Now Also Consulting in Central London & Glasgow

Perennial (allergic) Rhinitis

Can be caused by dust mites, food intolerance or even chemical sensitivity.

Perennial Rhinitis and Allergy to Dust Mites

Many people with rhinitis have a simple allergy to house dust mites. The mites thrive in a warm, humid environment such as insulated, centrally heated homes; their habitat is in bed mattresses and soft furnishings. They cannot survive in low or very high temperatures and low humidity.

Some of our clients notice that their rhinitis, previously thought to be a permanent problem, actually clears within 48 hrs of arriving in any Mediterranean country or high in the mountains, where humidity is low, only to relapse on their return to the UK. Skin prick tests sometimes confirm that their main problem is allergy to dust mites or other airborne agents such as cats, dogs, moulds or pollens during the spring or summer. This proves that many of these symptoms, in the right environment or with the right management, can res

I would like to place on record a sincere thanks for helping me treat a severe case of allergic rhinitis with your injections. I used to suffer very badly virtually all year round with streaming nasal discharge and itching eyes and used to affect me at work. There have been no side effects.

A. H., Godalming

Rhinitis and Food Intolerance

It is a misconception that rhinitis is always caused by allergens in the air. Some people find that their symptoms get worse after eating some common foods but improve when they exclude them from their diet for 1-2 weeks. This reactivity is different from allergies to foods such as peanuts, which are fast and potentially severe. Food intolerance is a common cause of breathing problems, characterised by congestion and or mucus in the upper or lower airways. Many common foods are the usual culprits. Rhinitis caused by food intolerance remains unchanged in dry climates.

Rhinitis and Chemical Sensitivity

Through the years, many of our clients with rhinitis or asthma have noticed that, when their symptoms are bad, they become more sensitive to chemicals in the air, such as perfumes, cigarette smoke, detergents and others. In the majority of cases, this sensitivity clears when the rhinitis gets better. This said, there are occasions when the same chemicals act as primary causes of rhinitis, not just exacerbating factors.

Treatment for Rhinitis

Once the cause of the rhinitis symptoms has been identified, is it inhalants or is it food intolerance, the correct treatment will be recommended. For many desensitisation with the Enzyme Potentiated Desensitisation is very effective in bringing about symptom relief.

Clinical Trials re: Allergic Rhinitis

The following is a sample of papers to give a flavour of some of the evidence to support the view that allergy, environmental medicine and nutritional medicine have a major role to play in modern medical practice.

Children with Allergic Rhinitis and/or Bronchial Asthma treated with Elimination Diet
Ogle K., Annals of Allergy 1980 May: 44; pp273-8. 91% of 322 children showed significant improvement in the trial. View article

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?

Identifying the root cause

Detailed history offers useful clues as to possible causes
Identify your specific airborne allergens with skin tests or blood tests
Recommend effective ways to minimise contact with the allergen(s)
Guide you in identifying specific food intolerances. See allergy testing
Your resistance or immunity can be raised further with safe desensitisation, see EPD.

SPECIALIST TIPS AND NOTES

Approximately 25% of all cases of allergic rhinitis seen in our clinics are caused by food intolerance and another quarter have food intolerance combined with inhalant allergy.
We use two types of desensitisation, both safe and effective, with inhalant and food allergens. The Enzyme Potentiated Desensitisation and Neutralisation can switch off the reactions causing rhinitis. These methods have their own distinct features and can only be prescribed by qualified doctors who have been specially trained to use them; the aim is to improve or clear the rhinitis, allowing a reduction or phasing out of one's medications and reduce the need for ENT surgery.
Desensitisation is quite popular amongst those with close contact to animals such as cats, dogs or horses. See Desensitisation.