ALLERGY is an illness in which our environment plays an important part. When the body meets certain plant, animal, food or chemical substances (as well as certain viruses), it forms a defence against them. If that defence is imperfect, it can trigger allergy. Both the home and work environment can be the source of allergy-causing substances. Allergies have hit an alarming rate, affecting 40% of the population.

We are daily surrounded by a chemical 'soup' that can weaken and confuse our immune system, upset our natural defences and lead the body to abnormal responses such as allergy.

An 'allergen' is any substance that causes allergy. It is possible to use these allergens to test people for allergies. Allergies can be caused by things we breath (grasses, pollens, moulds, yeasts, house-mite, animal hairs etc); things we touch or which touch us (chemicals, animals and plants); things we eat or drink (drugs, foods and chemicals) and from insects (bites and stings from insects, including bees and wasps).

It also possible to test the body for exposure to environmental chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, hydrocarbons and heavy metals which may end up in the blood and body fluids.

People who prove to be allergic and know the trigger should try to avoid the offending substances. However, in many cases either they do not know the trigger or avoidance is not possible.

This is where testing at a specialised Allergy clinic comes in. As not all doctors are able to test for and identify the cause of allergies, you may need to seek a medical allergy clinic that specialises in these problems.

In order to successfully treat an allergy, it is necessary to identify the causative antigen if unknown, and show a causal relationship between the antigen and the disease being treated. This is done by various testing methods.

The testing doctor needs to not only understand the various allergies but also but how to differentiate them from non-allergic conditions of a similar nature, and how to treat the allergy. The doctor must also have a wide familiarity with plant, animals and micororganisms. Awareness of industrial processes including chemicals and solvents.

Testing helps to identify the offending substance. If avoidance is found to be impossible then an Environmental Physician is often able to reduce the body's abnormal reaction to the substance through various treatments.

This is illness induced by one or more causes present in our environment. In these days, compared with previous times, the body's immune system faces exposure to potentially toxic substances not previously existent. These exposures may cause immune system suppression and unrecognised environmental illness. It can lead to abnormal reactions to common everyday substances around us, producing Allergy. Some environmental allergens can cause severe skin trouble such as urticaria, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis and other rashes. Other allergens cause mood swings, headaches, visual disturbances and neck pain as well as heart irregularity, shakiness, faintness and fuzzy headedness - and many others symptoms, all of which can be successfully treated.