Food Allergy Versus Food Intolerance
The molecular/matter and energy science approaches are completely different because how diseases occur physiologically in each model are different So we have to decide which model we want to follow in order to deal with the IC bladder pain syndrome(interstitial cystitis, vulvodynia, chronic prostatitis, IBS, GERD, and fibromyalgia) and stick with it
Many people because of their concern about particular foods causing digestive issues eliminate foods from their diet because of the fear that the food is producing an "allergic reaction" In so doing they begin sectoring off food groups such as dairy and grains that are causing the "allergic reaction" when in reality the foods are not causing the "allergic reaction" but rather are not tolerated due to poor digestion
One of the salient differences between the two models is that the molecular/matter science approach is devoid of the concept of agni which is central to the energy science model of Ayurveda And it is this concept of agni that helps differentiate food allergy versus food intolerance
Food Allergy: An Abnormal Immune Response
Probably less than 6% of the population has a true allergic reaction to a molecule in the food that sets off an anaphylactic reaction or a response that seriously compromises the ability to breathe and can lead to death if not promptly treated 90% of allergic reactions are related to milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish Even trace amounts of a food allergen can cause a reaction
SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO FOODS
Respiratory
Runny nose or nasal congestion
Sneezing
Asthma (difficulty breathing)
Coughing
Wheezing
Breathing difficulties
Skin
Swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, face and/or throat (angioodema)
Urticaria (hives)
Rashes or dreness
Itching (pruritus)
Eczema
Gastrointestinal
Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Colic
Bloating
Systemic
Anaphylactic shock (severe generalised shock)
In the food allergy the immune system generally protects the body from harmful foreign proteins by generating a response to eliminate them Allergy is essentially "immunity gone wrong" where a normally harmless substance is perceived as a threat -an allergen- and attacked by the body's immunological defenses In a true allergic reaction, the body produces antibodies (a protein that specifically binds to another protein called antigen -in this case the allergen- to deactivate it and remove it from the body)
Food Allergy versus Food Intolerance: Why It's Best to Know the Difference
On the other hand food intolerance from an energy science point of view is a result of poor agni That is, the body's digestive power is unable to digest completely the foods that have been ingested This leads to a number of GI symptoms
Poor appetite Fear anxiety loneliness sadness Heaviness in stomach Confusion
Burps smell of food Apathy and/or repulsion Coated tongue Tissue emaciation
Bad breath Indecisiveness Restlessness Impatience
Constipation/diarrhea Weakness fatigue Foul gas(flatus) Emotional eating
Bloating Poor complexion Lack of luster Insomnia
As we can see the differences between an allergic reaction and poor agni are completely different Chances are that if we make the assumption of food allergy instead of food intolerance we will paint ourselves into the proverbial nutritional corner
Avoiding the Nutritional Corner
So the treatment of food intolerances from an energy science perspective is to improve agni
1 Eat according to your individual nutritional format....eating foods that are not according to the energy constitutional make up will produce food intolerance symptoms
2 Avoid IFC...this is like putting wet logs on your digestive fire
3 Use CCF tea on a regualar daily basis....this is a simple thing to do to enhance the digestive strength
4 Use of a culinary churan with each meal....there is a list at foods heal.com under nutritional tools
5 Herbs can enhance the digestive strength such as fresh ginger, chitrak, aloe vera
