ALPHA-GAL & AN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT

Alpha-gal SAAT treatment is a simple and effective method of helping to recede the symptoms of Alpha-gal syndrome or red meat allergy with a particular type of auricular (ear) acupuncture.

Dr. Jennifer Girth specializes in treating the Alpha-Gal allergy along with other tick diseases like Lyme Disease & Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Dr. Jennifer is a certified practitioner of the Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) taught by Dr. Nader Soliman, MD in Rockville, MD.

WHAT IS ALPHA-GAL?

Bar-B-Que Ribs

Alpha-gal is a sugar (galacose-alpa-1, 3-galactose) found in most mammals with the exception of humans, apes, and monkeys. Alpha-gal can be found in many products made from these mammals including beef, pork, venison, lamb, rabbit, other mammalian meats, some medications, supplements, cosmetics, household products, hygiene products, vaccines, gelatin, milk products and much much more. When exposed to the antibody – immunoglobulin E antibodies.

HOW CAN I GET ALPHA-GAL?

lone star ticksCrestCrestAlpha-gal is transmitted to lone star ticks and the paralysis tick Ixodes holocyclus after biting animals including cows and sheep. Lone star ticks will then carry the alpha-gal and inject the molecules into the human body. This may trigger the appearance of a condition known as alpha-gal syndrome. This results from an unusual immune response to the alpha-gal sugar. Affected people would have mild to severe allergic reactions upon eating red meat (beef, lamb, pork, venison, and rabbits). Allergic reactions also occur upon exposure to products from mammals such as cosmetics, medications, vaccines, personal hygiene products, household products, gelatin and milk. Cetuximab, a cancer drug that contains alpha-gal, is one of those medications. More serious reactions can develop in people suffering from repeated tick bites. Symptoms do not necessarily develop after exposure and naturally symptoms vary from individual to the other. Alpha-gal allergies appear to affect individuals of all ages. It is mostly common in south eastern and the mid-west of the United States though many cases have been identified in other parts of the country where the Lone Star tick is not typically seen. Not everyone who has been bitten by a tick develops an allergy to red meat. Those that have been bitten by the Lone Star tick may take months to notice eating red meat has become a problem for them. Many people have no idea why the feel so bad, or have this allergy, or that a tick had anything to do with it.

SYMPTOMS

While the majority of food allergies are seen almost immediately following food ingestion, alpha-gal allergy can be delayed up to 8 hours following the consumption of red meat. This is due to the fact that alpha-gal molecules take a longer time to be digested and absorbed compared to other allergens.

  • Hives
  • Eczema
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Itchy Skin
  • Runny Nose
  • Wheezing
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting
  • Drop in Blood Pressure

Other symptoms include: swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat, or other body parts. A runny nose, sneezing, and headaches are also common. Gasto-intestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting are not uncommon.

While the majority of food allergies are seen almost immediately following food ingestion, alpha-gal allergy can be delayed up to 8 hours following the consumption of red meat. This is due to the fact that alpha-gal molecules take a longer time to be digested and absorbed compared to other allergens.

In extreme cases, patients may develop alpha-gal anaphylactic shock. This is a serious medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention and treatment with epinephrine (adrenaline) injector such as an EpiPen. Signs of anaphylaxis concludes; drop in blood pressure, swelling of the mouth and the throat, airway constriction, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.

Course OF THE DISEASE

Unless the individual is repeatedly bitten by ticks, it is believed that alpha-gal allergy may dissipate in about 3-5 years.

TESTs

Similar to other allergies, skin tests through pricking the skin with a small amount of alpha-gal can identify reactions to the sugar in allergic patients. Identifying alpha-gal antibodies in the bloodstream is an additional method.

LIVING WITH ALPHA-GAL

Patients diagnosed with alpha-gal will have to avoid eating red meat, dairy, and other products that contain alpha-gal. Treatment of allergic reactions is mainly is symptomatic in nature. Anti-histamines and steroids may be used for mild to moderate allergic reactions. Anaphylactic shock requires epinephrine injections and other medical measures.

OUR TREATMENT

Acupuncture techniques are known to offer much needed relief from allergies. Body acupuncture approaches NAET and some ear acupuncture methods are known to give some relief for short periods of time. Their techniques require multiple treatments and multiple visits. Recently, Dr. Soliman, MD from Rockville, MD introduced a new ear acupuncture technique known as the SAAt (Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment). The patented SAAT technique proved to be the most sophisticated acupuncture technique used to address allergy symptoms. The technique is simple in its approach, requiring one treatment for any particular allergen (substance that you are allergic to) and needs only one small needle to provide allergy symptoms relief. Symptoms relief is seen within a short period following the treatment. Unlike all other acupuncture methods addressing allergies, the SAAT provides long-term relief from allergy symptoms. Alpha-gal allergy is no exception, patients suffering from such allergy can experience symptoms relief shortly after one treatment.