Over the past few years, I've repeatedly asked myself whether it's just me or whether it's a fact that allergies are becoming increasingly common.
We have allergies that affect the lungs, allergies that manifest through the skin, affect the eyes, upset the intestines, and much more. A feeling of helplessness often sets in, and the range of medications and their side effects is constantly growing.
Often, the choice between treatment approaches is a choice between the lesser of two evils, and if you're not careful, you end up with both. The only remaining option is often euthanasia.
But first, let's look at what actually happens in the body that causes it to turn against itself in this way?
In an allergy, otherwise harmless external influences trigger excessive reactions. This occurs through mast cells, and as the name of these small cells suggests, they are indeed large and quite full. They are filled with tiny vesicles containing histamine, the substance that then drives us crazy. Histamine dilates blood vessels, leading to redness, itching, and swelling—the typical signs of inflammation. Thus, histamine is involved in every inflammatory process. Therefore, it's obvious that if you know you have an allergic reaction, you want to avoid it and often resort to histamine-suppressing measures.
Mast cells are primarily located in the skin, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. As soon as a foreign protein enters the cell, immunoglobulins called IgE are activated. IgE antibodies are like little costumed figures at Halloween. They run from mast cell door to mast cell door, ringing the bell. Because the mast cell doesn't need to be asked twice, it releases its histamine reserves, and anything in excess causes the body to overreact. However, in a balanced amount, histamine is a great help in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. It is important for controlling deep sleep phases. Too much, however, disrupts sleep and makes it difficult to fall asleep as well as stay asleep.
In humans, it is known that narcolepsy is often associated with elevated histamine levels. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder, and histamine is a neurotransmitter, meaning it promotes wakefulness and alertness in the brain. An imbalance disrupts this process. Narcolepsy Although little research has been done on narcolepsy in horses, horses suffer from the same allergic symptoms as humans, and therefore it is likely that narcolepsy is comparable to what has been researched in humans.
As you can see, histamine has many functions and its use in the body is very complex.
Another illness is also linked to histamine, one that repeatedly causes problems for many people. Uveitis , better known in the equine world as periodic eye inflammation, involves histamine, which plays a role in the inflammatory process. It acts as an inflammatory mediator, leading to the release of other inflammatory substances, which can contribute to redness, swelling, and itching. Uveitis can be triggered by various causes, such as autoimmune reactions or infections. Histamine then contributes to the inflammatory response in the eye. A distinction is made between a single episode of uveitis and recurrent uveitis. The latter can ultimately lead to blindness.
asthma as well as hay fever Histamine and other allergens are also closely linked. Histamine is a messenger substance that, as we have already learned, is released during allergic reactions. In allergic asthma, contact with allergens—the tiny, disguised Halloween-style IgE antibodies, such as pollen or house dust mites, as well as many others—leads to the release of histamine. This leads to inflammation in the airways, which can trigger the typical asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness. Thus, histamine plays a central role here as well.
Eczema sufferer/ Summer eczema
You probably already guessed it. Here we have the same process, and in affected horses, as well as humans and other animal species, an external influence is more than evident. In horses, it's the black fly whose saliva triggers the release of histamine when it bites. Scaly skin, intense itching, sometimes leading to bleeding and severe swelling, are the result. But mosquito or bee stings can also cause exaggerated reactions and are not without risk, sometimes even life-threatening. The so-called rain eczema also falls into this category and shows similar symptoms.
The same applies to the Food intolerance . Here, too, we see the same mechanisms at play, only these occur in the gastrointestinal tract. Gut restoration is very valuable in this case, but in my experience, that would only be the second step. If I can't restore mast cells to their "normal state," rebuilding the gut is not only a lengthy process but often characterized by relapses.
As you can see, there are countless processes in the body that can trigger a histamine-induced reaction. But are there any alternatives to the conventionally known methods?
Yes, they exist.
Let's briefly summarize again.
The trigger for all inflammatory and therefore often allergic reactions is an excess of the messenger substance histamine (I recommend perhaps rereading Part 1 to get back into the swing of things).
The principle is: the dose makes the poison, because we remember here too: histamine is important for the sleep-wake cycle. Therefore, it's not just a bad thing.
I've spent a long time researching and searching for alternative options. And I've found them: alternatives that can help regulate allergic processes.
In the process, I came across several studies that were groundbreaking for me, allowing me to delve deeper into these processes.
