Alpha Gal

Treatment for Alpha-Gal Allergy in Central Virginia

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS)—sometimes called alpha-gal allergy, mammalian meat allergy, and red meat allergy,—is a potentially serious allergy associated with tick bites.

“Alpha-gal” is short for galactose-α-1,3-galactose, a carbohydrate naturally found in most non-primate mammals, including cows, pigs, sheep, deer, and rabbits. Humans do not produce alpha-gal.

When certain ticks bite, alpha-gal in the tick’s saliva may enter the bloodstream and trigger an immune response. Some people subsequently develop allergic reactions after eating mammalian meat or encountering other products containing alpha-gal.

Alpha-Gal Symptoms and Triggers

Unlike most food allergies, alpha-gal reactions are often delayed. Symptoms commonly begin two to six hours after eating mammalian meat or another product containing alpha-gal, although timing and severity can vary considerably.

Some people experience reactions only under certain circumstances or after larger exposures. Others react to very small amounts or to mammal-derived ingredients in foods, medications, supplements, or personal-care products.

Common Symptoms

Alpha-gal reactions may include:

Hives, itching, or flushed skin
Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, eyelids, or throat
Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
Heartburn or indigestion
Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing
Dizziness, faintness, or a drop in blood pressure
Anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction

Anyone experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis should use prescribed EpiPen as directed and seek emergency medical care.

Possible Alpha-Gal Sources

Products that may contain alpha-gal or other mammalian ingredients include:

Mammalian meats, such as beef, pork, lamb, venison, and rabbit
Mammalian fats and foods prepared with them
Gelatin, collagen, and other mammal-derived ingredients
Certain medications, supplements, capsules, and medical products
Some personal-care products containing mammalian ingredients

Not everyone with alpha-gal allergy reacts to every possible source. Reactions may also differ from one exposure to another. Avoidance should be individualized with guidance from an allergist or another qualified medical provider.

Alpha-Gal and Dairy Reactions

Dairy can be complicated for people with alpha-gal allergy. Some people may also experience separate or overlapping reactions to dairy in addition to their alpha-gal sensitivity.

Because patients’ immune systems, and therefore patterns of reactivity, can differ considerably, treatment should not be based on the assumption that every person with alpha-gal syndrome has exactly the same triggers.There can be many coinciding allergies that exist alongside alpha-gal allergy.

Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment for Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment, or SAAT, is a specialized form of auricular acupuncture developed by Dr. Nader Soliman. Dr. Soliman is a physicianand the originator of the patented SAAT method.

SAAT should be performed by an acupuncturist trained in this exact method. SAATuses a very small, sterile, semi-permanent acupuncture needle placed at a precisely identified location in the ear. The needle remains in place for approximately three to four weeks, providing continuous stimulation during the treatment period.

Although SAAT is not offered within conventional allergy practices, published clinical investigations have reported significant improvements among patients treated for alpha-gal syndrome. SAAT is also used by appropriately trained practitioners for other food, environmental, and substance-related allergies.

Treatment is individualized. The number and type of treatments recommended depend on the patient’s history, patterns of reactivity, evaluation findings, and response to previous care. Complete appointment details are provided directly to prospective patients rather than published online.

Published Research on SAAT

2020 Alpha-Gal SAAT Investigation

The 2020 paper Effect of Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) on IgE-Mediated Reactions Due to Exposure to Mammalian Meat Oligosaccharide, Galactose-α-1,3-Galactose reported outcomes from an initial group of 155 patients who completed treatment and provided follow-up information.

Of those patients, 147 reported some degree of restored ability to consume mammalian meat without an allergic reaction or a significant reduction in the severity or frequency of their reactions. The paper reported a 94.8% success rate among the responding participants who completed SAAT.

The investigation relied primarily on patients’ reports of their experiences following treatment. The author identified the findings as preliminary and acknowledged the need for continued follow-up and additional research.

Effect of Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment on IgE-Mediated Reactions Due to Exposure to Alpha-Gal

2021 Two-Clinic Alpha-Gal Case Series

A second study, Successful Treatment for Alpha Gal Mammal Product Allergy Using Auricular Acupuncture: A Case Series, was published in the journal Medical Acupuncture in 2021. Dr. Nader Soliman was among its authors.

