What does hair mineral analysis say about allergies?

Food allergy is among the least diagnosed and most prevalent causes of symptoms, especially depression.

Allergies are your body's way of fighting specific substances your body comes in contact with. These substances are known as allergens and are found in dust, pollen, insects, pets and certain foods.

Allergies are a global problem, with estimates of around 850 million people worldwide suffering from them. According to world health organization statistics, 30% of people worldwide suffer from allergies.

There are many types of allergies that you must be aware of. People suffering from allergies may face many symptoms ranging from sneezing and running noses to coughing, wheezing and more. Now let’s ask the important question:

How can hair mineral analysis help in allergy treatment?

Hair mineral analysis can monitor mineral imbalances which cause allergies.  For example, excess copper levels in the body deplete zinc, vitamin C, folic acid and other nutrient reserves. This triggers allergic reactions.

Also, Zinc deficiency is a cause of severe allergic reactions. Hair mineral analysis can diagnose zinc deficiency and provide supplements to normalise it.

Now let us look at the most common causes of allergies.   

Causes of allergies:  

Allergies typically happen when the immune system in your body mistakes a harmless substance for something dangerous. The immune system then produces antibodies that stay alert for the allergens. When the body is exposed to these allergens again, the antibodies produce immune system chemicals like histamine, which causes allergy symptoms. Some of the causes of allergies are:

•  Allergy due to adrenal insufficiency 

Allergy can be caused by adrenal insufficiency. The adrenal glands produce cortisol, a hormone that helps to prevent allergic reactions. When a person is exposed to a potential allergen, cortisol helps to reduce inflammation in the body. When the cortisol production in the adrenal glands is less, this causes allergic reactions.

Hair mineral analysis detects adrenal insufficiency. Low levels of sodium and potassium indicate adrenal insufficiency. The adrenal glands require vitamins C, A, E, copper, and certain amino acids for proper functioning. A lack of these minerals and nutrients causes allergies. 

• Heavy metal toxicity

Toxicity in minerals like cadmium, lead and mercury could give rise to allergic reactions. For example, when lead is toxic in the body, the lead displaces calcium from the bones. This causes irritability in the nervous system. This then leads to stress in the adrenal glands which causes allergies to occur.

• Food allergies

Food allergies happen when foods are high in certain minerals or heavy metals, which could alter the body's chemistry. 

For example, avocados are high in copper and fat. A slow oxidizer with a high tissue copper level is at risk for copper toxicity. This is because of the extra copper and fat content. These can make the copper toxicity adverse and lead to allergic reactions to avocados. 

• Other causes 

Other causes of allergies include airborne allergens, such as pollen and dust mites. Insect stings from bees and wasps can also trigger allergies. Certain medications and latex or other substances you touch can also cause allergies in skin.

Symptoms of allergies: 

Allergic reactions cause discomfort and inflammation. However, different allergic reactions depend on the type of triggers causing them. For example, allergic reactions may happen in the gut, skin, airways, nasal passages etc. 

Below are some triggers and the allergy symptoms they cause in people. 

Dust and pollen:

• A blocked and congested nose
• Red itchy eyes and nose
• A runny nose
• Swollen and watery eyes 
• A cough 

Food:

• Vomiting
• A swollen tongue
• Tingling in the mouth 
• Swelling in the lips, face and throat
• Stomach cramps
• Shortness of breath 
• Itchiness in the mouth 
• Diarrhoea

Food allergies include peanut allergies as well. There are many food allergens that affect the body. You must eat food that you are not allergic to.

Insect bites:  

• Wheezing 
• Swelling at the site of the sting
• A sudden drop in blood pressure
• Itchy skin
• Shortness of breath 
• Restlessness
• Dizziness
• A cough
• Chest tightness

Medications:

• Wheezing 
• Swelling of tongue, lips and face
• Skin rash 
• Itchiness

Anaphylaxis: 

If the symptoms become severe, it could give rise to anaphylaxis. Research suggests that anaphylaxis mainly affects the skin and the respiratory system. Some of the symptoms are: 

• Hives, flushing and itchiness
• Trouble breathing 
• Wheezing
• Swelling 
• Low blood pressure
• Changes in heart rate
• Dizziness and fainting 
• Loss of consciousness 

Allergies treatment:

Allergy treatment depends on the types of allergies and the triggers that have caused them. Therefore, consulting with a doctor and receiving guidance on the proper allergy treatment procedure is essential. 

Some of the allergy treatment procedures are: 

• Allergen avoidance:

Consult with your health care provider to find the allergy triggers affecting you, and then avoid them. This is the most crucial step in treating allergies and reducing the symptoms.  

• Medications: 

Depending on the allergy you have, your healthcare provider will prescribe you medications to take. These medications will reduce the immune system reactions and will ease the symptoms. 

• Immunotherapy: 

Your doctor might advise you to do allergen immunotherapy for severe allergic reactions that treatments cannot cure. Allergen immunotherapy is a series of injections that contains pure allergen extracts. Also, as an alternative to injections, there is a pill which you must keep under your tongue until it dissolves. This also cures allergic reactions. 

• Emergency epinephrine: 

You must always carry emergency epinephrine shots if you have severe allergic reactions. Epinephrine shots can reduce allergic reactions until you get emergency treatment. You must also carry allergy shots with you if you have severe allergy symptoms.

Conclusion:

Although allergies are distressing and uncomfortable, many ways exist to manage them and make life easier for sufferers. This blog has reviewed the most common allergies, their causes, symptoms and a few treatment methods that you could follow. There are also other treatment methods followed by countless sufferers, which could be informative to you. 

The key to managing allergy symptoms is by monitoring what triggers them. Then you can avoid the cause of the allergies and prevent them from occurring. Also, proper diet and exercise go a long way in keeping your immune system in top shape.