The Centre For Balanced Medicine
Introduction
An allergy is a sensitivity to environmental factors or foods, which results in symptoms. Allergies have become increasingly common over the past 50 years, with the prevalence of atopic allergy approximately doubling every 10 years (Sibbald B et al 1990), and the incidence of food intolerance also rising. The result is that anything up to 45% of the UK population may have allergic symptoms, ranging from itching, rashes, runny nose, sore or itchy eyes, wheeze, asthma, and abdominal pain to life threatening anaphylactic reactions. One analysis of national databases found that 30% of adults and 39% of children had been diagnosed with an atopic condition (Gupta et al 2004), but these figures did not include food intolerances which according to Allergy UK are experienced by 45 % of the population.
At the Centre for Balance Medicine, we apply the same approach to allergy problems as to other health issues. That is, we use an holistic whole health approach, drawing on a wide range of interventions according to need. After a detailed history, we might use a number of methods to identify the allergens involved, including appropriate blood tests, elimination and rotation diets, allergen exclusion trials and patch tests. Whilst a treatment programme might include an appropriate range of suggested interventions, the mainstay of our allergy treatment is often EPD (enzyme potentiated desensitisation). This is a safe, low dose desensitisation programme, which is one of the most effective forms of immunotherapy available. Please read our EPD pages for more information on this desensitisation treatment.
The Centre’s allergy programme can be used to treat traditional allergies such as:
- Asthma
- Urticaria
- Eczema
- Rhinitis and hay fever
- Allergies to insect stings
- Allergies to drugs and other chemicals
- Food allergy
It may also be effective for syndromes which may be induced or exacerbated by reactions to foods or environmental factors, including:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Crohns disease
- Migraine
- Arthritis
- Chronic fatigue syndromes
- Hyperactivity
If you are interested in finding out more about how Balanced Medicine and EPD may help you or your patient, please contact us.
References:
Gupta, R. et al, 2004. Burden of allergic disease in the UK: secondary analyses of national databases. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 34 (4), 520-526.
Sibbard, B. Rink, E. de Souza, M., 1990. Is the Prevalence of atopy increasing? British Journal of General Practice, 40, 338-40.