A Functional Medicine Approach to Allergies

Allergic and related diseases increase inflammation and may put you at risk for developing other conditions.^1,2 With health resilience playing a crucial role in the course of allergy-related conditions, treating the underlying causes may modify the immune system response. Atopic diseases are a class of diseases related to immune system responses such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema, many of which are common childhood chronic conditions.³ 

Commonly known as an “atopic march,” allergy-related illness often begins in early life and can disrupt general development and well-being;^1,4-6 it is all too common for clinicians to see adult patients who have been suffering from allergies for most of their lives. 

IFM educator Kara Fitzgerald, ND, IFMCP, describes such a case, in which a 60-year-old female patient experienced hay fever, asthma, and chronic allergic sinusitis. Dr. Fitzgerald used a “6R protocol,” which is an enhanced version of IFM's “5R protocol” for gut health, to address the root cause of the patient’s atopic disease. Treatment included appropriate laboratory testing, targeted supplementation, and steps to reduce gut inflammation. Thus far, the patient has reported only occasional asthma flares and no further sinusitis episodes.

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