Studies showed Reishi extract is effective against all four types of allergic reactions including positive effects against asthma and contact dermatitis. Reishi works in 3 ways:

• it inhibits histamine release from mast cells
• it regulates and balances the immune system
• it is anti-inflammatory

‘Reishi’s anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties inhibit the release of histamine thus preventing or alleviating allergic sensitivity reactions’. Optimum Nutrition Magazine.

Reishi strengthens and stimulates the immune system to attack bacteria, virus and cancer cells. However, and unlike other immune boosting herbs, Reishi has the extraordinary capacity to regulate and balance the immune system when it is overactive and has over compensated in autoimmune conditions like allergies and is an approved treatment in Japan for myasthenia gravis, a severely debilitating autoimmune disease.

Histamine mediated allergic reactions are chronically elevated pro inflammatory immune responses. The immune system responds as if it is under attack from what is perceived to be a dangerous and potentially life threatening foreign body. Medical science and drug research are target specific, focusing on treating the symptoms of allergies and do not consider the causative factors underlying allergic responses i.e. the natural defence mechanisms of the body. Reishi works on the underlying cause for the condition and not just the symptoms.

Reishi’s anti-inflammatory benefits are thought to be partly due to its strong antioxidant action. The immune system and antioxidant activity becomes weaker with age, hence the rising incidence of life threatening infections in older people. Reishi is a powerful antioxidant destroying damaging free radicals implicated in ageing and many diseases, including cancer and one reason why it is called ‘The Long Life Herb’ and ‘The Great Protector’. A compound in Reishi, GLB 7, actually slows production of free radicals. Recent research proved that when free radical damage was reduced the subjects lived 20% longer. Antioxidants have an extraordinary ability to forestall age related changes to the immune system and even reverse many aspects of immune function in people with damaged immune systems.

Although new to the west Reishi has been rated the top and most important herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for over 2000 years with Ginseng in second place and so highly treasured it was traded for its own weight in gold and only available to Emperors. Now it is the most thoroughly researched herb in Asia with over 200 active ingredients and unique compounds that are the most biologically active obtainable from any plant source. Oleic acid and cyclooctasulfur are the main active ingredients that inhibit histamine release from mast cells.

Reishi and Cordyceps are very safe and can be taken over prolonged periods without side effects. In fact they have an accumulative effect and the longer they are taken the better they work.

From prweb.com

Living with allergy can be really hard but what do you think can be harder than an allergy that prevents you from drinking one of the most basic staple of America, milk?

It seems the world evolves around dairy. When we talk about it, what always come in mind is milk and milk products. In the hierarchy of food requirements, it is a daily dietary need.

Milk is found in any creamed/milked recipes: salads, soups, pastries, cakes, candies, cheese – name it all. It is what keeps infants alive in the absence of mother’s milk! When dairy is a top grosser item in grocery stores, it is ironically, also a top-allergy causing substance around. For some, this can be pretty hard especially for the moms who do not know what to give to their children who are allergic to milk.

What is the synthesis that makes dairy a cause of allergy?

Two terminologies must be tackled when talking about dairy allergy to avoid confusion. First is Lactose Intolerance and the other is Milk or Dairy Allergy.

Lactose Intolerance is present in people who produce low levels of enzyme called lactase in the intestine. With this enzyme lacking in the stomach, a person will not be able to metabolize larger amounts lactose or milk sugar present in dairy products. The result is retention of water causing diarrhea in intestines.

The retained water ferments, causing gas pain, flatulence and bloating. These symptoms of the lower abdomen could last from 12 to 48 hours (the time food process is completed in the intestine). With this length of time, secondary symptoms could be caused by other food intakes. The immediate intolerance could be felt at once because of peristalsis or muscle movements pushing the food and causing pressures inside.

Normally part of aging process, people may end up having lactose intolerance and this does not exclude the vulnerability of infants who are more delicate to reactions.

Milk Or Dairy Allergy is when the immune system reacts to milk protein. The two proteins in milk are casein and whey. The body naturally reacts to foreign substances producing protective antibodies to counter these detected “foreign elements” which includes viruses, bacteria and other allergens.

When milk proteins leak into the bloodstream, the antibodies detect it the same way causing several allergic symptoms. It has an obsolete association with protein intolerance, and lately been considered hypersensitivity.

Now, having defined the two basic facts about milk and the body reactions after taking it, the solutions to relieve its symptoms are easier to deal with.

Handling Dairy Allergy is easier to manage for adults because they can avoid it altogether. As of infants, it is not as easy because it can even leak even in breast milk. In this case, a doctor’s help will do.

Practically the best solution is to use “soy milk” as alternative. For adults, goat milk with lower concentration of casein protein is more tolerable than cow’s milk. If there are still any reactions, then that is the time to stop taking any, after determining that it is really the cause.

For people prone to milk/dairy allergies, the initial treatment is to stop taking allergenic diets for at least 3 weeks. These food groups include: wheat, dairy, eggs, corn, soy, citrus fruits, nuts, peanuts, tomatoes, food coloring and preservatives, coffee, and chocolate. This will not cure the ailment but it will help the examining doctors to determine the reaction properly.