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This
book makes important contributions regarding the entire clinical process
of identifying and eliminating the numerous miserable conditions associated
with allergies. The book is refreshingly eclectic in content, in that
the author, an acupuncture practitioner of long-standing, is working with
both allergy testing (primarily IgG, for delayed response allergic reactions,
or food intolerance) and Five Element Acupuncture.
Excellently illustrated throughout, Martin
Healy explains the basics of the immune system, the types of allergic
reactions, the two kinds of food allergies, the origins of bowel toxicity,
with additional material about Candida albicans. He explains issues
relating to babies and children, hormones and HRT, common conditions such
as IBS and migraine, and delineates the various types of allergy tests,
most particularly the IgG.
He discusses in detail dairy products and
numerous groups of foods, with particular emphasis upon tips regarding
the constituents of foods which are perceived to be common allergens,
such as wheat, dairy products and eggs. He very correctly stresses throughout
that since each individual’s biochemical metabolism is unique, that what
is perfectly healthy for one person may be tantamount to poison to the
next.
Another extremely useful and graphic feature
about this book is the extensive use of true case studies, highlighting
incredible stories of suffering which were alleviated or eliminated when
the individual’s allergies were identified and eliminated. One poor man,
52 years old, had been sneezing 700 times each day for 35 years!! What
is even worse is that he had done the trek from over 60 NHS doctors and
ended up in hospital three different times, but all to no avail. The doctors
couldn’t identify any allergies (they only used skin tests), so this gentlemen
was given steroids for over 20 years which gave him horrific side effects
including osteoporosis, cramp and low mineral count. Finally, he visited
an allergy clinic, where it was revealed that he was allergic to oats
and egg yolk. He had been eating a bowl of muesli every morning, which
was undoubtedly the source of this sneezing affliction.
The author is extremely lucid in discussing
the various components within certain foods which are likely to aggravate
symptoms in reactive individuals, particularly concerning dairy products,
eggs and wheat.
He also explains in a cogent manner why
stress probably lies at the source of many allergies, although of course
there are biochemical, immune and neurological interactions within the
body which exacerbate the condition. He describes how Five Element Acupuncture
is more focused upon the emotional causative factors of disease, in contrast
to Traditional Chinese Acupuncture which emphasizes more, the effects
of the external causative factors of disease.
There are many practical aspects to this
book, particularly regarding the process of allergy testing, the various
gradings of reactivity, and how long one should avoid eating each class
of reactive food.
My only slight criticism is in the style
of referencing at the back of the book, which lists the same book numerous
times throughout the reference list, rather than assigning it a single
number and reference. This ought to have been corrected by the publishers.
I would certainly recommend this book to
both allergy practitioners and sufferers.
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