Most of the world’s population experiences an inflammatory response to external stimuli every day. These stimuli range from airborne allergens to food sensitivities, and the inflammatory response varies across a wide range. Conventional medicine defines an allergic reaction very narrowly, but that misses the point for patients. Whenever the consumption of certain nutrients results in an inflammatory response, we recognize this as an indication of a food sensitivity or allergy, depending on the severity of the reaction.
The holistic health community has seen a remarkable increase in the occurrence of food-related sensitivities in recent decades, particularly in patients with preexisting malnutrition caused by a nutrient-poor diet. Constant, long-term consumption of industrialized foods – laden with chemical preservatives and pesticides – results in an inevitable irritation of the intestines. Because the immune system is inextricably connected to the gut and its flora (our digestive bacteria), any irritation of the intestines leads to a disturbance of the immune system as a whole.
The long-term consequences of unresolved food allergies and sensitivities are severe. A compromised immune system is defenseless against external threats of illness or disease. For example, while there is significant evidence that dairy consumption is associated with higher risk of several forms of cancer, it’s likely that it is the inflammatory response rather than the dairy itself that raises the risk. In our experience, nearly the full range of illnesses we treat at Paracelsus, from autoimmune disorders to cancer, are tied to food allergies and sensitivities.
Conventional medicine promotes the use of quick-fix drugs to mask symptoms and reduce the body’s inflammatory response without ever identifying the root of the problem or healing the body from within. The orthodox approach to treating allergies and other autoimmune conditions simply does not take food sensitivities into consideration.
By contrast, Paracelsus patients are given a comprehensive test of potential allergens upon arrival, as the identification and elimination of food sensitivities are considered crucial elements of a patient’s path to wellness. Based on the results of this allergy testing, Paracelsus patients will receive a detailed, individualized nutrition program that will work in tandem with an intensive regimen of isopathic and orthomolecular remedies to rebuild the intestinal walls and heal gut flora. When patients adhere to both the diet plan and intestinal upbuilding program for a period of six months to two years, the immune system is strengthened and the inflammatory response to food allergens is significantly reduced, thereby transforming the patient’s quality of life.