SUMMARY
The Acupuncture method involves using Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) when a significant allergy to meat and/or dairy food products has developed. When some individuals are bitten by a tick they develop a severe allergy to meats including beef, lambs, pork and poultry, or to dairy products. This is because the tick previously ingested blood from the animal to which allergy develops. This allergy is called Alpha Gal Syndrome (AGS).
DESCRIPTION
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a tick-associated allergy to mammalian products caused by IgE antibodies to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose. It can trigger delayed reactions to red meat, dairy, and some medications, often several hours after exposure, which can make diagnosis difficult. Reported symptoms most commonly involve the gastrointestinal and skin systems, though respiratory, oral, cardiovascular, and other symptoms may also occur. AGS has been identified in multiple countries, and standard medical management has largely focused on avoiding consumption of mammalian-derived triggers.
TECHNIQUE
Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) is an auricular (ear) acupuncture technique developed to address allergic conditions, including AGS. In this method, a responsive point in the ear is identified using electrical detection equipment that accurately determines the sensitive acupoint. A minute acupuncture needle is then inserted into the corresponding ear zone after the ear has been sanitized. The minute needle is secured in place with MicroporeTM tape and removed after three weeks. Patients are advised to monitor for signs of infection – (fever, chills, local inflammation or redness, fatigue, muscle aches, and a general feeling of being unwell). At four weeks, those without a prior history of anaphylaxis may reintroduce mammalian foods gradually, starting with very small amounts of the previously offending animal products.
RESULTS
A retrospective case series included 137 patients treated at two clinics1. Before treatment, most had stopped eating mammalian products because of their symptoms. Beef and dairy were the most common triggers. Among patients with follow-up data, 121 of 126 reported remission after SAAT, a response rate of 96%. The study also noted no adverse reactions caused by the auricular acupuncture itself. These findings suggest that SAAT may offer a promising low-risk option for people with AGS, especially given the limited treatment choices currently available.
LIMITATIONS
The authors emphasise several limitations. The study was retrospective, lacked consistent laboratory follow-up, and relied partly on patient self-reporting. The biological mechanism by which SAAT might work remains uncertain, and spontaneous remission of AGS can occur in some cases, although it appears uncommon. For these reasons, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Even so, the high proportion of patients reporting remission and the absence of procedure-related complications support further prospective, controlled research to determine whether SAAT is a reliable treatment for alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).
TREATMENT PROGRAM
If you have developed Alpha Gal Syndrome (AGS) from a tick bite and subsequently became allergic to meat or dairy products that you formerly loved, and you want to be able to consume those products again, please call ANTRAC Acupuncture Clinic on 4636 6100 and make four appointments.
REFERENCE
(1) Medical Acupuncture. 2021 Oct 18;33(5):343–348. doi: 10.1089/acu.2021.0010 available at
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acu.2021.0010
Please call Dr Louis Gordon (Chinese Medicine) for more information on (07) 4636 6100.
MISSION STATEMENT
“I aim to get my patients as WELL as possible, as QUICKLY as possible, and then to KEEP them WELL”.