Allergies -- A Positive Immune Response

Whether considering the treatment of allergies by allopathic, nutritional or homeopathic methods, allergies are basically considered as being a deficiency in the immune response, producing a sensitivity in a particular individual to a chemical or odor. However, this concept may be incorrect!

Allergy and immunity are related in that acquired immunity is regarded as being a special type of allergic hypersensitiveness. In other words, immunity against infectious agents is not a state of insensitivity, but rather a state of hypersensitiveness to constituents, as well as the metabolic products of bacteria in the body.

If this is so, then allergy constitutes a positive response of the immune system rather than a weakness. The allopathic treatment of allergies is generally that of suppression, using antihistamines to reduce the reactive process of the immune system. The reactive process is the attempt by the immune system to protect the body from the hypersensitive assault.

Allergy, or excessive sensitivity, should be regarded as the cornerstone of homeopathic treatment. This may be recognized through the "provings" of homeopathy.

Homeopathic Provings

The method of "proving" homeopathic remedies relates back to the particular sensitiveness of an individual to a homeopathic remedy. An individual will "prove" a homeopathic remedy if they react adversely to that remedy. In other words, this hypersensitivity to the remedy is outwardly expressed when the "prover" displays particular somatic and psychic symptoms. The Homeopathic Materia Medica is composed of remedies, the many symptoms of which, have been continually repeated by several "provers." Homeopathy has never used animals for experimentation as to the validity of the remedies.

In the treatment of diseases, the homeopath then matches the symptoms of the patient to the symptom pattern as recorded by the provings in the Materia Medica. This is considered as being the "similia" for that patient, which when potentized, will cure the complaint.

Practitioners who do not follow the allopathic method of suppression, began using specific allergen substances in serial dilution to desensitize their patients. For instance, if one has a reaction to candida in their diet, they use dilutions of candida; to house dust, then dilutions of house dust; or to pollen, then dilutions of pollen, and so on.

Methods such as this produce a temporary effect, which in many cases usually ends with the patient becoming sensitive to another unrelated substance.

Antigens

Once it was considered that proteins acted as antigens. Later, with the discovery of haptens, the concept was weakened. It was completely shattered when it was shown that many chemical and unrelated substances behaved similarly.

Histamine was then linked to the allergic response and it was found that histamine was present in the mitrochrondian fraction of the cell and this substance can be liberated by all kinds of physical and chemical methods, such as smoke, smog, humidity, odors, detergent, etc. However, the allergic response is not specifically related to body functions alone, but also to psychic involvement which induces adrenal stress.

In order to initiate the correct treatment for allergies, we must realize that the reactive process is a positive immune response to the particular agent and not a deficiency factor. Once we are able to use this lateral approach in thinking, we are able to treat allergies more effectively.

Homeopathic Assessment and Treatment

We are truly indebted to the research of Dr. Carey Reams, and his biological theory of ionization, which has provided us with the mathematical equation which allows us to measure and analyze the metabolic function as well as the bacterial build-up which produces the patient's health profile.

The urine/saliva test successfully produces information on the bacterial level in the system, the degree of undigested protein wastes, acid/alkaline balance and oxygen levels, all of which are necessary in our assessment of the reactive process.

For instance, when a patient suffers from candida, the picture shows high carbohydrates, acid build-up, and undigested proteins. The immune potential is also gauged through assessment of liver function as well as the reserve energy available. Having established this profile, we are then able to balance the metabolism by the administration of specific homeopathic measures.

Innate

All healing relates back to the principle of innate. One should not be concerned with the naming of a disease, or treating the entity. Having recognized the metabolic imbalance, we treat it, knowing that the correct functioning will be restored by innate. We have been applying this principle of healing with chiropractic for nearly 100 years.

We must consider that allergic sensitivity is the reaction by the immune system to the stress manifesting on the complete organism. However, the stress would not have any effect on the metabolism if the body chemistry is functioning at an optimum level. Most "allergic" reactions result from malfunction of the pancreas, stress to the liver, and congestion to the bowel. Treatment by homeopathy in these cases is highly successful in changing the distorted patterns underlying metabolic function.

Theodore Douglas Jesse, D.C., D.Hom.
Ronkonkoma, New York