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Q

My son is 9 years old and has been diagnosed with food intolerances immunoglobulin G (IgG) to many foods. Can homeopathy help manage this?

A food allergy is an immune system response. It is caused when the body mistakes an ingredient in food – usually a protein – as something that can harm the body, and attacks it via the immune system. The most common food allergies are to shellfish, nuts, fish, eggs, peanuts, and milk. Compared to that is food intolerance, which is a delayed onset response of the immune system that is mediated by IgG antibodies. It occurs when something in food irritates a person’s digestive system or when a person is unable to properly digest or break down the food. Intolerance to lactose, which is found in milk and other dairy products, is the most common food intolerance. The difference between an allergy and intolerance to food? Food allergies can be triggered by even a small amount of the food and occur immediately and every time the food is consumed. People with food allergies are generally advised to avoid the offending foods completely. However, when it comes to food intolerance, the symptoms do not show until hours or even days after the triggering food has been consumed. Due to this delayed reaction, it is often impossible to draw a discernible relationship between the symptom and a certain food. This makes detecting the cause of the complaints difficult. A blood test for IgG antibodies can offer certainty here. Once these results are known, it is essential to change one’s diet accordingly. Symptoms of a food allergy can range from mild to severe, and the amount of food necessary to trigger a reaction varies from person to person. These symptoms may include: rash or hives, nausea, cramping stomach pain, diarrhoea, itchy skin, shortness of breath and chest pain. Anaphylaxis is a very serious and potentially fatal allergic reaction that involves a sudden drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness and body system failure.

Symptoms of food intolerance include nausea, stomach pain, gas, cramps or bloating, chronic bowel disease, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhoea, headaches, irritability or nervousness, weight gain and skin eruptions/ eczemas. Both allergies and food intolerances can be treated with homeopathy very effectively, and a detailed history of the person is needed to select the right constitutional remedy.

When on homeopathic treatment, you will see a reduction of the intensity and frequency of the symptoms. I also recommend your son avoids foods he is intolerant to for a certain period of time. These can be reintroduced gradually later on. Additionally, pre- and pro-biotics are also very beneficial during treatment.