The holidays have passed and along with the new year, we have ushered in the season of cedar fever. Earlier this month, we reached the second highest count in recorded history. It may already seen too late to prevent allergies from ruining our new year but there is always time for prevention. By avoiding concomitant foods (keep on reading!) in our diet, you can find relief from many of following allergy symptoms and prevent allergies from taking over your life:
- runny nose
- itchy, watery eyes
- nasal blockage
- nasal drainage
- sneezing
- fatigue
- headache
- sore throat
- sinus congestion
Allergies from a Chinese Medicine Perspective
Chinese Medicine views allergies as congestion of Wei Qi in the five sense organs. Wei Qi, also called Defensive Qi, is analogous to our immune system. Its main function is to protect the body from pathogens trying to enter the body. It also warms, moistens, and nourishes the skin and muscles. It controls the temperature of the body by regulating sweating by opening and closing the pores. Therefore, when we have allergies, we actually have a problem with our body’s own defensive qi.
Lung and Wei Qi
The lungs are responsible for circulating the Wei Qi to the surface of the skin. This makes the function of the lungs very important. Weak Lung Qi means weak Wei Qi. When treating allergies during the allergy season, Chinese Medicine focuses on eliminating the symptoms by opening up the sinus cavities and relieving congestion. A focus is also on improving Lung Qi so the Wei Qi can move freely again. In months prior to allergy season, acupuncture and herbs can help prevent allergies by strengthening the lungs. Then the Defensive qi will be able to keep the pores closed to prevent allergens from entering the body.
Diet and Nutrition
Diet and nutrition are also important aspects of preventing allergies. In Chinese Medicine, the Wei Qi is partially created by the energy from the foods that we eat. If we are eating too much raw or greasy foods, dairy, or alcohol that bog down the digestive system, the Wei Qi will become congested and fail to circulate efficiently to protect the body. Eating congee for breakfast can help increase qi and blood and improve immunity.
Allergies from a Biomedical Perspective
In biomedicine, diet and nutrition are also important factors to mitigate symptoms. Concomitant foods are foods that produce a reaction only in the presence of an inhalant allergen, ie, pollen. This means that a reaction may only occur during cedar season. In the absence of cedar, there are no negative reactions to these foods. However, in the presence of a certain pollen, these foods may exacerbate allergic symptoms. Experiment with these concomitant foods. If you notice that these foods aggravate your symptoms, avoid them. If you notice that these foods do not effect your allergies, feel free to enjoy these foods.
PROVEN CONCOMITANT FOODS
TREES | |
cedar, juniper | beef, yeast (bakers, brewer’s malt) |
cottonwood | lettuce, wheat, tea |
elm | milk, mint, lettuce, chocolate |
oak | egg, apple, chestnuts, pears |
pecan, hickory | corn, banana, apple |
mesquite | cane sugar, orange |
GRASSES | |
General grasses | legumes (peas, beans, soybeans, cottonseed oil) grains : wheat, corn, rye, barley, oats, rice, millet |
timothy | apple, carrots, celery, pears |
ragweed | egg, milk, mint, banana, melons (watermelon, honey dew, cantaloupe), cucumber, zucchini, chamomile, sunflower seeds |
sage | potato, tomato |
pigweed, carelessweed | pork, black pepper, lettuce |
marshelder | wheat, tea |
chenopods, lamb’s quarters | egg, corn |
DUST
year round dust |
peanuts, peanut butter, shrimp, oysters, snails, clams, scallops |
MOLDS
year round molds |
mushrooms, aged cheese (esp blue cheese), coffee |
candida | cheeses, fermented beverages, black tea (use green tea), moldy foods, vinegar |
cystic breast disease | coffee, chocolate, cola |
poison ivy | pork, black pepper, cashew, mango, ginko |
viral infection | milk, mint, onion, chocolate, nuts |
latex | arrowroot, avocado, banana, chestnut, cinnamon, kiwi, melon, plantain, potato, tomato, walnut |
influenza vaccine | onion |
SYNERGISTIC FOODS – are those which, when combined and eaten together in the same meal, can cause an allergic reaction – even though when eaten separately they might cause only a mild reaction or none at all. For example, an apple may produce no reaction, or a mild but tolerable reaction, when eaten alone but when combined with an egg in the same meal, a severe reaction may occur.
PROVEN SYNERGISTIC FOODS
Corn | Banana |
Beef | Yeast (brewer’s, malt) |
Cane sugar | Orange |
Milk | Mint |
Egg | Apple |
Pork | Black Pepper |
POSSIBLE SYNERGISTIC FOODS
Wheat | Tea |
Pork | Chicken, beef |
Milk | Chocolate |
Cola | Chocolate |
Coffee | Cola, Chocolate |
Histamine and Tyramine Foods
There are also foods that contain histamine which can also aggravate symptoms. Avoid these as well to prevent allergies and their symptoms: strawberries, red wine, citrus, cheese and chocolate. Fermented foods can also contain histamine or due to the addition of yeast or mold in the fermentation process can increase allergic symptoms.
Foods that contain the chemical tyramine may trigger headaches. Foods that may have large amounts of tyramine include: fish, chocolate, alcoholic beverages, cheese, soy sauce, sauerkraut, and processed meat.
In conclusion, allergies are very complex, multi-faceted and highly individualized. Most people have good days and bad days. On bad days, think back to the day before about what you ate and on good days, look at your diet to see what you didn’t eat. This will help clue you in to what may be contributing to your allergic symptoms and help prevent allergies in the coming days. Be patient as you experiment with these lists of foods to avoid. In the meantime, come in for acupuncture and herbs to help manage the symptoms. And before the allergy season begins, come in for treatments to strengthen your Wei Qi in preparation for the season.