Treat Allergies with the Allergen?

One of the scariest things a parent or caregiver can experience is a child's severe allergic reaction. In the March 9 edition of Time Magazine, Alice Park discusses the New England Journal of Medicine study that found that "both allergic and nonallergic infants who ate small amounts of peanuts had a much lower rate of allergy than those who avoided nuts altogether for five years."

Many medical groups no longer instruct parents to avoid giving babies nuts...but is it really possible to prevent the allergy? Park suggests that "the best medicine for peanut allergies may, in fact, be nuts themselves."

Five Things You Need to Know About This Study
1. The average age of allergy onset is 18 months.
2. There are currently three times more peanut allergies than there were in 1997.
3. Researchers assert that there is an 86% lower allergy risk when infants ate peanuts.
4. Park shares the researchers' assertion that exposing kids to possible trigger foods may be wiser than avoidance.
5. The key is to start early. There have been no conclusive trials with older children or adults.

The same issue of Time also alludes to another allergy-based study: "Washing Dishes by Hand Leads to Fewer Allergies." "Evidence is mounting that getting a little dirty does the body good. This study suggests it's possible that eating off hand-washed dishes means kids get more bacteria exposure and build stronger immune systems, leading to fewer allergies."

Is this a potentially revolutionary protocol shift for families dealing with allergies or a risky chance parents aren't willing to take? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic.