Allergies are acquired, they are not inherited. They do not transmit through the genes.
Allergies are due to a malfunction of the immune system at the point of sensitization and, later, at the point of an antigen-antibody reaction. Almost all allergies have to do with proteins and/or polypeptides which the immune system labels as antigens – “foreign and/or hostile”. In the case of allergies, most of the time, the protein or polypeptide is actually harmless and should never have been identified as an enemy antigen. Hence, the immune system has made a mistake in labeling it as something to attack. When the immune system creates an antibody specific for that particular protein or polypeptide, we say that person has been “sensitized” to that substance for a future allergic reaction.
Because a person carries no antibodies for any newly contracted substance, there can be no antigen-antibody reaction with the first encounter. That comes later with the second and subsequent encounters A person does not know they have acquired an allergy until the second or third time they make contact because, until then, they will have had no discernable reactions.
However, inside of their bodies, ever since sensitization has been completed following their first exposure, they are carrying specific antibodies for the sensitizing substance. It could be years before they encounter that substance again. It doesn’t matter how long.
When the substance enters the body a second time, the ever vigilant antibodies, whose sole purpose for existence is to deal with that specific substance, will see it, remember it, recognize it, and mobilize their battle plan against it.
A normal antigen-antibody reaction would be no problem, if that is what would happen. The antibody cells would simply seek out the foreign protein molecules, neutralize them, and eliminate them. But an allergic reaction is not normal. An allergic reaction is when the antigen-antibody reaction is inapproprately intense, causing the person to suffer.
A hypersensitive, inappropriately extreme reaction is an immune system gone out of control.
Therefore, an allergy consists of two mistakes on the part of our immune systems:
1. Misidentification of a harmless substance as an enemy; and
2. Overreaction upon subsequent contacts with that substance.
If the immune system has been operating properly, it would have simply let the digestive system for the phagocytes take care of the foreign substance. With an allergy, there was never a true need to call in the military superbrains (lymphocytes) to create a customized weapon.
Furthermore, there is never any justification for pulling out the computerized smart bombs (antibodies) and high powered artillery to unleash maximum force in an extreme response.
When the immune system misidentifies a substance as an antigen, that substance is called an “allergen”.
When an immune response to allergen goes beyond a normal antigen-antibody reaction, becoming hypersensitive and extreme, it is called an “allergen reaction”.
That is how allergies are acquired. Allergens are not the cause of allergies.
Allergens are only the triggers. The cause is the problem in the immune system.
To help keep the immune system functioning well it is important to supplement with a high quality probiotic, such as Young Living’s Life 5, as nearly every function in the body starts with proper digestion.
To help prevent allergies here are some tips:
• avoid products that have negative effects on the body
• get plenty of rest so your body has enough time to heal itself
• get plenty of exercise, sunlight (vitamin D), and pure water (preferably chlorine and fluoride free, and not from a “plastic” bottle)
• NingXia Red juice is an excellent nutrient dense superfood – buy NingXia Red
• avoid using commercial household cleaning products and air fresheners!
Get Young Living Supplements here
Other posts to help you make informed choices:
Organic Labeling of Farm Raised Salmon – you’ve got to be joking, right!?
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March 14, 2009 at 3:23 pm
alison
i know you wont like this but my sons allergy is to aromatherapy oil essential oils air fresheners and they are everywhere shopping centres schools and even doctors surgeries. so can you help us. mt son suffers from vkc severe eye allergy that can lead to blindness. the only way to avoid this problem is to stay home. that means home schooling and social isolation.
Hi Alison,
I’m perfectly fine with your comment. Do you realize that your comment proves my point very clearly?
The so-called essential oil air fresheners you come across in the shopping centers and elsewhere ARE synthetic/chemical fragrances that manufacturers “label” as essential oils… they are lying! In fact the so-called essential oil they’re using does not contain any real essential oil at all.
The aromatherapy essential oil products you are referring to are no more a true essential oil than a Mack Truck!
The only thing I can do to help you is to encourage you, and others too, is to insist that some sort of legislation be put together and have a law that makes these companies either “stop” producing these harmful and deadly products.
I believe there is a VERY serious problem with these chemical laden products… and as long as people buy them, companies are going to keep producing them, and they’ll keep putting those pretty little commercials on TV which make their toxic product look innocent and like the best thing to have.
The question is… what can we do to get those health-threatening products out of our lives?
1. Educate yourself and others – spread the word about just how bad they are.
2. Encourage others to not use or buy them.
3. Demand better and accurate labeling of products. For instance, when products that do not contain a true essential oil that the word ‘essential oil’ should NOT be allowed on the label. And, that the ‘grade’ or ‘quality’ of the fragrance or essential oil be VERY clearly printed on the label so consumers know.
Do you realize, these companies are using the term ‘essential oil’ now in place of ‘fragrance’ because many consumers avoid fragrances due to the health problems they get when using those products. They’re very sneaky.
If it’s any consolation, if I ruled the world – ALL of the products containing synthetics and chemicals would be banned from manufacture and we’d all be using true organic everything and we’d be using truly “Green” technologies to power the factories, job place and our homes.
Let’s get out there and make this necessary change happen!
~ Evelyn