Allergies | Airborne Allergies | Food Allergies

Airborne Allergies & Allergic Rhinitis

Allergens can be any substance (usually a protein) that can elicit an IgE-mediated response causing allergic symptoms including allergic rhinitis. From a clinical perspective, airborne allergens can be classified as perennial or seasonal.

Seasonal allergies are an allergic reaction that will typically follow a predictable pattern based on the growing season: spring or fall.

This type of allergy refers to a pollen allergy, such as trees, weeds and grasses.

Perennial allergies, on the other hand, are usually present year-round, and include allergens such as pet dander and house dust mite. Molds can be a seasonal or perennial allergy trigger.

The allergic response is best characterized as a specific inflammatory response of the immune system against environmental agents that contact the skin or mucosa. The primary immune cells involved in allergic responses are IgE antibodies. When exposed to an allergen, these immune cells trigger an immediate inflammatory response which presents as sneezing, watery, itchy and red eyes, rhinitis or runny nose, nasal congestion, chronic sinus congestion and asthmatic symptoms.

Treatment for airborne or seasonal allergies ranges from natural remedies, to over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants to prescription allergy medication to immunotherapy or allergy shots. At Ocean Pacific Integrative Health Center, we offer an alternative desensitization program to the allergy shots, the Sublingual Immunotherapy.

Sublingal ImmunoTherapy (SLIT)

Our SLIT Program is convenient and involves the use of sublingual drops without needles or frequent visit to the doctor. The program consists of two phases: start up and maintenance. The initial treatment lasts 6 months: 10 weeks for the start up and 10 weeks for the maintenance. After 6 months, you and your doctor will evaluate the efficacy of your allergy desensitization program and will decide whether or not to continue with the program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapy is the process of desensitizing the body by gradually introducing it to allergy-causing dusts, molds, and pollens. Over time, the concentration of these allergens is increased until the immune system learns to ignore them. As the immune system learns to tolerate these allergens, it will stop overreacting to them and allergies start to go away. Immunotherapy is available in two forms: subcutaneous (allergy shots, also known as SCIT) and sublingual (drops under the tongue, also known as SLIT).
How does sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) work?

Sublingual immunotherapy uses drops to desensitize your body to allergies. The drops contain over 70 extracts of the dusts, molds, pollens, and pet dander that are responsible for your symptoms. When placed under the tongue, they are absorbed by tiny capillaries. These allergens then attach themselves to the dendritic cells, known as the antigen-presenting cells, located in the sublingual mucosa. This induces immune deviation of TH2 in favor of TH1 cells and down regulates TH2 responses, thus reducing and/or eliminating allergies and their comorbidities.
How long will it take to see results with Sublingual Immunotherapy?

Typically favorable results are seen once the maintenance dose is achieved, which is approximately three months. However, many patients state reduction of symptoms within the first month, and often within the first couple weeks of starting the drop program.
When were oral allergy drops developed?

Oral drops therapy (Sublingual Immunotherapy) was developed over 60 years ago. It is widely used throughout the world and is especially popular in Europe where more than 50 percent of patients receiving allergy immunotherapy used drops rather than shots.
I travel a lot. Will Sublingual Immunotherapy program work for me?

AllergyEasy is a perfect program for frequent travelers. Sublingual immunotherapy (drops) have distinct advantages over subcutaneous immunotherapy (shots) when traveling. SCIT requires that the patient remains in the office after the injection for thirty minutes to monitor for potential side effects. With SLIT, the patient can take the serum on the road with him/her. All of the bottles are under three ounces, making them perfect for travelers

Our Health Program is a great place to start

At Ocean Pacific Integrative Health Center, we celebrate every person's uniqueness by providing personalized Health Plans. If you suffer from airborne allergies, contact us to find out how to make sublingual Immunotherapy your allergy solution.

Our Personalized Health Plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Intake by a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor
Physical Exam
Lab Evaluation (IgE and/or IgG blood test)
Blood Testing
Customized Treatment along with Sublingal Immunotherapy and Prevention Plan
Continual monitoring and evaluation of symptoms

Don't let allergies cut into your quality of life any longer.
There is a simple solution waiting for you.

Call us at 760-944-9300 to find out if
our Sublingual Immunotherapy is right for you.