Researchers retrospectively reviewed 137 alpha-gal patients treated with SAAT at two separate clinics. Follow-up information regarding treatment effectiveness was available for 126 patients. Of those patients, 121—approximately 96%—reported that their symptoms were in remission following SAAT.

The authors concluded that SAAT demonstrated effectiveness in a large majority of patients, that no adverse reactions resulting from the auricular acupuncture were noted in the reviewed records, and that the method warranted prospective research with laboratory confirmation.

Successful Treatment for Alpha Gal Mammal Product Allergy Using Auricular Acupuncture: A Case Series

Dr. Soliman’s Comparative SAAT Study

Before the alpha-gal-specific publications, Dr. Soliman studied SAAT as a treatment for multiple types of allergies.

His 2014 paper, A Comparison Study of the Effectiveness of SAAT (Soliman’s Auricular Allergy Treatment) Approach and Nogier’s Allergy Treatment Technique, compared the outcomes of SAAT with another auricular allergy-treatment method.

This research is particularly relevant because it documents Dr. Soliman’s original method and provides background for the later use of SAAT specifically for alpha-gal syndrome.

A Comparison Study of the Effectiveness of SAAT and Nogier’s Allergy Treatment Technique

Specialized SAAT Care in Central Virginia

Jessica is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, a licensed acupuncturist, and a certified practitioner of Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment. She trained personally with Dr. Nader Soliman in both SAAT and Auricular Medicine.

Her approach is individualized rather than based on a standardized, one-size-fits-all protocol, as medicine should be. Each patient’s history, reactions, previous treatments, and evaluation findings are considered when determining an appropriate treatment plan.

This individualized evaluation may also be helpful for someone who received SAAT elsewhere but did not obtain the expected results. Prior treatment does not necessarily mean that every factor relevant to that particular patient was identified or adequately addressed.

Because complex allergy cases cannot be meaningfully evaluated through general website information, prospective patients are encouraged to contact the practice for appointment details and to discuss the appropriate next step.

Jessica enjoys explaining the process and walking each patient through the process from start to finish, answering questions along the way.

Contact

Learn More About SAAT

SAAT is available in Charlottesville and Kents Store, Virginia, for alpha-gal syndrome and other allergies.

To receive detailed information about the evaluation, treatment process, current fees, re-evaluation, and appointment preparation, call or text 540-223-8599 or send a message through the contact form.

If your questions involve your particular health history, previous treatment, multiple allergies, or whether this approach may be appropriate for your case, a prepaid 15-minute phone consultation is available for $50.

Important Medical Information

Alpha-gal syndrome can cause serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. SAAT is not emergency allergy care and does not replace medical diagnosis or management by a physician or allergist when those services are needed.

Patients should continue prescribed medications, carry epinephrine when advised, and follow their established safety precautions. This practice does not conduct oral food challenges. Patients should consult an appropriate medical provider before intentionally reintroducing a previously reactive food or changing prescribed medication.

The information on this page is educational and describes services offered by this practice. It is not intended to provide individualized medical advice or guarantee a particular treatment outcome. Individual responses to SAAT vary.

Have Questions About Your Particular Case?

General information about services, appointment preparation, locations, and fees can be provided by email. However, questions involving your individual health history, symptoms, previous treatment, or whether a particular service may be appropriate for you often require more individualized discussion.

A prepaid 15-minute phone consultation is available for $50. This consultation provides dedicated time and attention to discuss your questions, determine whether Jessica’s services appear to be an appropriate fit, and help you decide whether to schedule an evaluation or treatment appointment.

The consultation fee is separate from any future appointment and is not applied toward treatment.

To request a consultation, call or text 540-223-8599 or send a message through the contact form. Please include:

Your general reason for requesting a consultation
The best telephone number for Jessica to call

Potential Shorter Consult Section to put in other areas to cut back on the tons of q’s from shoppers and not bookers:

Questions About Your Case?

If your questions involve your individual health history, symptoms, previous treatment, allergies, supplements, etc, or whether Jessica’s services may be appropriate for you, a 15-minute phone consultation is available for $50.

The consultation provides dedicated time and attention to discuss your questions and determine whether scheduling an evaluation or treatment is the appropriate next step. The consultation fee is separate from and is not credited toward a future appointment.

Call or text 540-223-8599 or use the contact form to request a consultation