Alpha Gal: Red Meat Allergy

Alpha-gal syndrome is the development of allergy to red meat, including beef, pork, lamb, venison, and other substances of similar chemistry (not necessarily animal sources). 

For severe sufferers, merely inhaling the scent of bacon cooking in the kitchen can fire up devastating misery. 

Thousands of Americans are now reported to be stricken with this mysterious allergy, which has taken medical researchers more than a decade to connect the dots. 

However, I am certain that tens of millions of people worldwide suffer from this rarely investigated, but VERY old problem! 

Recent evidence supports the fact that alpha gal allergy can be responsible for a tremendous number of symptoms and even be the culprit behind various misdiagnosed medical conditions for which alpha gal was never considered.

In June of 2019, I began documenting cases of treatment for patients seeking my help from the devastating effects of alpha gal allergy. 

I n 2013, I began successfully treating people for meat allergy caused by tick bite. I was using using the Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT), a now patented ear acupuncture procedure. I already knew the treatment worked, but realistically, few would likely believe it. 

Prior to my (now published) study, I tried to get alpha gal researchers from both University of Virginia and University of North Carolina to collaborate in research with me to academically document the effectiveness of the ingenious SAAT.  

It works by means of stimulating nerves in the ear to trigger a natural neurological change, which my clinical research has revealed restores patients to their natural and normal state of tolerance to the natural sugar nutrient component of red meat, known as alpha gal.

I had already known that SAAT would be the key to the mystery of alpha gal; it was not an experiment to document cases. I was not naive to the fact that few would likely believe this treatment could work... 

The alleged top scientists of alpha gal research had told the public nothing could be done since 2009!! Ten years later, nothing had changed. Mainstream medicine's "solution" was still the same: avoid meat!

However, I knew that helping people worldwide to have knowledge of (and access to) this much-needed treatment would require an effort far beyond simply treating many people who would share it by word-of-mouth. 

I recognized that it must be meticulously done in order for it to have a chance to receive proper attention and respect of the scientific community, worldwide. 

I am proud to have taken the first step towards accomplishing this goal. In 2020, the first ever paper on successful treatment for alpha gal was published and available online: 

Effect of Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) on IgE-mediated Reactions Due to Exposure to Mammalian Meat Oligosaccharide, Galactose-α-1,3-Galactose

It is open to the scientific community and the public to download by clicking HERE.  American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences  

Alpha-gal allergy was initally discovered to be an allergy triggered by the bite of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). It is now known to be likely caused by other species of ticks, as well as chiggers, and perhaps other bugs. 

The bugs' bite can cause a bizarre change in the victim’s immune system. 

Not everybody who is bitten by a tick develops an allergy to red meat. However, those who do might take months before noticing that eating meat has become a problem.

For some, a trip to the emergency room is their first clue!

Millions of people likely have no idea that they feel lousy due to this allergy, or that a tick bite had anything to do with it. Massive numbers of people suffer chronic ailments triggered by ticks and other bugs, but don’t even know they were bitten. Those who have noticeable skin reactions after getting bug bites tend to be more aware. 

Symptoms of Meat Allergy

Like many food allergies, runny nose, nausea, hives, headaches, breathing difficulties, diarrhea, and indigestion are common symptoms. Severe or life-threatening anaphylactic reactions are not unusual, and deaths have been documented. 

However, there is NO SUCH THING AS THE SYMPTOMS OF ALPHA GAL; IT CAN BE DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON. 

There are many more symptoms that folks discovered were being caused by alpha gal allergy. How did they find out? They vanished after having SAAT performed! Whatever symptoms alpha gal causes YOU are what will get better with effective corrective treatment.

This is discussed in my medical paper (You can download it and read it when you've finished this article).

How Was Alpha-gal Meat Allergy Discovered?

For as long as humans and ticks have coexisted, it is likely this condition has been present, but not recognized. 

In 1987, Dr. Sheryl van Nunen of Australia documented numerous cases of meat allergy correlated with tick bite. Strangely, her research findings were not reported until 2006 and finally published in 2009. At the time, there were more cases documented in Australia than anywhere else in the world.

The alpha-gal allergy (also known as mammalian meat allergy) was not recognized in the United States prior to 2006. 

A doctor from the University of Virginia began investigating alpha-gal allergy... but not initially in consideration of tick bites. He was studying allergic reactions to a cancer drug called cetuximab, which was put on the market in 2004. During early drug trials, some cancer patients had allergic reactions, some very severe—landing them in the hospital. The drug contains a protein obtained from mice… but it also has alpha-gal molecules!

It had been known to science that alpha-gal could trigger bad immune system reactions; it would prevent organ transplants from animals to humans. Coincidentally, insights into the tick component came about when the UVA doctor developed the allergy, himself, after hiking.

