Chronic stress can compromise our immune function, which can lead to all kinds of diseases getting worse. I.J. Elenkov et al. at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, localized a corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. This hormone stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol to fight stress. In humans, CRH is found in the inflamed tissues of patients with severe autoimmune diseases. These researchers demonstrated that CRH activates mast cells, leading to the release of histamine, which ends in fluid leaking from blood vessels. Thus, the activation of the stress system through the direct and indirect effects of CRH may influence the susceptibility of an individual to certain autoimmune diseases, allergies, infection, or even cancer.
In Chinese medicine, every kind of disease can be linked with indigestion. When our digestion is not optimized, the food cannot be processed properly, thus the minerals, protein and good fat can become toxin to trigger immune reactions. In order to avoid an early onset of allergies, parents should feed children homemade foods as much as they can, especially when they are sick and have weak digestive functions. Parents should also try to avoid feeding children barbecued meat because well-cooked meat has a much smaller chance of inducing food allergies. Parents should start baby food as early as 6 months of age to raise a healthy child. We should avoid long-term use of antibiotics because antibiotics can damage our digestive system. Drinking alcohol every day, even just one glass can inflame your stomach and intestinal membrane. In order to improve your digestion, you need to eat 80% full for each meal; do not drink too much water while you are eating; try to drink water 30 min before you are eating. Apple cider vinegar helps the stomach digest food more efficiently, thus it can help reduce allergy symptoms.
