious diseases of the alimentary canal.” Julius Stumpf, Bolus fur medizinische Anwenduno Darmstadt, 1916, p. 19.
French Green Montmorillonite Clay is closely related to Bentonite clay – they belong to the same group of smectite clays. The clay on our site is very rich in magnesium, as well as iron, manganese, calcium, silica and and other macro and micro nutrients, helping the body reminerilisation. It activates blood circualtion, regeneration of cells/tissues, promoting healing of ulcers, helping bind and take out of the body harmful free radicals.
Due to its high ion exchange capacity, French Green Montmorillonite clay is a superb detoxification product. Its detoxifying properties are explained by 2 main factors:
Its negative cumulative ionic charge which helps to attract and bind positively charged toxic waste and eliminate it out of the body.
Its ability to swell in water and expand due to its high montmorillonite content. This expansion means a larger sorptive area which allows the clay particles to attract a much higher percentage of toxins than it would otherwise.
French Green Montmorillonite clay is like a sponge, attracting water and toxins not only to its negatively charged surface, but also inside its numerous canals, ‘trapping’ them there via ionic exchange process. The body gets the ‘good’ mineral from the clay in return.
It is difficult to list all the wonderful benefits of these clays – not only because clays’ properties have not been researched as well as they deserve, but also due to the fact that there is no condition on Earth which cannot be helped with clay in some way, so I will list benefits of clay use according to a method of use – internal (drinking) and external. I do not distinguish between the montmorillonite and illite clays here – they both work as detoxifiers and natural suppliers of minerals, albeit on a somewhat different basis.
INTERNAL USE OF CLAYS
Many people drink clays and achieve profound results through internal cleanse and remineralisation. I take clays myself – 1 tsp mixed with water, twice a day, about 1 hour before meals. Some people take a week’s break after about 4-6 weeks. However, whether to take or not to take clays internally should be a personal decision, since clays are not recognised as food supplements in the EU.
EXTERNAL USE – BENEFITS & APPLICATIONS
Benefits of external clay use
Topical application of clay can relieve aches and pains, such as muscle, joint pain, backache, headache, etc.
Ulcers and wounds can benefit from clay applications too. Clay is a great natural healer. It was used during wars to heal badly infected wounds. Our ancestors used clays successfully for the same purpose. Now that scientists have proved antibacterial properties of clays, what has been known to man for thousands of years has at last been proved scientifically.
Clays are a great First Aid remedy against bruises.
Used as a mouthwash or toothpaste, clays can promote healthy gums and teeth.
Used over burns /sunburn, cold clay compresses are the fastest healing and pain-relieving remedy which helps regeneration of tissue and prevents the formation of scars.
Used over a problem area, clays can help draw toxicity and the negative energy out of the area.
Used on a tense, overworked muscle, clay compresses/ poultices will help draw out lactic acid, relax the muscle and bring it back to working order.
Used in a general bath or a foot bath, clays act as a very effective detoxifying remedy. For best results, internal clay use is recommended at the same time.
Used over haemorrhoids, clay helps heal them quickly.
Spots, acne, blemishes, oily skin, rashes – clays can treat them too.
Used on eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, clays can help promote healing.
Cold sores – apply frequently to speed up recovery.
For external applications clays can be used in compresses, poultices, baths, face masks, body wraps, powder applications to weeping ulcers, nappy rash, weeping eczema, fungal infections. They can also be used as tooth powders – calcium bentonite clays are excellent at removing plaque and whitening teeth, due to their bleaching properties (be careful not to over-use it for this purpose, since it can be abrasive and can wear down the enamel). In the cosmetics industry, bentonites are used in soaps, toothpastes, face/body packs, and other clay-based products which are beginning to win the consumer over.
Compress
To make a compress, mix some clay with warm water to make it quite runny. Spread over a piece of cloth. Apply on an affected area. Cover with a compress paper, wrap up in a warm cloth. Leave on until the clay dries out. Apply on aching joints, muscles, in the area of organs affected by illness.
Poultice
A poultice has a much more powerful effect than a compress since it requires a lot more clay per application – 0,5-2cm thick, and it works as a mass, drawing up toxic waste into itself. The electromagnetic charge is stronger too. So the overall effect is more powerful. It is especially good for applications on an affected area, or simply where a stronger action is required. Apply a warm poultice over the area, cover with grease-proof paper and a warm cloth. If an area is hot and inflamed, a cold poultice application is recommended to relieve the heat and reduce the inflammation.
Bath
A bath has a more general, less concentrated effect than a poultice or a compress. In cases of large amounts of clay being used, there may be problems with water drains afterwards. However, for this to happen, the clay solution would have to be rather thick. I normally keep stirring the water while it is being drained to avoid such problems. For a bath, take 500g-1kg of clay, mix it in warm bath water and stay in it for up to 30 minutes, or until the water starts cooling down. I personally prefer the Rapan clays for baths, because due to their saline nature the effects are so much more pronounced, that I can feel them while still in the bath. Never re-use clays/ clay water, since the point of using clay is to remove toxins, and re-using it would mean bringing the toxins back.
Face Mask
Basic face mask recipe: 1 tsp of clay + water to form a spreadable paste. Apply and leave to dry. Wash off, apply moisturiser. Clay masks can have other ingredients added, depending on the skin type and purpose of the mask. Green clays are excellent at restoring the natural pH of the skin and cleansing it. Acne/spots is another skin condition which benefits from clay applications – the French Illite is the best for it. Since green clays are great detoxifiers, they leave the skin cleansed, pink, fresh and revitalised, generally looking younger.
Body Wrap
Body wrap is another very useful application for green clays. It is a luxurious and thoroughly therapeutic treatment, especially with powdered seaweed added to it. Mix the clay with seaweed powder (50/50), add water to form a spreadable mass. To do it at home, prepare a place to lie on first, and a warm room. Lay down 1 or 2 warm blankets, with a plastic sheet on top. Cover yourself with the mixture of clay and water, or clay, seaweed and water, lie down on the plastic sheet, cover yourself with the remaining half of the blanket. Make sure you remain warm throughout. Stay under the blanket for 15-30 minutes. Wash off in a shower or a bath. For a salon application, follow the normal procedure for a body wrap.
Body Powder
Use dry clay powder on weeping eczema, ulcers, Athlete’s foot, any sores and wounds which need disinfection and healing.
Disclaimer
Please do not resort to self-treatment. If you suffer from any medical problems – diagnosed or undiagnosed – please see your medical practitioner. You will be using any mineral sold through this shop using your own judgment and at your own responsibility. I do not give any medical advice. Clay or minerals are not medicines and should not be treated as such. Any additional information can be provided on request.