7 Surprising Benefits of Low-Dose Immunotherapy

Low-dose immunotherapy treats a wide range of allergens from environmental, chemical, and food factors.

Low-dose immunotherapy differs from conventional allergen immunotherapy in that it treats a wider spectrum of allergens.

Traditional therapy uses allergy shots to treat allergies from inside and outside, such as dust and dander or pollens in the air.

Low-dose immunotherapy, also called low-dose allergen treatment, covers those allergies plus chronic illnesses or autoimmune dysfunction, according to the Holtorf Medical Group, which has clinics in California and Georgia.

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Here are seven surprising benefits of low-dose immunotherapy:

1. Conventional allergen immunotherapy uses more allergy shots at higher doses to get to the problem. The therapy entails a “build-up” phase where doses are increased over time and then enters a maintenance phase. But low-dose immunotherapy takes fewer injections, often with long periods between each injection.

2. Traditional therapy treats allergies and asthma, but does not treat allergies from food or chemicals. Low-dose immunotherapy treats those conditions.

3. The high dosage in conventional allergy shots can cause side effects because of the high concentration of allergens, explains the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado.

The lower concentrations in low-dose immunotherapy allow it to be used for many conditions with fewer adverse reactions.

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4. Enzymes used in low-dose immunotherapy focus on white blood cells involved in the immune response. Only the part of the immune system reacting to foreign substances is targeted, but the immune system eventually becomes desensitized to the offending allergens.

5. Patients receive one or two injections in the forearm with tiny intradermal injections on the skin.

6. Treatment with low-dose immunotherapy is usually done about every two months with the intervals extending over time before reaching yearly intervals. Some patients only need one to four injections a year for as long as 20 years. Other patients find relief and stop treatment after 16 to 18 injections, Holtorf notes.

7. Along with treatment for inhalant allergies, low-dose immunotherapy has been used for autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel and arthritis, according to Specialty Natural Medicine.

Low-dose immunotherapy is also used for such disorders as Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, ADHD, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.

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