Is celiac disease a type of wheat allergy? No. Celiac disease is neither a type of wheat allergy, nor is it gluten allergy. Celiac disease is an auto-immune disorder triggered by eating gluten.

There are several differences between auto-immune disorders and allergies.

To understand these differences, let us discuss a little bit about the immune system: Its job is to get rid of foreign substances that might be harmful to the body, and also build protection against these invaders if they try to attack again. The process of getting rid of foreign substances and developing immunity is called “the immune response.” But sometimes the body’s immune to a foreign substance doesn’t function correctly, and over-reacts so fiercely that it produces symptoms. This is called an allergic reaction

People can be allergic to many “foreign substances” — shellfish, cats, plant pollen, to name a few. Other times, though, the immune response malfunctions and reacts incorrectly to the body’s own normal tissues. It’s as if the immune system “thinks” a part of the body is a foreign substance. It attacks the body, which is called an autoimmune response, and this happens in autoimmune disorders.

In celiac disease, gluten stimulates (because of genetic predisposition) the production of immunoglobulins that attack the villi lining the small intestine (that is, the body’s own normal tissues). Celiac disease is often confused for an allergic illness because (like an allergy) it requires a foreign substance to trigger it.

Another difference between autoimmune conditions and allergies is that it is considered that autoimmune disorders are never outgrown; they persist for life. Allergies can sometimes be outgrown. Also, autoimmune conditions can result in long-term damage to the body. For instance, because celiac disease damages the small intestine, people with celiac disease are at risk for malabsorption, nutritional deficiencies, iron-deficiency anemia, and osteoporosis. People with celiac disease are also at risk for other autoimmune conditions, such as thyroid disease, diabetes, and liver disease.

Wheat allergy is an allergy which typically presents itself as a food allergy, but can also be a contact allergy resulting from occupational exposure to wheat. Typically the allergy is limited to the seed storage proteins of wheat, some reactions are restricted to wheat proteins, while others can react across many varieties of seeds and other plant tissues. Other more common symptoms include nausea, urticaria.

Gluten is also the causative agent of Coeliac disease (CD), coeliac disease can be contrasted to gluten allergy by the involvement of different immune cells and antibody types.

Common symptoms of a wheat allergy include sacroiliitis, eczema (atopic dermatitis), hives (urticaria), asthma, “Hay fever” (allergic rhinitis), angioedema (tissue swelling due to fluid leakage from blood vessels), abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Rarer symptoms include anaphylactic shock, arthritis, bloated stomach, chest pains, depression or mood swings, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, joint and muscle aches and pains (may be associated with progressive arthritis), palpitations, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), swollen throat or tongue, tiredness and lethargy, and unexplained cough. Reactions may become more severe with repeated exposure.

Treatment:

In Allopathy only Gluten free diet is recommended. They prescribe iron and calcium for the deficiency caused by this allergy. There are no medicines that can cure this allergy, but I have seen excellent results with homoeopathic medicines.

Homoeopathic treatment: In homoeopathy as we treat the case through its symptoms and not by the name of the disease, I have treated many cases till date. I have formulated a special way to give medicine with periodic monitoring after every 3months. I have seen that the patients to whom the very first medicine is similimum, they get cured in few months, but I give follow up for 6 months. Reports are taken again and again at an interval of 3 months so that the case can be assessed in a proper and planned manner. In the previous journals I have published some of the cases. Here I am publishing two cases where both of them have started eating wheat and wheat products and their reports for this allergy are negative.

Gluten allergy case 1
A patient KK age 7 suffered from loose motion and pain abdomen since childhood. He used to take medicine from one or the other doctor. But his problem was constant. In May 2009, his IgA test concluded that he had wheat allergy.

1st report: IgA >100 in May 2009

Mental symptoms: On asking about his mental state his mother told that he is an obedient child, neither obstinate nor makes fuss. After he has stopped eating wheat, his loose motion and abdomen pain are better. He has no problem of pain in abdomen or loose motions He has fear of dark, injection and even medicine. He is frivolous, doesn’t study carefully, quarrels with his elder brother. Overall a hyperactive child, fights alot with his brother.
Rubrics :

• Wheat allergy
• Fear dark
• Fear injection
• Disobedience
• Impatience
• Hyperactive

Prescription :

Jan 10 : He was OK, no problem. He was advised for IgA test, but the patient delayed it. In Jan. he was advised to take wheat product once in a day, in one week. On my repeated requests, no test was being done by the patient. 29.3.12 : Hyos 1M. But there was not much marked improvement. 18.4.10 : IgA- >100 Case was taken once again : Everything was same but one most important character of being impatient and carelessness in his attitude while doing things was noticed.

Rubrics :

• Sit aversion to
• Frivolous
• Hyperactive
• Impatient
• Loquacity

He was given Lach 30×1 and was advised to stop taking wheat.

26.5.10       Lach 200×1

2.7.10         Lach 1Mx1

Reports

24.8.10      IgA – 29.48.

Stool-Normal

30.9.10       Lach 1Mx1

8.12.10       Wt. 20kg

6.3.11         Wt. 21. kg

8.3.11         IgA – 21.50,

Wt. 21        kg., Hb-10.3

He was advised to eat wheat once in a week. Lach 1M was given 2-3 times till 6.3.12

He is perfectly alright and is eating wheat almost daily. The follow up continued for about 6 more months.

To Know More, Click Here