The Allergy Book: Solving Your Family's Nasal Allergies, Asthma, Food Sensitivities, and Related Health and Behavioral Problems

282 Pages·2015·1.84 MB·English

by  Robert W. Sears

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Table of Contents
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Copyright Page
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This book is dedicated to the Sears family children and
grandchildren. May you live long, healthy, and allergy-free
lives:
Andrew, Annelise, Alex, Joshua, James, Robert, Peter,
Hayden, Erin, Matthew, Stephen, Lauren, Leah,
Jonathan,RJ, Thomas, Gracie, Sarah, Ashton, Morgan,
Landon, and the newest addition, Levi.
Visit Dr. Bob and Dr. Bill on the Web at
www.AskDrSears.com, on Facebook, and at
www.DrBobsDaily.com.
Visit www.AskDrSears.com for allergy updates, links to resources, new
research, new treatment ideas, conference announcements, and more.
Find us on Facebook at Dr. Bob Sears and Ask Dr. Sears.
And introducing Dr. Bob’s new website, www.DrBobsDaily.com, where
Dr. Bob shares his daily blog about life inside and outside the office. Enjoy
daily updates on parenting, disease prevention, timely news items,
humorous anecdotes from his day at work, and inspiring lessons he learns
from his patients.
Authors’ Note
This book is intended to provide general information for the treatment of
allergies. It is not intended to provide specific medical advice. The treatments
presented here are for educational purposes only. If any of the information in this
book conflicts with the advice you receive from your own physician, you should
follow your physician’s instructions. Any medical treatment, whether natural,
over-the-counter, or prescription, has the potential to cause harmful side effects.
You should seek the advice of your child’s primary care physician before
beginning any type of treatment for your child.
Introduction
Allergic disorders are the single most common medical and nutritional problem
faced by children and adults today. While only a mild nuisance for some,
allergies present a lifelong challenge for hundreds of millions of people
worldwide. And allergies are more than just a runny nose: they affect virtually
every organ system in the body. They irritate the skin, tighten the lungs, inflame
the gut, overstimulate or suppress the immune system, and interfere with the
proper development and function of the nervous system. Allergies have a
profound effect on long-term health and well-being that extends far beyond the
annoying symptoms.
The percentage of people who suffer from allergic disorders has steadily risen
year after year in recent decades, and this trend shows no signs of slowing. The
primary reason for this continued rise is unclear, but most doctors and
researchers suspect it is due to environmental influences (chemicals, toxins,
pollutants, and poor nutrition) on our genetic health. These influences are
compounded by the fact that allergies tend to run in families; parents with
allergies have children with allergies, and they grow up to have more allergic
children.
This phenomenon is called epigenetics, and it is explained in more detail
here. In short, our environment affects how our genes function. Negative
environmental influences cause our genes to misbehave and express themselves
in unnatural ways. One of these consequences is that the allergic branch of our
immune system becomes hyperreactive, and allergic disorders arise. These
genetic shifts are passed from parent to child, and the cycle continues. It may be
that the best long-term solution to our society’s allergy problems is to clean up
our planet and our lifestyles. In the meantime, there are numerous steps we can
take as individuals to improve our health and alleviate our allergies.
This book was written so that your child won’t have to suffer anymore—and
neither will you. The course of your life will be changed from one of lifelong
symptoms and chronic disease to one of health and happiness. We, Dr. Bob and
Dr. Bill, will help you track down what is causing your family’s symptoms, and
we will tell you how to eliminate the offending agents. For some lucky ones,
nothing more is needed. Find the cause and remove it from your life: problem
solved. If only it were that simple for everyone. For many, the journey will be
more challenging and convoluted. Multiple allergies may be involved. There
may be immune dysfunction that needs to be repaired or an inflamed gut that
needs to be healed. Treatment may be necessary to bring the body’s allergic and
inflammatory reactions under control before successful resolution is achieved.
On a personal note, I, Dr. Bob, have suffered from nasal allergies and asthma
for most of my life. I have used inhalers on and off (mostly on, until recently). I
have been on daily allergy medications. I have used natural supplements. I’ve
been tested for allergies several times. I’ve tried it all. It has taken years of
investigation, but I have finally reached a point where my asthma and allergies
no longer affect my daily life, or even my weekly life. I can now go weeks,
sometimes months, without turning to my inhaler or pillbox. In the following
pages, I will share information about the nutritional and environmental changes
I’ve made and the supplements and natural treatments I use that have made the
greatest difference.
A note from Dr. Bob: This book is a collaborative effort between Dr. Bill and
me. We share many anecdotes about our experience in the office, and you will
notice we refer to ourselves as “we” in such cases. However, as I am the one
with allergies, I have more personal stories to share. In the illustrations told from
