Scientists have long known that bacterium Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) plays a leading role in development of acne vulgaris, scourge afflicting some 80% of teenagers and many adults as well. A normally harmless microbe that lives in hair follicles of every person, P. acnes helps cause acne when follicles become plugged with sebum, a natural oil produced by body.

Recently a team of German scientists, led by microbiologist Dr. Holger Brueggemann, mapped genetic code of P. acnes microbe. They discovered that it has a circular chromosome with 2,333 genes, many of which had surprising destructive abilities. "We were astonished to see how many genes were involved in degrading human tissue," said Dr. Brueggemann.

In a healthy body, allergic response serves to protect against invasion by harmful agents. Secretions and inflammation help our immune cells get into affected tissue, dilute toxic agent and help wash it away. "Allergies" become a health problem when an excessive and unwanted allergic response occurs to particles that are part of our normal environment and are not actually dangerous to body.

Some individuals are born with allergies, and have a genetic susceptibility to them. However, most allergies are acquired after birth. While inborn allergies can often be helped by measures discussed in this article, acquired allergies are generally more responsive to such behavioral approaches, and are main focus of this article.

The Main Cause of Allergies Although pollen, dust, dander, trees and other allergens are trigger for allergies in susceptible people, they are not underlying cause. Many people are exposed to these substances every day without developing allergic reactions. Rather, it is inner condition of body that determines whether an allergic response results from exposure to an allergen.

According to Maharishi Ayurveda, allergies result when body has accumulated excess wastes, toxins and impurities. How does this happen? According to Ayurvedic theory, improperly digested foods (called ama), and impurities, such as chemical additives, are absorbed into body, travel through circulation and lodge in respiratory tissues, skin and other tissues prone to allergy. These accumulated wastes and toxins block channels, trapping toxins inside tissues, and activating immune system. When additional allergens such as pollen or dust arrive on scene, already irritated immune system goes into “high gear,” creating symptoms of an allergy attack.

Symptoms will vary depending on tissue that has accumulated toxic waste (ama visha.). If tissue involved is digestive tract, diarrhea can result. If in skin, a rash or hives may occur. And if respiratory tract is involved, sneezing, inflammation and mucous drainage will occur.

Since source of allergies lies with our diet and digestion, adopting a proper diet and improving digestion are “job one” in fight against allergies. Next, it is valuable to use internal cleansing regimens to reduce clogging and accumulated impurities.

Recommended Diet for Allergies

The main dietary and eating guidelines for allergies are as follows.

1. Eat largest meal of day at lunch, between 12:00 and 1:00 PM, when your digestion is strongest. The sun-- heat element in nature-- enlivens agni, fire of digestion and metabolism, making our digestion strongest at height of day. Ayurveda recommends eating largest meal when you are most capable of digesting it.

2. Avoid eating heavy meals in evening. The single biggest contribution to toxins and clogging in body comes from eating heavy evening meals, particularly after 7 PM. Since digestion is much weaker in evening, it is vital to eat lighter, more easily digested meals at that time. Eat a warm, freshly cooked vegetarian evening meal without fried foods, desserts, cheese, yogurt or other curdled products, since these are heavy for digestion and cause more blockage, congestion and mucous.

3. Eat warm food. Warm food is much easier to digest than cold food. Ayurveda recommends we eat fresh warm food, freshly prepared. Avoid micro-waving, which has been shown to destroy over 90% of protective antioxidants in food. Also, avoid cold drinks, ice cream, frozen yogurt and other cold foods.