SAAT for ALPHA GAL
SYNDROME

Living with Alpha-Gal Syndrome can affect far more than what you eat. Avoiding mammalian products and hidden exposures can become an exhausting part of everyday life — it changes how you shop, eat out, travel, take medications, and even spend time with family and friends.

Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for Alpha-Gal Syndrome. It involves tiny needles (3 mm long) that are placed in the ear for four weeks, secured with medical glue and adhesives. After four weeks, we re-evaluate. At that point, as long as the re-evaluation is negative, we work with you to slowly reintroduce mammalian products back into your diet. The vast majority of patients experience an absence of Alpha-Gal symptoms following one SAAT treatment.

Important safety note: For patients with a history of anaphylaxis to Alpha-Gal, the goal of treatment is first and foremost safety and reducing the risk of reactions from accidental exposures, cross contamination, and cooking fumes. SAAT should not be considered assurance that mammalian foods can be safely reintroduced. For patients who choose to reintroduce mammalian foods after treatment, the potential risks and appropriate precautions are discussed individually, and reintroduction is approached as safely as possible.

About Alpha-Gal Syndrome

Alpha-gal (galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose) is a sugar/carbohydrate found in most mammals, but not in humans. Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is a potentially serious allergy that can develop following a tick bite. Alpha-gal is found in the saliva of some ticks and can be transferred during a bite, triggering an immune response that may later cause allergic reactions to mammalian meat and other products containing alpha-gal. In the United States, Alpha-Gal Syndrome is most commonly associated with the lone star tick, although other tick species have also been associated with cases of AGS.

People with Alpha-Gal Syndrome can experience allergic reactions after exposure to products containing alpha-gal, most commonly mammalian meat and other mammalian-derived products. Symptoms vary widely and may include hives, itching or swelling; nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea; dizziness or a drop in blood pressure; respiratory symptoms; and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis. Unlike many food allergies, reactions to alpha-gal are often delayed for several hours after eating, which can make the connectxion between symptoms and the triggering food difficult to recognize.

Alpha-Gal Syndrome can be diagnosed through a combination of medical history, symptoms, and a blood test that measures antibodies to alpha-gal. There is currently no widely accepted conventional treatment that eliminates the allergy; management generally focuses on avoiding known triggers and being prepared to treat allergic reactions. SAAT (Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment) offers a different treatment approach and has been studied for its potential to reduce or eliminate ALpha-Gal symptoms.

Clare O’Nan is trained and certified in SAAT

and has extensive experience successfully treating patients with Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Her Alpha-Gal patients have come from across Mississippi and numerous other states, as well as Canada and the Middle East. Her experience with Alpha-Gal has also led practitioners in the U.S. and abroad to consult with her regarding complex Alpha-Gal cases.

WHAT PATIENTS ARE SAYING

WHAT FELLOW PRACTITIONERS ARE SAYING

Thanks to the knowledge Clare kindly shared, I have grown tremendously as an acupuncturist and am better able to navigate challenging allergy cases. Thank you for all the advice!

Gerben De Schuiteneer, L.Ac., SAAT Practitioner, Belgium

I am incredibly grateful to Clare for welcoming me into her clinic and generously sharing her time, experience, and knowledge with me. Clare is intelligent, kind, approachable, and exceptionally generous with her time. She is an outstanding practitioner, business owner, and, above all, a wonderful human being.

Dilshad Alvi, Registered Acupuncturist, SAAT Practitioner & Clinical Nutritionist, Canada

I am eternally grateful to Clare for introducing me to this life-changing work and for so generously sharing her clinical experience with me. She truly goes above and beyond, supporting not just her patients but her fellow practitioners and the entire community.

Ann Marie Yeager, L.Ac.,

SAAT Practitioner, Colorado

Foods, Medications & Products That Can Contain Alpha-Gal

Alpha-Gal sensitivity varies from person to person. Not everyone with Alpha-Gal Syndrome will react to every food, ingredient, medication, or product listed below. This list is not exhaustive and is continually being updated.

Mammals:

Alpha-gal is found in mammals other than humans and other primates, including but not limited to:

Cow

Pig

Sheep

Deer

Bison

Elk

Rabbit

Other Animal Meats:

Chicken or turkey sausage made with pork or other mammalian-derived casings

Dairy:

Milk and milk products (cheese, sour cream, etc.) from all non-primate animals

Materials:

Materials derived from mammals may be relevant for some highly sensitive individuals, including but not limited to:

Leather

Wool

Cashmere

Suede

Alpaca

Lanolin (a sheep-derived ingredient found in some lotions, cosmetics, lip products, and medications):

All products containing lanolin (which comes from domestic sheep), including (but not limited to):

Cosmetics

Lipsticks

Ointments

Lotions

Clothing/materials

Carrageenan:

Carrageenan is a seaweed-derived ingredient commonly used as a thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier in foods and other products. Although carrageenan itself is not mammalian derived, some people with Alpha-Gal Syndrome report reactions to products containing it.

Carrageenan may be found in products such as:

Chicken

Chicken Sausage

Turkey Sausage

Dairy Alternatives (vegan cheeses, etc.)

Almond Milk

Hemp Milk

Rice Milk

Soy Milk

Gelatin:

Gelatin is commonly derived from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of mammals such as cows and pigs, and may containing alpha-gal. It can be found in foods, medications, supplements, and other products.

Check the inactive ingredients on all of your supplements and medications.

Medical Devices:

Certain biological heart valves derived from pigs or cows

Certain animal-derived surgical grafts

Magnesium Stearate

Magnesium stearate is a common inactive ingredient in medications and supplements and may be derived from either animal or vegetable sources. Stearic acid may also be animal or plant derived. Check the inactive ingredients on all medications and supplements. If you are unsure of the source, contact your pharmacist or the manufacturer.

Medications That May Contain Mammal-Derived Ingredients:

Formulations vary by manufacturer and product, so inactive ingredients should be checked carefully. Examples may include:

Zyrtec

Benadryl

Simvastatin

Omeprazole (Lasec, Prilosec, Zegerid, etc.)

Synthroid

Ceron (pancreatic enzyme)

Heparin

Monoclonal Antibodie

Stearic Acid:

Stearic acid may be derived from either animal or plant sources and can be found in many everyday products including but not limited to:

Candles

Chewing Gum

Cosmetics

Detergents

Hair Products

House Cleaners

Lubricants

Makeup

Shaving Cream

Skin Care Products

Soap

Supplements

Tablets

Textile Softeners

Gums:

Gums are commonly used as thickeners and stabilizers in foods. Although they are not generally mammal derived, some people with Alpha-Gal Syndrome report sensitivity to products containing certain gums, including but not limited to:

Xanthan Gum

Guar Gum

Bean Gum

Gellan Gum