Allergies, asthma, and eczema (a.k.a. the Atopic Triad) are often present together in the same individual. In the conventional medicine model, we might separate each different condition and treat them as such. For example, your allergist treats your allergies with an antihistamine, your pulmonologist treats your asthma with a steroid inhaler, and your dermatologist treats your eczema with a steroid cream. While these likely decrease symptoms by suppressing the immune system, they have unwanted side effects and dismal long-term consequences. Rather than simply treating the symptoms, we use methods that improve your immune system’s function as opposed to suppressing it.
These 3 conditions are all traced back to a hyper-reactive immune system and each is improved by training the immune system to not overreact to harmless stimuli, like foods and environmental pollens.
A common misconception is that allergies cannot be overcome and will exist for life. Perhaps surprisingly, we have helped many patients to free themselves from lifelong allergies, meaning they can immerse themselves into the world without their previous reactions.
We use something called Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) to help people become desensitized to or tolerant of their allergens. It consists of a little bottle of liquid that you place a drop of under your tongue 3 times a day. The process is very simple: you take a blood test to assess your allergies, we formulate a SLIT prescription unique to you, and we modify the dosing every 3-6 months until you’re completely tolerant of your allergens. Many people notice improvement within the first few months. See this Blog about Allergies and SLIT for more information on this topic.
In addition to allergy desensitization, we also focus on gut health and detoxification in addressing atopic triad conditions. We know that about 70% of your immune cells are harbored in your gut, and we have seen that a hyper-reactive immune system can benefit from gut healing. The toxins in our environment get stored in our bodies and also cause worsening of allergies. We can assess your need for further intervention by doing Advanced Testing as needed. Through lifestyle optimization, detoxification of your body and environment, supplement protocols, and possibly helminth therapy, we can ensure your health is optimized and allergic response is tamed.