Therapies › Food Allergy

Allergies typically stem from a hyperactive immune system. Our immune system is mistakenly identifying foods and environmental proteins as foreign invaders such as bacteria, fungus and viruses. Allergies must first be identified by a blood allergy test.

Food Antibody Profiles

The incidence of food allergies has increased dramatically over the years, and it is estimated that up to 20% of the population have adverse reactions to foods. The Great Smokies Diagnostic Lab IgG Food Profile helps identify those with true immune-mediated allergies versus food intolerance. It measures IgG antibody levels to 88 foods and Total IgE. The IgE Food Profile measures quantitative IgE antibody levels to the most common types of dietary allergens. Additional tests are also available for Vegetables and Spices.

The Consequences of Food Allergies

Increased total antigenic load related to food and environmental sensitivities has been associated with a wide range of medical conditions affecting virtually every part of the body. Even mood and behavior, including hyperactivity disorders in children, are profoundly influenced by food allergies. Symptoms can range from mildly uncomfortable to severe and may include:

• Asthma
• Migraine
• Eczema
• Urticaria
• Arthritis
• Ear infections
• Sinusitis
• Colitis

IgE vs. IgG Mediated Allergens

Classical skin testing for allergies such as skin-scratch testing, only measures IgE-mediated reactions and provides no information concerning delayed IgG hypersensitivity reactions. Assessment of relative IgG antibody levels to a multitude of foods using sensitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technology identifies those foods against which the patient is producing antibodies. Measuring both relative IgE and IgG antibody levels provides an invaluable starting point for dietary intervention. The key differences between IgE and IgG mediated allergies are summarized below:

Treating Allergies

At our clinic we treat allergies by identifying and removing the allergen from a patient's diet and then modulating the immune system to reduce the immune response to the allergen. At out clinic this is achieved by utilizing ozone therapy and various supplementation.

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