Nutritional And Homeopathic Therapy For Food Allergies And Intolerances

Nutritional Treatment

It has been suggested that food intolerances are more likely to occur when the mucous membrane lining the intestines becomes excessively permeable, allowing large food-derived molecules and breakdown products to pass from the intestines into the bloodstream and triggering intolerance responses. This is known as the "leaky gut" hypothesis. Many food intolerance reactions of this nature are not mediated by the immune system through the production of IgE antibodies (as occurs in true allergic reactions). It is possible that some no immune mechanisms may also be involved in food intolerance.

Elimination Diet

Although many tests claim to identify sensitive foods, their reliability has yet to be conclusively proved. The elimination diet is regarded by many practitioners of nutritional medicine as the most accurate way of testing for food intolerance. In this approach, all likely problem foods are removed from the diet for several weeks. Initially symptoms may actually worsen, but if, as usually happens, an improvement in symptoms is seen, foods are added back into the diet, one at a time, and a note is made of which foods cause a recurrence of the symptoms.

Improving digestive function may help reduce a tendency to food intolerance, because more complete digestion of food ensures that it is not absorbed in a partially digested form.

Homeopathic Treatment

Homeopathy is reputed to be helpful for children who are intolerant of cow's milk protein (this is not the same as lactose intolerance, in which the body cannot digest the milk sugar lactose). The most commonly appropriate medicines are Silicea, Calcarea carbonica, Magnesia carbonica and Natrum carbonicum and in order to get a correct diagnosis it is best to take your child to a homeopath. If sensitive children continue to have milk, other problems may develop, including runny nose, asthma and skin rashes.

Homeopathic pills usually include lactose, which theoretically might cause problems if you are lactose intolerant. However, the amount of lactose is very small and is unlikely to cause trouble. If it does, homeopathic medicines.

Silicea and Calcarea Carbonica

In children who respond to Silicea and Calcarea carbonica, milk often causes vomiting. Children who respond to Silicea tend to be small and wiry, with fine hair and delicate skin. However, appearances may well be deceptive because these children can actually be quite determined, set in their ways and stubborn.

By contrast, children who respond to Calcarea carbonica are often big and chubby, and they may sweat on their heads at night. They are often stubborn, and may have various fears that cause them to wake at night crying and frightened. Another key feature of these children is that they often love eggs.

Natrum Carbonicum and Magnesia Carbonica

In children who respond to Natrum carbonicum and Magnesia carbonica, the problem is more likely to be diarrhea. Features that suggest Natrum carbonicum include a lot of nasal catarrh and symptoms such as headaches brought on by the sun. Symptoms that suggest Magnesia carbonica include abdominal swelling and diarrhea that resembles frog spawn. An affected baby may also have a sour smell, even after bathing.