Why Allergies and Asthma Need a Holistic Approach: A Brief History of Emotion and Allergy

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, before the exact causes of hay fever or asthma were understood, doctors often believed that allergic conditions were partially the patient’s fault. It wasn’t unusual to blame emotional instability, mental distress, or unresolved trauma for respiratory conditions.

By the early 1900s, many believed allergic conditions appeared right after emotional upheaval—fears, strong emotions, or psychological stress. Even the anticipation of a reaction was thought to contribute to its severity. A 20th-century Harvard study suggested that asthma in children might be triggered by punitive parenting or unconscious emotional fixation or resentment toward the mother.

While we now recognize the physiological basis of allergies, these early theories weren’t entirely off track. They reflected what allergists were observing: the first allergy patients to enter clinics were often white, educated, urban dwellers—especially women and children. Doctors began associating hay fever and asthma with fragility or nervous temperament.

In fact, until the 1930s, allergy was often defined scientifically as a form of “hypersensitivity” or “neurotic instability.” Those thought to be more anxious or emotionally sensitive were seen as more likely to develop allergies. In 1931, renowned allergist Dr. Warren T. Vaughan wrote that any stressor—an infection, insomnia, hormonal fluctuation, emotional disturbance, or physical exertion—could trigger an allergic reaction or asthma attack. Dr. Samuel Feinberg, in 1934, suggested that allergic patients tended to be more intelligent than average, but also more emotionally reactive and neurologically “on edge.”

It’s no surprise, then, that early treatments for allergies often involved sedatives, opioids, or alcohol, alongside advice to avoid physical or emotional exertion.

What we know now…

Although the science of allergy has since evolved, modern research continues to explore the complex interplay between stress, immunity, and allergic disease. We now understand that psychological stress can directly impact immune function, in part by triggering mast cells—immune cells involved in allergic responses—to release histamine, the very compound responsible for most allergy symptoms.

This mind-body connection is further supported by data. A 2019 study from the Technical University of Munich, which followed over 700 participants, found a significant correlation between allergies and mental health. Individuals with perennial allergies, such as those triggered by dust mites or pet dander, were notably more prone to depression. Meanwhile, those suffering from seasonal allergies were found to have a higher likelihood of anxiety.
(Addolorato et al., 2019; Technical University of Munich)

Adding another layer to this picture, Dr. Pamela Guerrerio, an allergy specialist at the National Institutes of Health, has highlighted how modern lifestyle factors—including the widespread use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for acid reflux—may contribute to food sensitivities. These medications reduce stomach acid, allowing proteins to pass through the gut in a less-digested form, which can provoke immune reactivity. As Theresa MacPhail discusses in her book Allergic (2023), this mechanism illustrates how our diet, stress levels, and pharmaceutical use are deeply intertwined with how our immune system responds to the environment.

Furthermore, the connection between chronic stress and eczema is now well documented. When we are mentally or physically overwhelmed, our skin barrier function begins to deteriorate, leaving us more susceptible to allergens, irritants, and flare-ups. As dermatologist Dr. Peter Lio explains, “If a person is stressed, their skin barrier begins to deteriorate.” This speaks volumes about the skin’s role not just as a physical boundary, but as a reflection of our internal emotional landscape.

What Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) teaches us

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the body is not a collection of isolated parts but a dynamic system of energetic relationships. The Lungs are associated with Qi (vital energy) and are considered the organ of boundaries—governing the skin and the body’s outermost defenses against external pathogens. Emotionally, the Lungs are connected to grief and unprocessed sadness. Chronic sorrow, unresolved loss, or suppression of emotional expression is believed to weaken Lung Qi, making a person more prone to respiratory issues, including allergies and asthma.

TCM also views conditions like asthma and eczema as part of broader patterns involving:

A person’s constitution plays a key role. Highly sensitive individuals—empaths, children, and those deeply attuned to their emotional environment—are often seen as having more permeable boundaries in both a physical and energetic sense. TCM practitioners often note that children who hold tension in their chests or have a hard time expressing grief may develop chronic congestion, wheezing, or frequent colds.

From this perspective, allergic conditions aren’t random reactions to “bad luck,” but reflections of a system that’s out of balance—emotionally, energetically, and physically.

From Western Herbal Medicine perspective…

In herbal medicine and naturopathic thinking, we also see allergic and asthmatic patterns as inflammatory states marked by chronic immune reactivity and mucus production. While identifying the allergen is crucial, equally important is the terrain—the internal environment that allows or resists inflammation.

Holistic support may include strategies that:

While these aren’t quick fixes, they reflect the truth that health is a system, not a symptom. The immune system doesn’t act in isolation—it responds to every bite of food, every poor night of sleep, and every unprocessed emotion.

If you’re a parent of a child who always seems to be sniffling, wheezing, or reacting to the world—this isn’t your fault. But it’s a powerful invitation to slow down and look deeper. Our modern lifestyle—fast-paced, stressful, disconnected from nature—demands that we understand the emotional immune system, not just the physical one.

Asthma and allergies are not just conditions to control, but expressions of imbalance, often long in the making. They ask us to listen differently—to ourselves, our history, and to the rhythms of the body.