Do you suffer from allergic symptoms such as itching, rashes, hayfever, cramps, asthma, or runny eyes? There is a good chance that you are allergic to a substance either in the environment or in the foods that you are consuming. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to determine an allergy yourself sometimes. This is where allergy elimination techniques come into their own. They use varying methods to identify the substance that is causing you problems. This article will discuss three of the most common methods of allergy elimination.
NAET
NAET (Nambrudipad Allergy Elimination Techniques) was founded by Dr Devi Nambrudipad. NAET uses muscle response testing. A vial that contains an allergen is given to the patient, and the practitioner then applies muscle response testing. If the muscle response is weak then there is an allergic reaction to the substance. The practitioner then begins a series of stimulation along specific pressure points along the spine to promote the healing process. In addition to this stimulation, the patient is advised to avoid the offending substance for a period of 25 hours or more. Desensitisation is a major factor in treatment and all contact with the allergen needs to be avoided.
NAET is safe for all ages and can be used in conjunction with western and orthodox disciplines without any ill effects. Each case is treated individually, and additional treatments may be required, depending on the severity of the allergy.
Elimination Diets
Elimination diets are a major form of allergy elimination. These diets are diets in which likely allergens or other foods to which a patient may be sensitive are avoided. Elimination diets are commonly used to confirm other diagnostic tests, as well as to pinpoint food intolerances.
In cases where a particular food is suspected to cause an allergic reaction or intolerance, that food is strictly avoided for a period of time. If avoiding the food causes the symptoms to go away, and eating some in a double-blind food challenge causes them to return, that normally indicates an allergy.
In cases where the cause of allergic symptoms is unclear, several types of elimination diets are used to narrow down the range of foods that may be causing symptoms. Since 90 percent of food allergies are caused by eight common allergens, one option is to eliminate any of these foods that may be problematic, such as wheat, dairy, and nuts. The few foods diet is where a small number of foods that are deemed "safe" are eaten for a period of time, with foods being gradually added back one at a time to see if symptoms appear. The rare foods diet excludes all foods that are currently part of the patient's diet in favour of foods the patient has either never eaten at all, or has never eaten regularly. This is based on the theory that foods that are not a regular part of the diet are unlikely to cause symptoms. Otherwise, rare foods diets are very similar to few foods diets.
These diets should only be carried out under a professional's care.
Originally published on Jan 22, 2009
