Linda Blanchard wrote:
>
>Welcome,

Your experiences with your child are common. The nervous system is
affected mainly by allergens and toxins. Milk contains the most highly
allergenic food substance(in my experience), casein. Allergens are
almost always proteins. There are other proteins in milk, but in my
experience, most reactions are to casein. Gluten is also common. If
casein is the culprit, all dairy foods (including cheese and yogurt)
should be avoided, along with all non dairy foods that contain any form
of caseinate (like tuna and cool whip and non dairy creamers and many
soy milk products). Some parents make the false assumption that the
allergy disappears eventually. The sensitivity may decline over time,
allowing for occasional exposure, but a return to regular exposure will
cause problems----probably different ones, but problems just the same.

We are all aware of toxins that affect behavior, like alcohol, caffeine,
valium, xanax, prozac, cocaine, marijuana, etc. Others that aren't so
well known are MSG and aspartame. I wonder about BHT and all the other
stuff that is added to processed foods. Toxins affect all people and are
dose dependent. Allergens affect those that have become sensitized.
Although there are varying degrees of sensitivity, the general rule is
that allergens are NOT dose dependent. A little dab'll do ya, as many at
this site have reported.

Allergens can affect any system, although the nervous system seems to be
highly susceptible. Common reactions are headaches, peripheral
neuropathies (like sciatica and carpal tunnel), pain (anywhere),
tingling, mood changes, altered energy level (either low or high), and
metabolic changes that can affect the ability to lose or gain weight.
These nervous system reactions are often hearded into "syndromes" and
renamed, like ADD, migraine, Raynaud's, Parkinson's, manic-depressive,
and on and on. The problem with arriving at one of these diagnoses is
that the treatment protocol is always drugs. Dietary manipulation and the
elimination of specific allergens and toxins is the way to go, and almost
always successful. But there's not much money in that approach, so don't
count on a doctor to choose that path.

Orthomolecular psychologists, like Abram Hoffer, M.D., have written about
the allergen/mood connection. I believe he has a web site. Also read
Doris Rapp, M.D. who wrote "Is This Your Child."
For more info on the diet/pain
connection: http://www.net-serve.net/nomilk/home.html
>Danile A. Twogood, D.C.