The Problem

The common cause for allergy symptoms is the chemical substance HISTAMINE.

Histamine is produced and stored by a special white corpuscle called a MAST cell. The MAST cell can release the stored HISTAMINE and the HISTAMINE causes your symptoms.

THE HISTAMINE EFFECT

HISTAMINE causes tissue to swell and leak fluid.

Eyes become red, itchy and sometimes swell and look like gelatin.

The nose swells and cause facial pressure and headaches.

The lung tissue swells and you cough, wheeze and have difficulty breathing.

Skin swells and you get hives.

Your stomach cramps and you get diarhea.

In all cases, HISTAMINE is the culprit.

WHY IS HISTAMINE RELEASED?

Reason Number 1 - Allergy

All humans produce three families of proteins in their blood to fight infection:

• Group G (IgG)
• Group M (IgM)
• Group A (IgA)

These proteins attack and kill invading bacteria, viruses, influenza and other diseases. Allergic people have an extra group of defending proteins called GROUP E (IgE). Only people with special genes make IgE. As an example, a person allergic to grass pollen makes IgE to the pollen each time they breath in the grass pollen. Eventually, enough IgE accumulates in your blood to cause symptoms. In all cases HISTAMINE is the culprit.

Symptoms occur when you breathe in the grass pollen and it is attacked by the IgE. This reaction between your IgE and the pollen causes your MAST cell to release HISTAMINE and you develop symptoms.

You can have many different IgE's to things you breathe in or eat. Over time, you continue to make more IgE and your symptoms worsen.

Reason Number 2 - Intolerance

There are many people who have symptoms but do not make an IgE. In this case, MAST cells absorb the irritating substance directly. This causes the MAST cell to release its HISTAMINE and the same symptoms as an allergy are produced.

An excellent example is cigarette smoke. Many people get itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and even nausea when exposed to cigarette smoke. This is because the cigarette smoke is directly absorbed by the MAST cell which then releases its HISTAMINE. The HISTAMINE then causes the symptoms.

Reason Number 3 - Leaky MAST Cells

The final cause of HISTAMINE release is a problem with the MAST cell itself. In this group, MAST cells are unable to keep the HISTAMINE inside the cells. The HISTAMINE leaks out just as helium leaks out of balloons and balloon slowly deflates.

The released HISTAMINE produces the same symptoms as group 1 or 2. However, there is no environmental substance starting the process.

This does not stop us from blaming something. Most often, doctors will say "It's your nerves". It is not your nerves, you simply have leaky MAST cells.