Food Allergies
For many people with food allergies, completely avoiding problem foods isn’t easy or even practical. Accidental exposures happen, and sublingual immunotherapy (allergy drops) for foods can help many patients safely build tolerance in case an accidental exposure occurs. For others, it can help them enjoy foods that once caused reactions. Food allergy is becoming more common.
The most common food allergies include
- Eggs
- Milk
- Wheat
- Peanut
- Soy
- Shellfish
- Fish
- Tree nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts, etc.)
- Sesame
Often there is an underlying environmental allergy, such as dust mite, which primes the immune system to have an allergic reaction to foods. Diagnosing food allergy begins with identifying a history of sensitivity to certain foods.
Food allergy symptoms may include
- Mouth itching
- Headache
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Hives
- Eczema
- Skin itching
- Upset stomach
- Fatigue
- Loose stools
Once diagnosed with food allergies, treatment options range from avoiding the allergens, managing symptoms, to treating the root cause through immunotherapy. The only way to change the underlying allergic disease is immunotherapy.
Can allergy drops help food allergies?
Treating food allergies with sublingual immunotherapy begins at a much lower dosing level than the amount that triggers reactions. This small amount, placed under the tongue, is enough for the immune system to build allergic tolerance over time, yet is below the level that triggers a serious reaction.
When using the La Crosse Method™ Protocol for food allergies, we recommend three doses daily to help build tolerance.
The goal of sublingual immunotherapy treatment for food allergy varies from person to person. For those with mild to moderate allergies, it is possible to reintroduce allergic foods back into the diet, while for those with severe or life-threatening allergies, the goal may be to reduce the likelihood of a severe allergic reaction to an accidental exposure.