FAQ

What is a food allergy?
It is a response by your immune system to a food that the body mistakenly thinks is harmful. The immune system then creates specific antibodies to it. When you next eat that food the immune system will release large quantities of chemicals, including histamine to protect the body. The chemicals cause a cascade of allergic symptoms. Many body systems can be affected eg the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, the cardiovascular system and the skin.

Is a food allergy the same as a food intolerance?
No, a food intolerance does not necessarily involve the immune system. Lactose intolerance may be caused by the lack of the enzyme required to digest milk. A person suffering from lactose intolerance may have nasty symptoms like gas, bloating or abdominal pains

Why are some people allergic & others not?
It may be an inherited tendency. This is referred to as being atopic. (If both your parents have allergies you have a 70% chance of being allergic too.) Usually your immune system protects you from the effects of viruses & bacteria. If you are prone/ susceptible to allergies your body is reacting to allergens as if they were harmful invaders. Your immune system, your body's protector, may respond in a number of ways. One of these is to release histamines. This may result in allergy symptoms like itchy eyes, sneezing or a runny nose.

How does the desensitising system used by the Institute for Allergy & Environmental Therapy differ from other desensitising programs?
Unique to this system is the Synergist remedy invented by Don Harrison, the founder of the Institute. He used his homeopathic and pharmaceutical knowledge to develop this special remedy. The Synergist is taken before each desensitising remedy and greatly increases its effectiveness. It does not require lengthy food elimination and complicated procedures. It is very user friendly.

Some of the other desensitising methods may require lengthy and costly procedures. Sometimes these involve the use of injections, unpleasant for most people but especially so for children.

Has homeopathy really proved to be successful?
I quote from an article utilising information from the Glasgow Homeopathic hospital:
"I am a doctor studying human healing, testing the validity of orthodox & alternative medicines. I began sceptical of homeopathy, but spent 15 years doing controlled trials that appear to demonstrate the remedies work, over and above the useful healing effect of the general method of care"
For a good explanation of homeopathy & its origins click on www.alternativehealth.co.uk/subject/homeopathy.htm