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.