They determined that lone star ticks have alpha-gal molecules in their gut or saliva, which they get from feeding on other mammals. They inject alpha-gal into the bloodstream of humans with their bite. This triggers an excessive production of antibodies called IgE (immunoglobulin E).

Lone star ticks spread the disease Rocky Mountain spotted fever. At the time, it was not reported that other tick-borne infection (including Lyme disease) triggered the meat allergy; it may be an unfortunate, but coincidental consequence.

In addition to lone star tick bites, one could certainly become infected by bites from ticks carrying Lyme disease-causing bacteria, as well as numerous other bacteria, single-celled parasites, fungi, and viruses.

Cases of alpha-gal allergy have been now documented throughout the world. The lone star tick is spread by birds, rodents, deer and other animals. Birds drop the ticks wherever they may fly. 

Lone star ticks are very hardy; they can thrive in many environments. The map from the Centers for Disease Control depicts that lone star tick’s southeastern geographic distribution is massive! There is no disputing their presence, as is the case with blacklegged ticks associated with Lyme disease. It has been since reported that other species of ticks, as well as chiggers apparently cause alpha gal allergy, too.

How Do Doctors Diagnose Alpha-gal Allergy?

Unfortunately, tick bite victims often do not know they have been bitten or see the tick that was the culprit. Only some people develop rashes from tick bites.

Diagnosis alpha-gal allergy is greatly driven by patients telling their doctor that they have suddenly developed of allergy to red meat. The patient typically reports never having had a problem throughout his or her life.

A blood test can detect and measure alpha-gal antibodies in your blood. However, like many other blood tests, it does not provide absolute proof; it is a good screening test. 

Oddly, a person can show a positive blood test, but not have the meat allergy. This is not isolated to alpha-gal testing; it is commonly the case with testing for many allergies. 

Skin allergy tests can also be performed by an allergist. The doctor pierces the skin and exposes it to extracts of red meat. A hive (a raised bump) will develop at the spot tested if the alpha-gal allergy exists.

There are several key characteristics that give clues for diagnosing alpha-gal syndrome:

It typically takes alpha-gal allergy sufferers between 2-8 hours after eating red meat (or being exposed to it through other sources) to begin suffering symptoms. 

In contrast, allergic reactions to most foods such as peanuts, gluten, or shellfish, typically start rapidly or immediately upon exposure.

Those who have alpha-gal allergy do not necessarily have reactions every time they eat meat. Oddly, all types of red meat do not necessarily pose a problem (it can be different for each person). For some people, alpha-gal allergic reactions may only happen if the person eats a large enough quantity of meat. Food allergies are typically triggered by proteins… but alpha-gal is a sugar. 

Why is This Important?

Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or alpha gal, for short, is a normal carbohydrate sugar component of the cell walls of most mammals. Mammals are animals that have fur or hair and produce milk to nourish their young.

The alpha-gal sugar does not exist in the cells of humans, apes, and around 80 species of African and Asian monkeys. That is why the injection of the sugar by lone star tick into our bloodstreams can launch the development of the meat allergy. Animals that already have tons of alpha-gal in their cells do not have any problem when a miniscule amount of it gets served up by a tick into their bloodstream.

People are not so lucky!

We call a foreign substance that invades and irritates the body an antigen. Your body’s defense system, the immune system “recognizes” that specific proteins from harmful viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, etc. (pathogens) are not human cells. 

The immune system develops antibodies, which are specialized proteins that provide the “memory” for the body to signal a defense, should future exposure of the germs take place.

That’s what immunity is all about! 

However, with allergies, your immune system responds to something that is would normally be accustomed to as if it is foreign or harmful.

When a person who suffers from the alpha-gal allergy eats meat (or is exposed to it from any source), it “sounds the alarm” to the immune system to fight a harmful invader. The body releases histamine and other chemicals as a protective mechanism. However, this can result in some terrible symptoms, and in some cases, it can be life-threatening! Some people react to traces of alpha-gal in dairy products or medications containing gelatin or other mammal-based components. For others alpha-gal results in allergy to wool.

“Why are red meat allergy sufferers able to eat seafood, chicken, turkey, fish, and eggs?”

It’s simple: these other non-mammal protein sources do not contain the alpha-gal sugar. 

The short answer is, they have NOT!

An Internet search for alpha-gal allergy produces a wealth of articles and medical research papers describing its discovery, science, and history behind it. 

However, what you will NOT see is any substantial or reliable treatment for it—even from some of the most prestigious medical institutions. No allergy shots or medications are available. There is no vaccination either; alpha-gal is not from infection.

