A cure for peanut allergies?

The peanut allergy is one of the most prevalent, feared, contested and ridiculed conditions in America today.

For children (and adults) who are allergic to peanuts, the consequences may be severe — even fatal.

Sufferers may be so sensitive to even trace amounts of peanuts than they can break out itchy hives, and their breathing be affected to the point of suffocation. For this, they carry EpiPens…a quick dose of adrenaline to offset the immune system attack.

But for some reason, those of us who have no problem with the legume have issues with this. Some declare the peanut allergy phenomena, a ruse. We don’t want to give up that tablespoon of peanuts the airline hands out to keep us happy on an overcrowded flight. We want our kids to take peanut butter sandwiches in their school lunchbox like every red-blooded American kid should do. There are a few airlines who have quit offering peanuts and some schools that now outlaw peanut butter to keep kids with allergies safe.

But there’s a new therapy designed to help kids with peanut allergies.

Feed them peanut flour.

It’s experimental, to be sure.

DON’T’ TRY THIS AT HOME!

Experts say in trials, children were fed tiny doses of peanut flour mixed in their food. The amount was increased as the trial continued and after about six months, the kids were able to eat five full peanuts without any allergic reaction.

Scientists say the treatment isn’t designed to cure the kids, but to allow them to live a more normal life where they don’t have to read food labels constantly and be fearful of tiny amounts of peanuts. The studies are continuing and growing, and a British doctor is planning to offer the treatment soon in a special peanut allergy clinic they’re opening.

Why have peanut allergies increased three-fold over the last decade? There are numerous theories. We’re too clean, no build-up for our immune system. Vaccines cause it.

Who knows for sure.

But they are on the rise around the world, mostly in high income countries. The too clean theory may be right on the money. Time to ditch the hand-sanitizer?

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