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Multiple Chemical Sensitivity caused by hypersensitivity of the brain |
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Written by Matthew Hogg BSc (Hons)
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Thursday, 19 April 2012 11:54 |
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New research into multiple chemical sensitivity shows that the brains of sufferers respond more easily and more strongly to stimuli than those of healthy individuals, supporting the 'central sensitization' theory as an explanation for the illness.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic condition in which those affected experience an array of non-specific symptoms including headaches, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, cognitive dysfunction, and a general feeling of being unwell, when exposed to minute amounts of chemical triggers such as synthetic fragrances and industrial pollution.
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The few scientists and physicians who have been actively investigating this disabling and increasingly common condition over the past few decades have long suspected that an initial sensitization of the brain might result in neurons subsequently firing when exposed to levels of stimuli that would normally be ignored. This would translate into someone affected by MCS having an unusually high level of brain activity when exposed to triggering chemicals and experiencing a host of neurologically-based symptoms such as those mentioned previously.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 19 April 2012 13:04 |
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Low level pollen exposure associated with asthma symptoms in kids |
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Written by Matthew Hogg BSc (Hons)
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Thursday, 05 April 2012 11:50 |
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The latest epidemiological research suggests exposure to even very small amounts of certain pollen types can trigger symptoms in children who suffer from asthma.
Asthma affects more than 300 million people worldwide and its prevalence is increasing on average by 50 per cent every decade. It currently affects 1 in 10 children in developed nations and is the third raking cause of hospitalization among children under the age of 15 years.
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Asthma is an atopic condition meaning that it shares a biological relationship with the allergic conditions hay fever and eczema/allergic dermatitis. These conditions are frequently "co-morbid" - meaning an individual who suffers from one is more likely to suffer from another. Also, a parent with an atopic condition is more likely to have a child who develops any for of atopic illness. The present study looked at the effects of ambient pollen exposure on asthma symptoms in all asthmatic children, whether they also had allergies to pollen or not.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 05 April 2012 13:05 |
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Elimination diets based on IgG testing prove effective for irritable bowel syndrome |
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Written by Matthew Hogg BSc (Hons)
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Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:48 |
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A new study has found that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sufferers have significantly higher positive IgG food intolerance test results than healthy individuals and that eliminating the foods identified from the diet brings substantial symptom relief.
The research was conducted by scientists working at the Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China - the aim - to determine the role of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to specific foods in diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) patients.
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The use of IgG testing is seen as controversial and unproven by many conventionally trained primary physicians and gastroenterologists. It has however been increasingly used by naturopathic physicians, nutritionists and various alternative medicine practitioners over the past couple of decades. A large number of commercial labs have sprung up offering IgG testing (most using the ELISA method) as a result. This latest study provides confirmation that such testing is indeed beneficial to IBS-D patients.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 29 March 2012 16:45 |
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Antibiotic exposure linked to allergic asthma in children |
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Written by Matthew Hogg BSc (Hons)
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Thursday, 22 March 2012 13:16 |
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New Canadian research suggests that exposure to commonly prescribed antibiotics increases both the incidence and severity of allergic asthma in children.
Allergic asthma affects more than 100 million people worldwide and its prevalence is increasing on average by 50 per cent every decade, particularly among children in industrialized countries. According to the Asthma Society of Canada, asthma affects at least 12 per cent of Canadian children.
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Over the past decade or so a rapidly growing body of research has made it apparent that the composition of our gut microbiota - that is, the microbes that inhabit our guts - play a large role in regulating our immune systems. Anything that disrupts the delicate balance of this microscopic ecosystem has the potential to cause immune dysfunction. Not surprisingly, antibiotic drugs which wipe out bacteria in the gut, as well as at the site of any infection intended to be treated, can have significant consequences not foreseen until recently.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 22 March 2012 14:17 |
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Acupuncture may relieve symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome according to ongoing research |
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Written by Matthew Hogg BSc (Hons)
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Friday, 09 March 2012 18:05 |
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A Harvard Medical School clinical instructor is investigating the use of acupuncture as a means of symptom relief in sick Gulf War veterans, so far with promising results.
According to a report published in 2008 and produced by an investigation mandated by the US Congress, approximately one in four US veterans of the 1991 Gulf War subsequently suffered from a chronic multi-symptom illness commonly referred to as Gulf War syndrome or Gulf War illness. This equates to upwards of 150,000 individuals in the US alone. A similar rate for troops of allied nations would take the total much higher.
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Like other chronic multi-system illnesses including chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia, which share many symptoms with Gulf War syndrome, there are no cures or proven treatments. Dr. Lisa Conboy believes that the ancient Eastern healing art of acupuncture offers a means to at least provide sick veterans with relief from their symptoms, which she states include "fatigue, skin rashes, muscle and joint pain, difficulty concentrating and emotional problems".
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Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 19:35 |
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