There are certain white cells that are sensitive to histamine and that strongly inhibit the activity of the immune system in the bone marrow. There are twice as many of these white cells as there are cells that stimulate the immune system. Thus, dehydration that can cause the production and release of more than a certain amount of histamine may, in the long run, suppress the immune systems of the body at its central command station, the bone marrow.

Since there is a greater-than-normal rate of histamine production and storage in prolonged dehydration, a stimulus for the release of histamine from its immune system side of activity will produce a greater quantity of its release into the tissues. At the same time, antibody production and efficiency, which have already been suppressed because of dehydration, will be inadequate to deal with foreign agents such as pollen and other antigens. The enormity of this problem becomes apparent during the pollen season when the eyes get invaded with these foreign agents.

The tear producing glands need to wash the offending pollen away from the delicate membrane of the eye - the conjunctiva - since antibodies are not adequately available to neutralize the pollen. This is the reason why histamine activity for secretion of water onto the delicate membranes covering the eyes and the nasal passage becomes exaggerated. It is a naturally installed need-driven response. "Water wash" is the only way of getting rid of the offending pollen typed that are not neutralized by antibodies. This is how allergy to pollen occurs.

If you were to ask me: "Do you mean to say I can prevent asthma and allergies by drinking more water?" my answer would be yes, yes and yes again. You can do it naturally, with no medication and at no cost. Water will do it because of the primary role of histamine in water regulation and drought management of the body.

It is now clear that the chronic dehydration is the primary cause of allergies and asthma in the human body. Increase water intake - on a habit forming, regular basis - should become the treatment of choice. In those who have attacks of asthma or allergic reactions to different pollens or foods, strict attention to adequate daily water intake, with the addition of some salt, should become a preventative measure. People who suffer from allergies and asthma will also have other indicators of dehydration. They will definitely develop other very serious health problems if they do not take their bodies' need for regular intake of water seriously.

If you suffer from allergies and asthma, you must begin drinking water on a regular basis., You should stop taking caffeine and alcohol until your condition becomes normal. Those with normal heart and kidney functions should begin drinking two glasses of water a half hour before each meal and one glass of water two and a half hours after the meal. When you increase your water intake, you also need to increase your salt intake to make up for the salt lost during increased urine production.

Michael P. is in his fifties. He suffered from allergies and eventually asthma since childhood. Later in life he became overweight and developed high blood pressure. His allergies were so bad that he had to pay attention to the daily pollen count before he could step out of the house. Several years ago he became aware of the curative properties of water in asthma and allergy. He started regulating his daily water intake and stopped drinking tea and coffee. When everyone in the office took coffee, he would drink hot water. Since then, Michael has not had any asthma attacks. His allergy has become much less troublesome, almost to the point of being nonexistent. He no longer bothers with the pollen count. He has been free of allergy and asthma attacks since he started regulating his daily water intake. He considers himself cured of his health problems, including hypertension.

Question: Why is my doctor not aware of the information on water and asthma?

Answer: What I have shared with you so far is new knowledge. It has taken me more than twenty years of research and study to highlight this information. It is not yet common knowledge and is not yet taught at medical schools. Doctors recommend "fluid" intake and assume that any fluid you take will act like water. This is what doctors have been taught at intricate functions of water in the human body and do not yet understand chronic dehydration. They do not realize that not all fluids are suited to the normal physiological functions of the human body.

Furthermore, fluids that contain caffeine and alcohol dehydrate us and cannot replace the water needs of the human body. Caffeine and alcohol force the kidneys to flush some of the water reserves of the body.

Question: What is wrong with waiting until you feel thirsty to drink water?

Answer: The body is already thirsty before we feel the thirst sensation. Dry mouth is not an accurate sign of water shortage in our body. There is a mechanism by which, even when we are comparatively dehydrated, saliva production is not affected. The reason is that we must be able to lubricate food during the process of chewing and swallowing. The misconception about dry mouth as an accurate indicator of body water shortage has steered the trends in medical research off course, so that, even today, it is not generally known at what stage the body is thirsty and becoming pathologically dehydrated. It is not fully appreciated what devastating damage is caused by slowly establishing dehydration in the body.

