Allergy is an abnormal, hyper-reactive and adverse phenomenon that strikes the body. This reaction could be either systemic, involving one of many systems of the body such as the lungs (asthma), the nasal cavity (rhinitis), and/or the joints ( rheumatoid arthritis). Other conditions may involve the entire body such as hives or psoriasis. These bodily reactions, in general, are the body’s response to a stimulus or multiple stimuli of external antigens. The source of these antigens could come from food, drinks, food additives, chemicals from place of employment, perfumes, medication and/or air borne.

These antigens are harmless substances to most people. On the other hand, other people may show hyper-reaction when these allergens gain access into the domain of their body. This hyper-reaction is the body’s response and a message to inform the individual of changes in the general status of the body’s immune system. It is also one of many attempts of the body to free itself from the invading allergens and their stimulations. The reaction is a protective measure from the body to reduce or nullify the effects of such allergens.

Many patient claim that they have never had any allergies in the past. While the statement is true in some sense, it is obvious that a diabetic never had diabetes before the current onset of diabetes, thus and a hypertensive reaction in a patient definitely was not there in the past, but certainly was developed and built up over a period of time. People do not realize that today’s allergies are cumulative results of years of continual abuse to the immune system. Therefore, the excuse of, "I did not have allergies in the past," does not hold any water any more and is insufficient to stamp a patient with an "allergy free" stamp.

Blood tests, skin tests, food elimination or rotation diets are not diagnostic tools for allergies. These tests are geared to identify the invading allergens. The question should be, "does the individual have true allergies or false allergies?". The only factors that answers the above questions are:

• history of symptoms
• duration of symptoms, and
• periodicity of symptoms.

Allergies laboratory testing are geared to confirm or deny your suspicion of allergies. Symptoms and history come first, tests come later.

Inherited or Acquired

During history taking a strong emphasis is directed to finding out whether the patient’s allergies are inherited at birth from parents or grand parents, or are allergies acquired after birth due to one or more of the following causes:

• environment
• patient’s life style
• eating habits
• work environment
• street drugs
• type of medication used in the past
• length of time under the influence of medications.

1) Acquired allergies ( false allergies )

They arise from altered body ecology. This change arises from a weakness along some parts of the digestive tracks. Once weakened, the weakness extends into the liver which in turn extends the same weakness into a variety of different systems individually or collectively due to usage of medication, improper diet and unhealthy life style. Allergies caused by factors other than inheritance must not be treated as allergies. These type of allergies are considered as “allergy like symptoms” not true allergies. The lymphatic system in this case would be congested due to medication, yeast, or toxins. Further, at the same time the liver is weakened and unable to meet the body’s detoxification demands. In this case, the cause of the problem is addressed during the treatment, not the allergies that the patient is presenting.

2) Inherited allergies ( true allergies )

They are attached to the body genetically. This would be controlled by an extensive history taking during the first visit, then a blood sample is drawn to evaluate the level of allergens in the sample, and based on the information collected and the type of allergy, a remedy is synthesized to meet the body’s need to overcome the effects of the causative allergen in the blood sample.

Allergies in simple English

Allergies in simple English, French, Chinese, or Arabic, are the failure of our defence system speared by the lymphatic system, the liver, and the thymus to successfully remove an antigen that gained entry into the body. The presence of the antigen in the body creates a state of continuous inflammation in the body which triggers histamine release in the circulation. Lymphatic congestion, liver weakness or intoxication, and thymus weakness are to be blamed indirectly for allergies. However, the direct cause , ( what do you think is to be blamed for your allergies ), our life style and food habits are to be blamed. Patients who are suffering from environmental allergies cannot blame environmental factors. They are to blame, but their lifestyle and food habits are as well.

Allergy Testing Procedure

We use state-of-the-art, fool-proof testing for aggravating allergens in a blood sample taken from the patient, when required . This test screens 200 different food allergens and 50 inhalants allergens. Again, an allergy test is to confirm allergies, not to diagnose allergies.

Cortisone and allergies

The allergy test is meant to be an awareness step to help you avoid allergic reactions triggered by food items. Despite the allergy test, there will be some symptomatic aggravations in various degrees. Those who have allergies symptoms such as eczema, itching, psoriasis and skin inflammation are advised to fully understand the process of "Healing Crisis" (pp 95). It is very critical to realize that the initial phase of the treatment will begin with a worsening of the condition being treated. This is an expected normal process. Patients who, previously, were treated with cortisone or similar anti-inflammatory should expect a severe healing crisis. Once the treatment commences, itching will increase for a period corresponding to a month of itching for every year of cortisone treatment used. Intravenous treatments, on one hand will reduce the effect of healing crisis possibly by 50% and will expedite the healing process and recovery by double folds. On the other hand it will not wipe the entire aggravation from the healing process step.

I want every one to understand that cortisone teaches the body to live dependant on cortisone in order feel better. Our treatment teaches the body to live independent of medications, vitamins and enzymes. In short, the body must treat itself with its own resources not with imported medication.

Fateh Srajeldin N.D. of Toronto Canada is the director of the largest naturopathic and allergy clinic in North America. Currently, he is treating members of the royal families and dignitaries from the Gulf region who have traveled to Canada specifically to be treated by him.