Allergy symptoms occur when your body’s immune system overreacts to harmless environmental substances such as cat dander, dust, or pollen. Mast cells and basophils start releasing histamine and cause an inflammatory response manifested as red eyes, itchiness, runny nose, eczema, hives, or asthma. Some patients may even develop mast cell activation syndrome and become oversensitive to histamine. 

illustration of allergy symptoms

Skin and blood tests are utilized to check for IgE-mediated allergies. A Functional Medicine doctor will also test for IgG and IgA-mediated more subtle allergies.  Although antihistamines and steroids can give immediate symptomatic relief they would not enhance immune function and can indeed weaken the immune system. Our approach is to strengthen your immune system by healing leaky gut syndrome, removing heavy metals, and using vitamin drips such as the Myers’ Cocktail, Glutathione, and IV Vitality.  Myers’ Cocktail has magnesium which will relieve constricted airways in the lungs.  High-dose vitamin C in the Vitality drip will reduce histamine release and make histamine break down faster once it is released.  (Vitamin C deficiency can increase blood levels of histamine). N-Acetyl Cysteine is also utilized to stabilize mast cells.

Bioflavonoid-rich foods such as cherries, dark grapes, broccoli, red and green peppers, and drinking herbal teas can also be very helpful. High histamine foods such as dairy, sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, kombucha, cured meat such as sausage or salami, alcohol, fermented foods such as soy sauce and sourdough bread, tomato, eggplants, spinach, apple cider vinegar, and ketchup should be avoided.

happy young woman holding a flower

Learn more about Allergies Treatment:

Dr. Shiva Lalezar will treat the underlying causes of your allergies.  She employs an integrative approach, combining the best conventional therapies with the latest techniques and treatments in Functional Medicine for optimal results.

Call the Health & Vitality Center at 310-477-1166 or click here to schedule an appointment. We are one of the leading Functional Medicine centers in Los Angeles.

 

Testimonials

“I would like to thank Dr. Lalezar because when I started seeing her I was experiencing headaches almost daily and occasional full blown migraines. I was often anxious and the most trivial things would trigger anxiety attacks. My exercise-induced asthma was getting worse… Not good for a high school athlete.

I was taking Advair in the morning and at night time, and taking an Albuterol inhaler almost daily. With the help of Dr. Lalezar and her recommendations, including a gluten free diet, headaches are rare (and usually from not sticking to my diet) My anxiety is under control and after 6 weeks I completely discontinued the use of Advair. Now I only use my inhaler on an occasional basis. Thanks to Dr. Lalezar I’ve experienced significant improvement in how I feel, not only physically but also emotionally.”

Jenna Drucker – Age 14

Jenna Drucker – Age 14

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