If children are not able to regulate their water intake properly, histamine activity in the lungs may become a dominant trend. One of the consequences of over-activity of histamine in the lungs may be the occurrence of an inflammatory process at a time when the development of lung tissue has to keep up with the physical growth of the body. Excessive fibrous tissue formation and the creation of cysts where alveoli have to be formed may be the consequence of dehydration in children who are growing. It seems that cystic fibrosis of the lungs may not be an entirely genetic disorder, but may have dehydration as a common basic problem to both the DNA assembly system and lung tissue formation. Dehydration is also responsible for the production of excess thick mucus in the bronchioles - a problem in cystic fibrosis of the lungs. Water and salt should help loosen the mucus.

Children need water for cell growth. During the growth 75 percent of the cell volume has to be filled with water. This is the reason why children develop asthma and allergies during the growing phase of their physical development.

As we grow older, we lose our thirst sensation and do not recognize that our body is thirsty. Chronic dehydration in the elderly can cause heart and kidney damage, coupled with shortness of breath. At this stage, the shortness of breath is called cardiac asthma. Those with heart problems and kidney disease should increase their water intake slowly and, if possible, under the supervision of their physicians. They need to make sure their urine production increases with the additional water. If within two full days there is no indication of more urine being produced, a physician should be consulted. The color of urine in a dehydrated person (not taking vitamins that could color urine) will be dark yellow to orange. In a better hydrated person, the urine is lighter in color.

Children and adults, who get asthma attacks with exercise and strenuous effort should always remember to drink water before they begin exercising and to stop drinking caffeine-containing sodas. They should reduce their orange juice intake (if more than two glasses). Because of its high potassium content, too much orange juice can predispose a person to asthma attacks. The water needs of the body cannot be fully replaced by juices or even milk.

On no account should you abruptly cut off the use of your medications. You should begin by taking more water with your medications, until your need for medication decreases. Keep the doctor in charge of your treatment informed. You will then be able to work with your doctor to gradually reduce the use of the normally prescribed inhalant or antihistamine medications until you no longer need them. In obstinate and truly drug-dependent cases of asthma and allergies, increased water intake will improve the patient's response to the medications being prescribed until the body gets back to its normal rhythm.

The choice of water should not become a limiting factor to drink it. So long as tap water contains no lead, mercury, pesticides, insecticides, or other dangerous chemicals or bacteria, it should become your fluid of choice. It is available to you everywhere you go. You should not worry about its hardness. Any calcium that is dissolved in water may even serve a useful purpose, as it might help your body's need for calcium.

If the smell of chlorine is too much, fill an open-top jug and leave it exposed to air. The chlorine will evaporate in less than half an hour, and the water will be sweet and ready to drink.

It is becoming fashionable to advocate drinking distilled water. This claim may prove to be based on the commercial aims of its manufacturers. I have found no reason to drink distilled water over regular tap water that does not contain toxic substances. If you are unsure of your local water, it would be a good idea to install a solid carbon filter on your kitchen faucet.

With increased water intake, which will cause increased urine production, there may be an associated loss of salt, as well as other minerals and water soluble vitamins. Supplementing your daily vitamin intake is necessary. If you develop cramps, you should assume that the salt in your diet is not sufficient for your body's need. You should add salt to your diet - as long as you stick to taking more water. In asthma and allergy sufferers, salt intake becomes a vital part of the treatment. Salt unplugs the thick mucus secretions in the lungs and stops the overflow of nasal secretion, when water is plentiful. Salt breaks up mucus, rendering it watery and stringy, and suitable for expulsion with the flow of septum, when water is also available.

I recommend to asthmatics who are about to get an attack, or are in the middle of an asthma attack, to drink two or three glasses of water, and then put a pinch of salt on their tongue. Water and salt will tell the brain tat the missing components in a dehydrated body - in asthmatics in particular - have entered the system. The brain will immediately instruct the bronchioles to relax, and breathing will become much easier. When the salt reaches the lungs, salt pumps secret it in the bronchioles to loosen the musuc plugs and prepar them to be carried away - only when water is available. Too much salt and not enough water may do the opposite. It might cause constriction of the bronchioles. This is why phlegm always taste salty. Salt is essential to keep the airways of the body clear - including the nasal passageways when you have a cold. Salt also unplugs mucus in the nose and the sinuses and stops runny nose in allergic reactions.