a singular perspective, the “I” refers to me. From here on out, we won’t remind
you that it’s Dr. Bob sharing his life. In the few cases attributed specifically to
Dr. Bill, we will make note of that.
Your journey through this book will depend greatly on what type of allergies
you and your child have and which of the body’s systems are affected. Here is a
short preview of each allergic disorder to help you understand the direction in
which this book will take you:
Nasal symptoms are perhaps the most common manifestation of allergies.
Chronic runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing are annoying to both the
sufferer and those around them. Careful detective work can likely track down the
offending allergens, and, if needed, appropriate testing can reveal the answers.
Perhaps it’s dust or pets. Maybe it’s a food allergy, such as to cow’s milk. For
those with multiple allergies that cannot be eliminated, appropriate use of allergy
medications can bring blessed relief, and natural products are available that can
be of equal benefit. Environmental control measures can also reduce exposure to
the offending agents. Other causes of nasal problems, such as sinus infections or
enlarged adenoids, should be considered when necessary. It is crucial to track
down the cause, because those with unresolved nasal allergies are at risk of later
developing asthma.
Asthma is a more serious situation that requires treatment beyond allergy testing
and the elimination of offending allergens. Medical treatment is usually needed
to control asthma symptoms and bring adequate relief to the respiratory system,
and it can be safely and effectively administered. Some natural products may
also help. But a key aspect of resolving asthma is to reduce the body’s
inflammation as a whole. The gut must be healed so that the immune system can
function appropriately and the allergies and inflammation in the lungs can be
relieved.
Skin allergies, such as eczema, hives, and other rashes, are a common
occurrence during infancy and can persist through childhood into adulthood.
Tracking down and eliminating the causes of skin allergies, and following proper
skin care techniques to limit skin irritation, are a must—not only for relief, but
also to reduce the risk of asthma.
Food allergies are a growing problem. Some are obvious, such as an immediate
allergic reaction to peanuts or shellfish. Understanding how to avoid hidden
sources of severely allergic foods is key for those with such allergies. Yet most
food allergies aren’t so obvious. We will walk you through the investigative
steps you should take to determine whether you or your child has food allergies,
which foods cause the allergies, and how to maintain proper nutrition as you
eliminate those foods from the diet.
Food sensitivities are a whole different ball game. Instead of causing a classic
allergic reaction, some foods affect the immune system in a nonallergic way or
have a chemical influence on the body and brain. Gluten sensitivity is a growing
example, and casein (milk protein) sensitivity is more common than many
people believe. Artificial food ingredients take their toll as well. These effects
can manifest themselves as intestinal problems, behavioral challenges, learning
difficulties, recurrent illnesses, or even mood disorders.
The medical, behavioral, and developmental conditions that can be attributed
to food allergies or sensitivities include infant colic, extreme tantrums, attention
and hyperactivity challenges, recurrent ear and sinus infections, autoimmune
diseases, and other childhood and adult illnesses. Identifying and eliminating
allergies and food sensitivities, and healing the gut and immune system, will
improve these conditions.
No matter which bodily system allergies affect, the path to healing should
begin by determining which allergens are causing the problem. We provide a
complete guide to allergy testing in the following pages, including skin testing,
blood testing, and alternative medicine approaches such as muscle testing. But
allergy testing isn’t perfect, and parents will often need to play allergy detective
to determine what their family is allergic to.
Mainstream medicine has come a long way in treating and eliminating
allergic disorders. Much of what we share in this book follows the guidelines of
the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Allergy,
Asthma & Immunology, and the American College of Asthma, Allergy &
Immunology. We routinely refer patients to pediatric and adult allergists in our
area, with great results. But there are times when allergy testing doesn’t find the
answer and long-term medication isn’t ideal for a child. In such cases, an
integrative medicine approach is warranted. We will show you how to make
appropriate use of natural medicine and alternative medical providers to find the
answers you seek. This includes paying close attention to your child’s—and
family’s—nutrition. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, has been quoted as
saying, “Let food be your medicine.” What you eat can either hurt or help your
allergic disorder, so we offer a nutritional plan that decreases body inflammation
and allergic reactivity and improves gut and immune health. These steps are
essential to successful allergy resolution.
No matter what type of allergies your family has, this book will provide the
step-by-step guidance you need to find the appropriate solutions. Our goal is
threefold: to help you diagnose your allergies, to help you properly treat your
allergies, and, most importantly, to help you eliminate your allergies and
improve your long-term health.