Histamine is a low-molecular-weight monoamine that binds to four different G-protein-coupled receptors, and has recently been demonstrated to regulate several essential events in the immune response. The histamine receptor type 2 (HR2) is coupled to adenylate cyclase and studies in different species and several human cells have demonstrated that inhibition of characteristic features of the cells by primarily cAMP formation dominates in HR2-dependent effects of histamine. (more…)

The cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC 4 , LTD 4 and LTE 4 ) are lipid mediators produced from an arachidonic acid precursor following a series of enzymatic steps. Arachidonic acid is firstly released from the phospholipid bilayer by phospholipase A 2 and may be metabolized by either the cyclooxygenase (COX) or 5-lipoxygenase pathway. Once the unstable precursor LTA 4 has been produced, it may be converted in neutrophils or monocytes to the noncysteinyl LTB 4 by LTA 4 hydrolase. In mast cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and basophils, LTA 4 may alternatively be converted into LTC 4 by LTC 4 synthase and subsequently into LTD 4 and LTE 4. (more…)

The mediators released by mast cells and basophils can be grouped into two categories:
(1) preformed substances contained within granules and
(2) newly generated chemicals synthesized following cellular activation.

These mediators comprise the effector function of the mast cell. Together they are able to increase vascular permeability, dilate vessels, cause bronchospasm, contract smooth muscle, and summon inflammatory cells. Few cells in the body produce compounds with such a large and varied spectrum of activity. (more…)

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the skin which usually starts in infancy. It is sometimes called ‘atopic eczema’ or even simply ‘eczema’. Recently, the term ‘atopic eczema dermatitis syndrome’ or eczema symptoms or infantile eczema has also been proposed to indicate the varied nature of this disease. The diagnosis is based on clinical features of a chronic itchy dermatitis with typical morphology and distribution and a relapsing and remitting course. (more…)

The symptoms of asthma occur together with variations in the diameter of medium- size airways such that it is increasingly difficult to exhale. Narrowing of the airways can occur because of smooth muscle contraction, edema or swelling of the wall, or increased mucus in the airways. However, it is increasingly clear that the pathologic event underlying most cases of asthma is acute inflammation of the airway walls. (more…)

If you have a mold allergy, gluten allergy, or had any other type of allergy, then you need to learn natural allergy treatments. The treatment is needed to enhance natural immune system and adrenal system begins to get stronger. (more…)

Antihistamines have been shown to be effective in seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. They improve quality of life scores, acute inflammatory response markers in atopic dermatitis asthma and symptom scores. Newer histamine H1-receptor antagonists may also have an antiplatelet-activating factor effect and are equally effective in seasonal allergic rhinitis. The antileukotrienes were developed in the 1980s. The first compounds of this novel class of anti-asthma drugs were registered in the second half of the 1990s. The mechanism of action of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) is based on counteracting the effects of cysteinyl leukotrienes at their receptor site (CysLT1 receptor) within the airways. (more…)

By definition, allergy is a condition where a person has hypersensitivity to an environmental, drug, or food antigen (allergen) caused by an altered or unusual immune system reaction to the antigen.

Allergenic foods can impact the lungs when an allergic reaction individual inhales food particles that may have been released when the food was cooked or that were dispersed in aerosol form. Allergy to the allergens in cooked food has been reported by highly allergic patients who were exposed to their allergenic foods (say, fish, shellfish, or eggs) in an enclosed area (for example, a restaurant dining room) or during meal preparation. Most cases of asthma triggered by aerosolized food allergens involve adults engaged in specific occupations that regularly expose them to the allergens. In contrast, most cases of asthma in children are triggered when the allergen is eaten, not inhaled.

Many experts believe that if a baby can be protected from becoming sensitized to the most highly allergenic foods when their healthy immune system and the digestive tract are in the most vulnerable stage for allergy to develop, the incidence of lifelong food allergy and potentially life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to foods will be reduced and hopefully entirely prevented. When a baby has been identified to be at risk for developing allergy, measures to reduce allergic sensitization might be implemented at birth and the problems associated with future food allergy may be significantly reduced. However, as we shall see in later discussions, experts disagree on the best way to avoid this early allergic sensitization.

The reaction of asthmatics to these chemical compounds is not an allergy, but is more correctly described as allergy intolerance because the initial response is not a triggering of the immune system. The process involves an increase in the level of the inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the bronchospasm of asthma. These mediators include histamine and leukotrienes. They are released during the reaction to an allergen, and cause the muscular contractions that result in the difficulty in breathing and wheezing that are typical of asthma. By inhibiting (or turning off) other types of mediators, the chemicals in the food additives cause an increase in the level of antihistamine and leukotrienes. This results in increased bronchospasm, and a definite worsening of the asthma symptoms.

Oral allergy syndrome is an allergic reaction to food that is confined to the oral cavity (i.e., to the lips, and around the lips, roof of the mouth, tongue, hard and soft palate, and uvula) and adjacent structures. It differs from other food allergy in that its symptoms do not appear in any other location in the body, and always accompany respiratory allergy to inhaled allergens of plants, particularly plant pollens. Of course, symptoms in the mouth, throat, and upper respiratory tract can be part of a generalized reaction to foods, but in this case they are more accurately described as oral allergy symptoms. The term oral allergy syndrome applies specifically to pollen allergy (pollinosis) accompanied by reactions to certain raw foods when they are in direct contact with oral tissues. Individuals with Oral allergy syndrome typically have hay fever symptoms caused by allergies to trees, grasses, and weeds. They experience irritation in the mouth (lips, tongue, roof of the mouth) and sometimes the throat after eating specific types of raw fruits, vegetables, and sometimes nuts.

When it comes to relation to natural hives remedies for quick relief, you must first understand what causes the hives, and when it occurs. The Hives are caused when the chemical histamine is released into your body when you get contact with something you allergic with (allergen).

The hives normally indicated by a red area of acute inflammation, like a flare. (more…)

The cross-sensitivity between aspirin and Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs in patients who manifest pseudo-allergic reactions to aspirin affecting the respiratory tract occurs because Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, like aspirin, inhibit COX-1, so that arachidonic acid metabolism is diverted towards the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, with resulting increased production of cysteinyl leukotrienes, which mediate the appearance of symptoms such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Selective inhibitors of Cyclo-Oxygenase-2 or COX-2 were developed primarily to reduce the incidence of adverse events affecting the gastrointestinal tract symptoms, but the possibility that these agents might be less likely to result in other varieties of adverse reaction dependent on COX-1 inhibition has attracted interest. This review examined the evidence for their greater safety in this respect. (more…)