In sensitive individuals low-level exposure to certain chemicals in foods and/or chemicals in the environment can trigger an allergic reaction or activate the immune system in a particular way. Such reactions can result in an array of symptoms which include:

People can become sensitive to chemicals after a major chemical exposure or after long-term, low-level exposure to chemicals, e.g. pesticides. Chemical sensitivity can also occur after a virus or other illness, or with hormonal disturbances, e.g. during or after pregnancy. Some people are also more genetically susceptible than others to certain chemical exposures.

Naturopathic medicine can help determine if there are food and/or chemical sensitivities present and to what extent they may be affecting the patient. Once the underlying sensitivities are identified, targeted treatment to both the sensitivities and the conditions which they have caused will be implemented.