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A
AA
ACTION
AGAINST ALLERGY |
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| Registered
Charity No. 276637 |
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Action
Against Allergy was
established in 1978 to
help those suffering from
any kind of allergy. Its
aim is to advance
understanding, awareness
and recognition of
allergic medical
conditions and
allergy-related illness,
and the actions needed
for research, diagnosis
and treatment.
For an annual
subscription of £15,
members receive a free
Newsletter three times a
year, packed with useful
material. They can tap
into a talk-line
telephone network and
benefit from AAA's
resources.
The charity offers an
information service that
includes a database of
specialist doctors,
allergy specialists and
dietitians. Those needing
this information can
learn where to go in
their own particular
area. In addition, there
is a very comprehensive
list of books on
allergies, diets,
treatments and lifestyle,
and a library of
information leaflets,
including essays written
by AAA's own members.
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Allergic
illness takes many forms
The symptoms of allergy
are many and varied,
ranging from a mild
irritant to a severely
debilitating chronic
condition. They can
include sudden
breathlessness, swelling
of face or hands,
headaches, muscle
weakness and joint pains,
giddiness, upset stomach,
skin rashes, and
excessive fatigue.
The symptoms may come
from a wide number of
causes: through a
reaction to food or food
additives, to
pollutants in the air
outside or in the home,
to chemicals in our
surroundings where we
live or work or in the
many everyday items we
use.
Asthma, hayfever and
rhinitis; eczema and
urticaria; candida
albicans; chronic fatigue
syndrome/M.E. (myalgic
encephalomyletis) and
irritable bowel syndrome
are the main conditions
suffered by allergic
people, even though they
may not always be caused
directly or only by
allergens. Some
reactions may be
life-threatening:
to peanuts or bee
stings for example.
There are also many
instances of children who
are cows’ milk
intolerant or who become
hyperactive in response
to certain foods or food
additives.
The immune system of each
person in unique and
therefore so is the
experience of each
individual to any
substance causing an
allergic reaction.
There are, however, many
common causes and many
similar responses and
there is a growing
awareness and knowledge
of how some of these
causes may be tracked
down and treated.
Action Against Allergy
does not limit its
attention to any one kind
of allergy. It is
here for everyone -
across the whole spectrum
of allergy problems.
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How
Action Against Allergy
began
Action Against Allergy
(AAA) is a registered
national charity founded
in 1978 by Mrs Amelia
Nathan Hill who, since
childhood, had suffered
allergic reactions to
many different foods and
chemicals.
She was chronically ill
with migraine, stomach
upsets, painful limbs and
joints and other symptoms
so severe that she was
bedridden for long
periods. Her doctor
thought she was being
poisoned!
At that time allergic
illness was rarely heard
of, nor was its existence
acknowledged by all but a
very few doctors.
After many years of
searching world wide for
help Mrs Nathan Hill was
eventually diagnosed by
means of an elimination
diet devised by a
far-sighted British
doctor, the late Dr
Richard Mackarness, who
described his method in
the book Not All in the
Mind. It is widely
used today, over 20 years
later.
With understanding of the
foods which triggered the
problems, Amelia was able
to control her diet, as
many other now do with
equal success, enabling
them to enjoy a normal
life.
She wrote her own story
of her fight for health,
Against the Unsuspected
Enemy, which inspired
thousands to write to her
to share their own
allergy problems and
express their desperate
need for help.
Amelia founded AAA
to give that help - and
it has done so ever
since.
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The trustees of Action
Against Allergy
acknowledge gratefully
the kind sponsorship of
this web-site by Mrs
Jennifer Worth S.R.N,
S.C.M., AAA member and
author of the book which
told of her own
experiences: Eczema
and Food Allergy, The
Hidden Cause?
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