Elimination of meat from one’s diet and avoiding ticks is the conventional wisdom for its management. For those who suffer life-threatening severe allergic reaction to meat, an EpiPen is the treatment. Many allergy sufferers carry these, which are emergency medicine devices for the self-injection of epinephrine into the thigh.

Some people might have the allergy gradually fade away within a few years, provided they avoid meat and they don’t get bitten by ticks again (which can be very difficult to prevent!). Others may be able to develop tolerance by gradually reintroducing meat to the diet in tiny doses. Medical research currently is focused on the risks of developing the meat allergy. The connections between tick bite and alpha-gal immune system changes have been studied for over 10 years. The correlation between rising tick populations and meat allergies is the subject of interest. Genetic susceptibility, including aspects of blood type are also being investigated. 

The only thing currently considered by some allergists is a drug called Omalizumab (Xolair), which was designed for asthma. It's description is that it may help treat chronic hives (urticaria) associated with alpha gal. It has the usual list of potential side effects, both mild and serious, including infections, headaches, and... hives!  

FYI: A one-month supply of omalizumab cost patients between $541 and $2,706, depending on the dosage. It has absolutely NO corrective value or specific application to alpha gal allergy. 

I mention again that I have provided SAAT since 2013, when Dr. Nader Soliman taught me his procedures.    

I've been in practice since 1993. However, only since 2008, have I specifically been providing natural and holistic support for people suffering chronic effects of tick-borne infection. Most of those patients developed allergies (not only to red meat) they didn’t have prior to tick bites. I have successfully enabled many to overcome them (including alpha-gal).

I have seen patients overcome allergies using the extraordinary  Soliman’s Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT). It has since been granted a US patent, which was no small feat for Dr. Soliman to accomplish!  

In 2014, Dr. Soliman published a medical study demonstrating the elimination of various allergies within 3 weeks of a single SAAT treatment. He presented his successful results with around 600 cases of allergies (over a 10-year period) at the 2013 symposium of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture, a national organization of physician-acupuncturists.  

The treatment involves the virtually painless insertion of a tiny (3mm) hair-thin sterilized stainless-steel acupuncture needle into the skin of the outer ear. 

The ear has complex neurological, embryological, and electromagnetic connections to the brain, which make it possible to treat many problems. This phenomenon has long been medically-accepted by the World Health Organization.

For allergy treatment, we conduct the examination with Dr. Soliman's patented procedure, as well as instrumentation, to locate each patients pinpoint areas for treatment. Locations vary from patient-to-patient. 

The ear acupuncture needle is a tiny sliver of steel. It is thinner than an eyelash, and it is slid under the skin inside the pocket-like depression of the ear. Some patients say they don't even feel them going in, while others feel a little pinch. 

This is NOT like getting your ears pierced, getting a shot, or drawing blood! 

Since 2013, I have perform SAAT on little children (even babies). It is fast and easy to have done. 

Even if you are scared of needles, this is truly no big deal at all! So relax.

Also... NOTHING WILL BE STICKING OUT OF YOUR HEAD! 

I must reinforce that the tiny (3mm-long ) acupuncture needles are specially-designed for the ear. Once they are inserted, they are covered with a special tapes, which protect and secures them in order to maintain stimulation for 3 weeks (patient easily removes them at home). 

An additional medical adhesive for bandage stability, called Mastisol is used to glue them perfectly in place. Patients can sweat, get wet, shower, etc. without concern. It's easy! Just don't pick at them and they will stay beautifully. 

Many years of Dr. Nader Soliman's clinical result revealed that inside of 3 weeks, the needle nerve stimulation triggers the body such that the allergy goes away itself, naturally. 

I think the public understands that a drug-free procedure is not going to make headlines! Nobody gets rich from this kind of professional, knowledge and skill-based healthcare service.

One might wonder why it took both Dr. Soliman and me a while to pay closer attention to alpha-gal allergy. 

Although both Dr. Soliman and I had independently been enjoying the privilege of seeing patients eliminate numerous types of allergies; we did not consider red meat allergy to be anything special, strange, or unusual. It was just one of countless food and environmental allergies for which we had the pleasure of helping my patients eliminate through SAAT.

We considered it a normal part of support for the chronic effects of tick-borne infection, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. 

Neither of us were considering the usage of his brilliant treatment discovery to be specifically for alpha gal. Neither Dr. Soliman nor I were aware of the sugar component of meat; it didn't matter because SAAT still worked. 

We both treated people for whatever allergies they had, knowing that few people would even believe it could be done. Certainly, allergists were not going to likely show interest or tell patients about it.

It wasn't until I became aware of the medical labeling of a specific diagnosis taking place that I knew people had a chance to pursue help.

I saw in 2019 that there was significant media attention to meat allergy and the discovery that it was triggered by the alpha-gal sugar transmitted by the lone star tick. 

