K.L.
I not only have experienced such treatments, and there are various forms, but I am a therapist that has been trained to practice a few different methods like this. I might be able to help you sort out the issues so you can make an informed choice.
I agree completely with what one reply mentioned, that some of these approaches appear less permanent with food allergies than other environmental allergies. What needs to be better understood about the term 'food allergies' is that there can be a number of reasons that a food allergies develops. Even if an allergy ellimination treatment is 100% effective, the body will redevelop the allergy if it feels threatened by that food in some way. There can be a number of reasons why the body feels threatened by foods.
I would narrow these reasons into three basic catagories, toxic ingredients, diegestive peculiarities, or metabolic peculiarities.
Some food ingredients, like MSG or high fructose corn syrup, are toxic for every person. If my body perceives this threat it will not only learn to react to the presence of that substance, but also to any food that consistently contains that substance. So, if everytime I eat peanut butter it is combined with something my body wants to avoid, my body will build up a defense to peanuts as well. You can think of this as guilt by association. So, if in such a case you get the allergy elimination treatment for peanuts, you might be able to eat pure peanut butter and never re-develop the allergy. But, if you go right back to eating it with toxic ingredients, the allergy is likely to re-develop.
Digestive peculiarities can develop from exposure to things like antibiotics and vaccines because they create an inballance of the bacterial lining of the intestines and yeasts, like candida, can take over. But, there are several other digestive peculiarities, such as Celiac's disease, that are genetic. In both of these cases, the body is unable to properly digest most simple carbs. Foods like wheat, that contain gluten, and many forms of sugar become problematic in the intestines. Because the body cannot digest and absorb these foods, they begin to be precieved as a threat. Even if the allergy elimination treatment trains the body to not produce imunoglobulins against such foods, the digestive sensitivies often remain if the digestive disorder cannot be corrected. The body will eventually develop the allergic response again.
Metabolic peculiarities have more to do with blood chemestry and the function of other organs, such as the liver. The book by Dr. D'Adamo, Live Right 4 Your Type, can help you identify the foods that each blood type do not metabolize well and which foods are most beneficial. I was profoundly impressed with how my body corrected my thyroid condition and inflamatory disorders when I stopped eating the foods my blood type did not metabolize well. I had begun to develop allergic responses to many of those foods. But, even if I eliminate the allergic response, my body is not designed to metabolize those foods. In my case, peanuts are on my avoid list. So, the peanut is not just guilty by association. The peanut is the offender in my body because my blood type will make it toxic to me.
The allergy elimination methods you refer to employ protocols that are not familiar to everyone and many MDs are skeptical about them. I have had MDs come to me for such treatments and were quite satisfied with the results. Many doctors refer their patients to me because they have seen the results. Few people realize that many of the greatest breakthroughs in healthcare have been developed by scientists who are combining our modern sciences of metabolic physiology and neurosciences with the ancient science of acupoint therapies and the practice of kinesiology. The acupoint system is the energy intelligence system of the body and mind. It is the body's bio-computer. It can be reprogrammed. I tell my clients that I don't repair the hardware, but we can sure reprogram the software.
There is a metabolic protocol I studied and practiced that can correct some digestive and metabolic disorders. Although these approaches exist, few doctors and/or therapists practice them. They are more time consuming and I found that few parents are willing to keep up with the regime it requires. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find an exceptional chiropractor or naturopath to help you with this. There is one in Boulder, CO, that is marvelous. There is a clinic in Orlando, Florida run by the scientist that developed this method. I wish everyone understood what the Metabolic Protocol can do for autism if treated before age 5.
My area of focus is Brain Integration for eliminating specific learning difficulties. I have been blessed to study with the scientists who discovered how to use acupressure to affect specific neuro-pathways and functions. I see what we used to call miracles on a regular basis. I also teach people to use a simple acupressure technique that anyone can use on themselves when they need it.
So, although all of this seemed 'odd' to me at one time, I have learned so much and cannot imagine relying on only medical sciences today. They are great in a crisis. They perform miracles in repairing the hardware. But, when one MD I know learned about what I was practicing he said, "What you are doing makes what I do look barbaric." Although I don't think medical practices are barbaric, under most circumstances, I certainly don't think they have the best answers for things like allergies, mood disorders, and learning difficulties.
I hope this helps you understand the nature of this issue and empowers you to make confident decisions. It is rare that these treatments are covered by insurance and I truly respect the investment people make in their family's well being. Best of luck to you and your precious one.
