Low Dose Allergen, or LDA therapy, is very safe and effective immunotherapy used to treat food allergies and environmental allergies as well as autoimmune conditions. Physicians using LDA in the United States have a reported >80% success rate using LDA over the past 40 years. Intradermal injections are typically used for adults, with a sublingual option for children.
LDA treatment involves very low dose combinations of allergens along with an enzyme, beta-glucuronidase. The enzyme attracts specific white blood cells, called T-regulator cells, to pay attention to the allergens included with the enzyme. This causes a down-regulation or calming of the response, of the part of the immune system that was reacting to the allergens in the first place. In other words, LDA works to shut off the adverse or allergenic response, and has a positive effect on the immune system. This is also the reason why it works well for most autoimmune conditions where the body is attacking itself.
How Does LDA therapy Differ From Conventional Allergy Treatments?
Conventional antihistamines work on blocking the histamine response and require constant dosing to be effective. These medications can cause an array of side-effects, including possible brain damage and increased Alzheimer’s risk. Traditional allergy shots and allergy drops work with the immune system to gradually, but temporarily, build a tolerance to specific allergens. These shots are generally given every 1-2 weeks and usually require dosing every allergy season.
Not only does LDA treat multiple (over 300) foods or inhalant allergies in a single treatment, it also works to reset the immune system’s response, rather than just working to build up a tolerance that doesn’t last. It also can be used for more than just allergies because of how it works to reset the immune system. LDA is less expensive and also requires much less treatment – once every two months versus weekly allergy shots or daily medications.
LDA Benefits Compared to Conventional Allergy Treatments:
- Quick results (most patients see improvements within 1-3 treatments)
- Long-lasting effects for a wide range of allergens
- Less frequent treatments (once every 2 months initially, then less frequent)
- Less expensive than conventional allergy therapy
Frequently Treated Conditions with LDA therapy:
- Autoimmune Diseases: Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Lupus (SLE), Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Environmental Allergies, Asthma, Sinusitis
- Food Allergies & Sensitivities
- GI Issues: Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis
- Lyme Disease
- Skin Conditions: Dermatitis, Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea
Link to Townsend Letter article with references: