Allergic foods to be avoided in eczematic patients -A Siddha perspective

Abstract

Food allergy is an immune system reaction that occurs soon after eating a certain food. Even a small amount of allergy causing food can trigger signs and symptoms such as digestive problem, skin problems, respiratory disturbances and sometimes anaphylactic reactions. Some of the foods which cause allergic reaction include egg, peanut, milk, fish and nuts. Food allergy affects an estimated 6 to 8 % of children under age 3 and up to 3% of adults. The only management of this food allergy is to avoid the particular allergen producing food. Siddha , the traditional and Indian system of Medicine had listed a group of foods viz. Sorghum vulgare (great millet), Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet), Paspalum scrobiculatum (kodo millet), Musa paradisiaca (plantain tree), Momlordicacharantia (bitter gourd) and catfish to be avoided bythe eczematic patients. Restricting the foods mentioned will help to solve either the cause of disease or will not aggravate the disease. Though it has been mentioned in Siddha literatures it is our responsibility to explore the scientific rationale behind it. This paper aims to scientifically validate the importance of the diet restriction mentioned by the Siddhars.