Food Allergy And It’s Adverse Reactions : A Homoeopathic Perspective
Author
Dr. RIA HEMANT KADKADE
MD PART I
DEPT OF PAEDIATRICS
FATHER MULLER HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGE
DERALAKATTE, MANGALORE – KARNATAKA
Abstract – Food Allergy is estimated to affect about 8% of children and 2% of adults worldwide. Genetic factors, dietary habits, and exposure to a variety of food proteins are the contributory factors for the hypersensitivity. The manifestations being Cutaneous, respiratory, gastrointestinal and generalized. This condition can be treated by homoeopathic management by considering the aetiology, the clinical manifestations and the individualisation of the patient as a whole and also the type of food involved.
Keywords– Food Allergy, immunologic response, anaphylaxis, urticaria, angioedema, homoeopathy, individualisation.
Introduction
Food allergy is defined as adverse reactions to foods following consumption of the same or food additive. It should be differentiated from food intolerance which is adverse physiological response eg. Lactose intolerance & the former being adverse immunologic response and can be IgE mediated or non- IgE mediated eg. Milk, egg, peanut allergies.
Genetic factors and family history play an important role in the development of food allergy. There are class 1 and class 2 food allergens. Class 1 being egg, milk, fish, soy, wheat. Class 2 food allergens being vegetable, fruit, or nut proteins. Acute symptoms like urticaria or anaphylaxis can occur by intermittent ingestion of the allergic foods and atopic dermatitis and asthma by chronic ingestion of the same.
Clinical manifestations:
Erythema, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema being the cutaneous manifestations.
Laryngeal edema, hoarseness, sneezing, dyspnea, wheezing being the respiratory symptoms.
Angioedema of the lips, tongue, or palate, oral pruritus, tongue swelling, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea being the gastrointestinal manifestations.
Tachycardia, hypotension, dizziness, fainting being the cardiovascular manifestations.
Diagnosis:
A thorough medical history is necessary.
Skin prick tests and in vitro laboratory testing
Oral food challenges
General management :
Appropriate identification and elimination of foods responsible for food hypersensitivity reactions.
Food Allergy Research and Education for the parents
Avoidance of allergic foods and delayed introduction to diets.
In case of infants breastfeeding exclusively for 4-6 mnths. Introduction of complementary foods soon after breastfeeding.
Homoeopathic aspect and management :
Homoepathy is one of the gentle forms of treatment. This system of medicine is based on the principle “Similia Similibus Currentur”. Homoeopathy aims to build specific immunity against known allergens and also develops general immunity against known allergens.
The main aim is not only to treat food allergies symptoms but also address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. Remedies are selected on the basis of the symptoms and the characteristics narrated by the patient.
Remedies indicated are Carbo Veg, Lycopodium Clavatum, Nux Vomica, Petroleum, Pulsatilla, Antim Crud, Cinchona, Kali Bichromicum
Banana- Coffea, Ignatia, Kali Phos, Nux Vom, Rumex
Chicken- Bacillinum, Bryonia
Egg- Calcarea Carb, Cinchona, Colchicum, Ferrum Met, Ledum, Lysinnum, Pulsatilla, Sulphur
Fish- Fluoric Acid, Kali Sulph
Honey- Natrum Carb
Milk- Aethusa, Arsenic, Lac. Defloratum, Mag. Sulph, Natrum Carb, Psorinum, Tuberculinum
Onions- Carcinosin, Lycopodium, Sulphur, Thuja
Peanuts- Molybdenum
Rice- Ignatia, Pulsatilla, Sulphur, Tellurium
Sources:
Piyush Gupta at al. PG Textbook Of Paediatrics. Immunity, Immune Disorders, And Allergy. Food Allergy. Pg. 216.
Wikipedia, Food Allergy
Dr.Shruthi Shridhar . How to manage food allergies with homoeopathy. Homeobook.com . Everything on homoeopathy.
