Testing for food allergies: Samsarjana Krama
Samsarajana Krama means a graduated diet and often refers to an incremental increase in the consumption of food after a purge. In this context we are using the principles of Samsarjana Krama to test for food allergies. Since many allergies and sensitivities cannot be clearly identified using blood or skin tests this has been found to be an un-invasive ways to help identify the foods which may be causing physical and or behavioral symptoms. Blood tests often test for antibodies and many patients report that they have high antibodies to the foods that they eat the most of. Many patients do not have symptoms to these foods even though the blood test shows that they are producing antibodies to these foods. Skin allergy tests are relatively invasive as they require puncturing the skin in order to expose the blood to a possible allergen.
Samsarjana karma is utilized after a prolonged period (2-4weeks) on an elimination diet. During this time common food allergens are eliminated completely. Examples of these include: gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, caffeine, nuts, corn, alcohol, citrus, sulfites, condiments, food additives and eggs. Samsarjana Krama is considered the challenge period where the foods that have been eliminated are added in gradually.
Summary
1. Eliminate common food allergens for 2-4 weeks.
2. Pick one challenging food to introduce and introduce it for 3 days in a row, keeping a detailed record of reactions. During this time make sure not to introduce any other food allergens.
3. If significant symptoms do occur, stop eating the challenge food immediately, record reaction and resume the elimination diet for at least 24 symptom free hours before choosing your next challenge food.
4. Schedule an appointment to discuss the results of samsarjana karma.
Each of us is curious about different foods and you may not want to challenge all the foods that you have eliminated at one time. Thus the food that you choose to challenge first may be different than someone else. Below is an example of how to perform Samsarjana krama based on a hypothetical allergy challenge. The approach and sequence can be used as a model for your own testing.
How to Challenge:
These are only suggestions and recommendations of foods and quantities to use for samasarjanan krama you want to make sure to eat enough on day 1 to stimulate a reaction if one is possible, but not so much that you feel terrible if you do get a reaction. Day’s 2 and 3 you resume the elimination diet and pay close attention to observing how your body responds to the challenge food that was consumed on Day 1. Day 4 is a buffer and then you can resume challenging with a different food on Day 5. For example:
Day 1: Dairy
· Use 1 cup of cow’s milk on elimination friendly cereal for breakfast
· Have 1-2 oz of hard cheese with lunch
· Make a cream sauce for elimination friendly pasta
Day 2: Eat, observe and record
Day 3: Eat, observe and record
Day 4: Buffer
Day 5: Eggs
· Have a poached or basted egg for breakfast
· Have a hardboiled egg on a salad for lunch
· Have scrambled eggs with dinner
Day 6: Eat, observe and record
Day 7: Eat, observe and record
Day 8: Buffer
Day 9 Gluten: Use non-wheat gluten source
· 1 cup cooked oatmeal for breakfast
· Sandwich with 100% rye bread for lunch
· Barley soup for dinner
Day 10: Eat, observe and record
Day 11: Eat, observe and record
Day 12: Buffer
Day 13: Wheat: Use 100% whole wheat
· Shredded wheat with rice milk for breakfast
· Wheat bread sandwich for lunch
· 1 cup pure wheat pasta for dinner
Day 14: Eat, observe and record
Day 15: Eat, observe and record
Day 16: Buffer
Day 17: Soy:
· 1 cup soymilk with elimination friendly cereal
· 1 cup baked tofu with lunch
· 1 cup edamame with dinner
You get the idea…
If you have very severe symptoms and a strong reaction it is best to call 911. This is very rare, but it is not worth risking anaphylaxis. At the end of samsarjana krama consider setting up an appointment to review your results and receive guidance on how to bolster your digestive strength so that you may be able to tolerate these foods in the future.
Symptoms can vary widely by individual. Common symptoms to food allergens include gas, bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, rashes, dry skin, runny nose, congestion, cramps, and bad breath. More rare symptoms include joint pain, difficulty remembering, difficulty sleeping, itching, and sweating.
Samsarjana karma is utilized after a prolonged period (2-4weeks) on an elimination diet. During this time common food allergens are eliminated completely. Examples of these include: gluten, dairy, sugar, soy, caffeine, nuts, corn, alcohol, citrus, sulfites, condiments, food additives and eggs. Samsarjana Krama is considered the challenge period where the foods that have been eliminated are added in gradually.
Summary
1. Eliminate common food allergens for 2-4 weeks.
2. Pick one challenging food to introduce and introduce it for 3 days in a row, keeping a detailed record of reactions. During this time make sure not to introduce any other food allergens.
3. If significant symptoms do occur, stop eating the challenge food immediately, record reaction and resume the elimination diet for at least 24 symptom free hours before choosing your next challenge food.
4. Schedule an appointment to discuss the results of samsarjana karma.
Each of us is curious about different foods and you may not want to challenge all the foods that you have eliminated at one time. Thus the food that you choose to challenge first may be different than someone else. Below is an example of how to perform Samsarjana krama based on a hypothetical allergy challenge. The approach and sequence can be used as a model for your own testing.
How to Challenge:
These are only suggestions and recommendations of foods and quantities to use for samasarjanan krama you want to make sure to eat enough on day 1 to stimulate a reaction if one is possible, but not so much that you feel terrible if you do get a reaction. Day’s 2 and 3 you resume the elimination diet and pay close attention to observing how your body responds to the challenge food that was consumed on Day 1. Day 4 is a buffer and then you can resume challenging with a different food on Day 5. For example:
Day 1: Dairy
· Use 1 cup of cow’s milk on elimination friendly cereal for breakfast
· Have 1-2 oz of hard cheese with lunch
· Make a cream sauce for elimination friendly pasta
Day 2: Eat, observe and record
Day 3: Eat, observe and record
Day 4: Buffer
Day 5: Eggs
· Have a poached or basted egg for breakfast
· Have a hardboiled egg on a salad for lunch
· Have scrambled eggs with dinner
Day 6: Eat, observe and record
Day 7: Eat, observe and record
Day 8: Buffer
Day 9 Gluten: Use non-wheat gluten source
· 1 cup cooked oatmeal for breakfast
· Sandwich with 100% rye bread for lunch
· Barley soup for dinner
Day 10: Eat, observe and record
Day 11: Eat, observe and record
Day 12: Buffer
Day 13: Wheat: Use 100% whole wheat
· Shredded wheat with rice milk for breakfast
· Wheat bread sandwich for lunch
· 1 cup pure wheat pasta for dinner
Day 14: Eat, observe and record
Day 15: Eat, observe and record
Day 16: Buffer
Day 17: Soy:
· 1 cup soymilk with elimination friendly cereal
· 1 cup baked tofu with lunch
· 1 cup edamame with dinner
You get the idea…
If you have very severe symptoms and a strong reaction it is best to call 911. This is very rare, but it is not worth risking anaphylaxis. At the end of samsarjana krama consider setting up an appointment to review your results and receive guidance on how to bolster your digestive strength so that you may be able to tolerate these foods in the future.
Symptoms can vary widely by individual. Common symptoms to food allergens include gas, bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, rashes, dry skin, runny nose, congestion, cramps, and bad breath. More rare symptoms include joint pain, difficulty remembering, difficulty sleeping, itching, and sweating.