Health educator Layna Berman discusses allergies, their origins, and treatment options using diet, nutrients, herbs, and homeopathy.

Also available on CD at Shows on CD.

SHOW INTRODUCTION Want statistics? 300 million people suffer from asthma with another 100 million joining them over the next 20 years, this from a report by the Global Initiative for Asthma, launched in 1993 by US health agencies and the World Health Organization. 40 % of American children have allergic rhinitis, including hay fever and allergies to inhalants like dust mites and cat dander. Eczema affects more than 15% of children in Europe and the US, with an even higher percentage in Japan. Food allergies are going up too, with peanut allergies nationwide doubling between 1997 and 2002. I'm getting these numbers from an excellent article in NewScientist magazine called "The Allergy Epidemic" April 16-22 2005. Today's topic: how allergies occur, who's at risk, what environmental conditions, foods or nutrients that make them worse, and non-pharmaceutical treatments that address the underlying causes, unlike pharmaceuticals which only suppress symptoms.