Once I read numerous informative articles, interviews, and research papers on alpha-gal allergy, it became crystal clear that I should coordinate and document the existing clinical procedures of SAAT. 

Although my patients and I needed no further proof that alpha-gal allergy can go away; red meat allergy treatment must be advanced beyond the walls of my office! We needed medically-published scientific data to best help people, worldwide. 

I am proud to report that I took such action. 

In early 2019, I pursued the support of two of the most prominently known alpha-gal university medical researchers (from two major universities)—inviting them to collaborate with me in large-scale clinical trials. I told them that there was nothing experimental about this; we already knew it worked. For the furthering of science and to help tens of millions of people worldwide, having it medically and officially designated as proven and documented would be helpful.

Unfortunately, these scientists, who have professed the pursuit of treatment for alpha gal, sadly and shockingly showed no interest in the very thing they are supposed to be seeking... including the doctors who have published the most important alpha gal research!

I do not seek to insult or put anybody down. I take it very seriously that it is a true scientist's responsibility to the public to report the facts. I sought to collaborate with these doctors, who indeed did fine research to learn the chemical mechanisms behind alpha gal allergy. 

I acknowledge them for their great work in deciphering the chemical mechanism of the tick bite triggering the allergy. I sought to include them in documenting the effectiveness of the treatment I was already successfully doing (SAAT). 

Since these medical researchers had published load of studies about the problem, for which no solution had been found (2009 onward), I really thought they would jump at the opportunity to participate in medically documenting the world's FIRST corrective and preventative treatment for food allergy.

Unfortunately, they did not. As of 2022, it has been THEIR choice to IGNORE the successful treatment of thousands of cases, nationwide since 2019 (and growing, progressively). 

Around May of 2019, because of the lack of interest by these major university medical scientists in the preventative and corrective treatment for a worldwide medical problem...

I did it myself! 

I am proud to have published my own preliminary investigative study of 155 cases, and by 2021, I had successfully treated well over 2,000 cases, ongoing (as of 2022). 

Since my initial publication, Dr. Nader Soliman and other practitioners have done a wonderful job by expanding research efforts for publication in medical journals, as well as treating thousands of more patients nationwide and abroad.  

Suffering people need help, desperately!
There is no drug, allergy shot, or vaccination available for alpha-gal
The SAAT procedure is incredibly easy for patients to receive.
One treatment is all that is typically necessary
Its safety is unparalleled.
There are no side effects
It is inexpensive.
It’s fast.
The results are astonishing.
The results are lasting.

I am not naïve; I suspect that to most, the treatment sounds too good to be true.  That’s a shame.

But it changes nothing.

For decades, ear acupuncture (auricular therapy) has been an internationally-recognized proven treatment method—acknowledged by the World Health Organization and its benefits documented through decades of medical research. The treatment for red meat allergy I’ve been doing is one of many marvelous applications of auricular therapy. Doctors must-read medical journals on their own to learn about non-pharmaceutical treatment methods; few are taught in medical schools. A simple search for auricular therapy research studies produces some very impressive results. It was introduced in 1957 by award-winning French neurologist, Paul Nogier, MD (1908-1996).

Both patients and doctors who have experienced it have all the proof they need that it works. But sadly, too few people know that it exists… or that it could help them.

Alpha-gal red meat allergy help is available right now…

I’ve been providing it for years! I challenge anybody to come up with a single good reason why an alpha-gal allergy sufferer should not pursue treatment. 

One visit for treatment is typically all that is needed for an allergy. 

Before and after blood tests for alpha-gal allergy are optional, but are unlikely to provide correlating results. Food allergies are accurately diagnosed not by blood and skin tests, but rather eating or touching the substance. When an allergist does this in a medical setting it is called an oral food challenge. You eat the food... and wait to see if you react, or not.

However, the Liebell Clinic NEVER conducts oral food challenge, nor is it recommended for any patient who has had serious past reactions from alpha gal. Patients typically become aware that they are better from NOT reacting from unintentional alpha gal exposure.

If you or anybody you know suffers from the alpha-gal red meat allergy… take the opportunity right away to not only help yourself, but to likely help thousands of others by spreading the news of treatment success, by joining over 2,000 people who have sought SAAT at the Liebell Clinic (from May 2019 to 2021, ongoing). Medical journal documentation of success has been published.

I invite all sufferers of this dreaded allergy to pursue my treatment by calling my office at (757) 631-9799. My staff will answer your questions and give details of the amazing, safe, easy, and inexpensive treatment process.

There is also a Facebook group with thousands of members, which was started by one of my patients... dedicated to SAAT for this tick-borne meat allergy: Alpha Gal SAAT Remission.