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Immunotherapy Q & A
What is immunotherapy?
At Fairfield Family Health, our naturopathic physicians and providers use various forms of immunotherapy, low dose immunotherapy (LDI), low dose allergen (LDA), and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) to support disease conditions. Providers are trained in application of these modalities in practice and they will recommend based on clinical work-up. The primary goal is to support proper functioning of the immune system
Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI):
Fairfield Family Health was the first to offer Low Dose Immunotherapy, LDI, in Connecticut and has introduced and trained doctors in this realm. Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) is an expanded form of low dose allergen, and helps to promote immune tolerance to various antigens, like Lyme, Epstein Barr virus, Mycoplasma and Strep, to discontinue unnecessary immune reactivity against those antigens. The antigens may also include pollen, molds, chemicals, viruses, bacteria and fungi.
LDI is neither suppressing or stimulating immune function but helps to create “antigen acceptance”. It is not “killing something” but is aiding the body’s overall immune reaction.
In practice at Fairfield Family Health, it is also used to support the concept of molecular mimicry. Molecular mimicry has been correlated with autoimmune conditions and shown to be a leading mechanism to induce autoimmunity due to parasites, bacteria, viruses, mycotoxins, chemicals and metals. It has long been linked to autoimmune disease but only most recently has gained attention. Molecular mimicry triggers an immune response against what is called autoantigens. Autoantigen is a protein that is recognized by the immune system for people with autoimmune disease. A person can obtain an infection, like Epstein Barr virus, Strep or Mycoplasma, that has antigens that look similar to the person’s antigens. This resemblance of antigens by bacteria or viruses can activate T cells and thereby become autoreactive. This continual series of events can begin to create what is a called a loss of self-tolerance and serve as initiating factor for autoimmune conditions.
Utilization of LDI to support immune tolerance is an effective approach to care naturally in treatment of patients.
Here is a link from the Dr. Ty Vincent who began the immune therapy technique for treating Lyme and other autoimmune conditions and whom providers at Fairfield Family Health have been trained by:
https://www.globalimmunotherapy.com/about-ldi
Low Dose Allergen (LDA):
Low dose allergen (LDA) developed by Dr. W.A. Schrader was created for the resolution of allergies and specific autoimmune disorders. It involves desensitization with a combination of various low dose allergens with beta glucuronidase. The mixture, LDA, is cell mediated by T-regulator cells. The T-cells are estimated to have a half-life of up to 80 days which allows for a longer desensitization and less frequency of use, as compared to an allergy shot or “classical immunotherapy.”
Providers at Fairfield Family Health have been trained and certified in Low Dose Allergen (LDA) by Dr. Schrader. The following is a link for the patient instruction booklet for patients using this therapy and for educational purposes:
http://www.drshrader.com/OfficeForms/LDAMay2016PatientBookletComplete.pdf
Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT):
Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) induces allergen-specific immune tolerance by placing drops under the tongue and gradually increasing the dose of an allergen. Indications for use of SLIT include environmental allergies, grass pollens, trees, house dust, animal dander, and mold. It may also be used to support food sensitivities, e.g. dairy and wheat, to decrease aggravation. There have been many studies used to support for use for allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema.
Please contact Fairfield Family Health at (203) 254-9957 to see if you are an appropriate candidate for this therapy.