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What Causes Allergies?

woman blowing nose due to hay fever allergies

Do you ever wonder why you suffer from allergies when others don’t? What causes allergies in some people is often due to being an ‘atopic’ individual.

Being ‘atopic’ means that your immune system, Immunoglobulin (IgE) in particular, is more hypersensitive and is more likely to react to the allergens it’s exposed to. What causes allergies and ‘atopy’ in some people while not in others is not completely understood, but there are several theories:

Allergies are inherited

parents lying on the bed with baby between them Children with one family member with an allergy (such as asthma or eczema) have a 20 to 40 per cent higher risk of developing an allergy-related condition in their lifetime. When there are two or more family members, this percentage increases to 50 to 80 per cent.(1)

 

The ‘hygiene hypothesis’

young baby having a bath with soap and wearing a shower cap

The hygiene hypothesis suggests that a lack of exposure to bacteria in early childhood (due to cleaning agents) means that the immune system is unable to differentiate between true pathogens and harmless stimuli (e.g. dust or pollen). This may result in an increased development of reactions to usually harmless substances and allergy-related conditions.

 

Births by caesarean section

mother and baby shortly after birth

Babies born via caesarean are not exposed to their mother’s gastrointestinal bacteria like they would be in a vaginal birth. It’s this lack of exposure that increase their chances of developing allergies as this bacteria is thought to affect the development of the infant’s immune system.

 

Early feeding habits

mother breastfeeding baby

Research shows that breastfeeding for the first four-to-six months reduces allergies in early childhood (2). This may be because breast milk can help build a baby’s immunity and delays the introduction of potentially allergenic foods until the immune system is further developed.

 

Natural allergy treatment

At Health & Wellness Australia & Auckland (HWA), our Naturopaths use a form of muscle testing (kinesiology) to help pinpoint the substances triggering your allergy symptoms. Following this, we perform a natural allergy treatment called Positive Association Technique (PAT), which aims to reduce your reactions and symptoms.

PAT is a non-invasive holistic therapy, which:

  • draws on acupressure and kinesiology techniques
  • aims to re-train your body
  • may reduce your reactions to food and environmental substances that may be causing or exacerbating your symptoms.

Some cases can be complex, so our Naturopaths may also recommend supplements and herbs, and provide lifestyle advice to help you achieve the best long-term results.

Get in touch

  • Call us on 1300 853 023 / 09 479 5997 (NZ) to chat to our friendly staff
  • Send our PAT Naturopaths a question HERE
  • Request a Free PAT Information E-PACK HERE

 

Please note that this blog contains general information only. Always consult your health care professional before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

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