As we have learned, allergic reactions are accompanied by inflammatory processes. Inflammation always manifests itself as follows: redness, swelling, pain.
Rubor is redness. Tumor is swelling, and dolor is pain. Unpleasant symptoms that one wants to suppress as quickly as possible. However, many over-the-counter allergy medications have the property of completely suppressing the neurotransmitter histamine. Side effects often include increased fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and itching. We then observe that when histamine is completely suppressed, it triggers numerous mechanisms. Therefore, the goal should be to reduce the excess and encourage mast cells to reconsider their histamine release, rather than immediately sending out a barrage of histamine at every moment.
Allergic reactions are in 100% of cases always an indication of a vitamin C deficiency. Unfortunately, our food is often deficient in vitamin C, and even the daily recommendations are really only intended to keep someone from dying of thirst. Vitamin C breaks down histamine, preventing it from acting. The actual need for vitamin C is far higher than what is promoted here in Germany. We recommend a daily dose of 250mg, which sadly puts us at the bottom of the European rankings. All other countries have a recommended intake of 500mg or more. Tragically, these small amounts of this very important vitamin can lead to chronic degenerative diseases.
Throughout all my research, I couldn't help but wonder whether vitamin C is even a vitamin at all, or rather a crucial single nutrient for the body, so essential is it. It's water-soluble, so overdosing is impossible. The sign that the body is saturated is looser stools. Then you simply reduce the dosage. It's that simple. However, there are occasional reports of nausea when taking vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid powder (available in any drugstore). This can happen, and to counteract it, you should switch to plant-based sources of vitamin C. There's one plant whose vitamin C content is 40 times higher than that of an orange, 10 times higher than that of bell peppers, acerola, and rosehips. It's camu camu.
In order to properly supply the body with this vitamin, which is also in a form that is absolutely cell-permeable, the plant Camu Camu was used here.
So now we have a vitamin that breaks down histamine. This means it's in fragmented form, but now it needs to be eliminated. For this, another vitamin is needed: vitamin B6. B6 converts the histamine and makes it available to the body in a different form that no longer causes harm.
Here too, Mother Nature has provided plenty. The nettle, specifically the nettle leaf, has the highest vitamin B6 content. B6 and vitamin C work together here to clear the soil.
However, allergic reactions also involve other symptoms that need to be brought back into balance. These include so-called oxidative stress, which is clearly visible in an allergic reaction. Oxidative stress can be explained as follows: there is an imbalance in the body between free radicals, substances that damage cells (the term "radicals" already hints at their nature), and antioxidants, substances that bind the free radicals. Oxidative stress then manifests itself in the form of inflammation, which we have already mentioned: redness and swelling. The typical signs.
Since some forms of allergy have been present for a long time and can lead to chronic degenerative processes in the joints, nettle seeds were added. These tiny seeds have proven extremely helpful in numerous studies for arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatic conditions, etc., as they not only have anti-inflammatory properties but also contain a variety of additional proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
But the best is yet to come.
The aronia berry.
I was speechless at what I read when I started researching this small, unassuming fruit. From hay fever to uveitis, the periodic eye inflammation. One study followed another, and the results left me speechless. What a versatile fruit!
From liver-protective and anti-inflammatory to glutathione-regulating. Glutathione is found in every single cell, and a deficiency allows free radicals free rein to damage cells. Glutathione is the cell's own antioxidant and its defense system. If it is present in low or minimal amounts, it's no wonder that significant tissue damage can occur. This is where the aronia berry can help.
But it's also unbeatable for stomach lining damage (a recurring and painful issue, especially in many animals), as it has a regulating effect and doesn't suppress stomach acid. Because... everything in the body doesn't come for free. There's only too much or too little.
Things got really interesting with uveitis. In 2005, a study was conducted on rats. These were infected with uveitis and divided into two groups. One group received aronia berries, the other a cortisone preparation. 100mg of aronia was just as effective as 10mg of cortisone, but the former had no side effects.
Aronia berries themselves have a high OPC content, but their composition differs from the OPC we usually use, which comes from grape seeds. However, both work together like gears and complement each other. OPC is also an antioxidant, protects cells, and can contribute to cardiovascular health.
I should write a separate article about the aronia berry and its effects sometime, this little fruit is so rich in nutrients.
Now you've had another small glimpse into my thought processes, and I hope I was able to help you gather some new insights.
Because illness is simply a lack of energy. And every substance, every organ has its own level. Let's give the body back what it needs to regain its health.
Yours, Vera
