Allergies
Dr. Weyrich's Naturopathic Functional Medicine Notebook
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Overview
There are a number of types of allergies. Seasonal allergies to airborne molds and pollens are generally mediated by IgE and tested for using skin prick tests. Food allergies can be mediated by IgE, but more often are mediated by IgG and are best tested for using blood tests.Food sensitivities are sometimes called "allergies" but are not really allergies. Instead, food sensitivities generally represent some blockage in a metabolic pathway that prevents the normal metabolism of some component of the food. Lactose intolerance is a common example of a food sensitivity.
Etiology
Some authors have noted that allergies are more common in hypothyroid conditions, and respond well to treatment of the underlying hypothyroid condition [Starr2005, pg 108].Differential Diagnosis
- Basal body temperature below 97.8 degrees F, elevated TSH, or depressed T3 (suggests hypothyroidism).
- Adrenal insufficiency.
- Seasonal or other airborne allergens (can do skin testing, but an empirical trial of oral allergy desensitization is safe and cost-effective).
Treatment
- Treat underlying hypothyroid condition.
- Treat underlying adrenal insufficiency.
- For seasonal allergies:
- Therapeutic trial of oral allergy desensitization. Dr. Weyrich recommends the AllergyEasy protocol.
- Nasal lavage (netti-pot) may be effective for allergic rhinitis (runny nose).
- Brittle-brush flower tea (a plant common in the desert-southwest) may be helpful, as may teas made from other sources of seasonal allergens, such as orange blossoms.
- Over-the-counter medications may be effective for allergic rhinitis, but may have side-effects. First-generation anticholineregic antihistamines (e.g. Benadryl) and decongestants (e.g. pseudoephedrine) are more effective, but may have more side-effects (drowsiness and dryness).
- Herbal preparations may have actions and side-effects that are similar to OTC medications.
- For food allergies:
- IgG blood food allergy testing followed by avoidance of problematic foods.
- Elimination diets are a low-cost alternative to IgG blood testing, but take longer and are a hassle for the patient to implement.
- Treat underlying leaky-gut syndrome.
ICD-9 Codes
| ICD9-Code | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
References
Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:[FDM] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.
[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
[Starr2005] Mark Starr. Hypothyroidism Type 2: The Epidemic. Columbia, MO: Mark Starr Trust (2005).
Copyright © 2007-2010 Dr. Weyrich (Naturopathic Medical license number 07-1008). The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or illness. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This web page is http://www.DrWeyrich.com/disorders/allergies.html - Phone Dr. Weyrich at (480) 423-6952