Allergy Testing and Desensitization Specialist in Surrey, BC

Allergy testing is done to diagnose any kind of sensitivity to food, pollen, mold or anything else. Some common symptoms of allergic reactions include itchy and watery eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, rashes, hives, vomiting, stomach ache, and swelling. Allergy Testing is available at White Rock Naturopathic Clinic in Surrey, BC. Dr. Meet Dr. Tom Grodski, ND, at our clinic and get your allergy testing and desensitization. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at #208 – 1676 Martin Dr., Surrey, BC V4A 6E7.

ALLERGY TESTING + DESENSITIZATION

Allergies are on the rise unfortunately, both to foods as well as environmental. Fortunately, White Rock Naturopathic has got you covered as a full service, cutting edge allergy clinic.

Complete testing is available at the clinic for both food allergies and environmental (seasonal) allergies. This includes IgE/ IgG (ELISA) testing for food allergies, skin scratch tests for environmental allergies, as well as electrodermal screening.

Treatment options depend on the particular allergens and severity thereof; environmental allergens (mold, pollens, cat, dog, etc.), are effectively treated using de-sensitization via Low Dose Allergen Therapy and Sublingual Immuno-Therapy (SLIT). SLIT is an evidence based approach used by conventional medical allergists. An overview of the research supporting its use is available under the Research menu.

In regard to food allergens, while eliminating and abstaining from identified allergens remains the most straightforward approach, it isn’t always ideal or preferred. Not being able to eat a previously enjoyed food can certainly be frustrating! Fortunately, there do exist various naturopathic approaches to reducing or eliminating overall reactivity to existing allergens. The particular approach used depends greatly on the individual, the degree of reactivity, as well as the particular allergens. For the most complicated, and challenging cases, Low Dose Allergen Therapy is proving a promising novel approach.

Treating food allergies can help with many conditions including:

• Asthma
• A.D.D.
• Eczema and psoriasis
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Colitis and Crohn’s
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis

Food Sensitivities: Phenolics in Foods

Phenolics are naturally occurring organic compounds that contain a benzene ring (6 carbon atoms linked in a ring, each with one single and one double bond to its respective neighbors). Most foods contain phenolics and they are responsible for taste and smell.

Patients who have symptoms that are due to a phenolic compound such as those listed here, or which have a component that is caused by a phenolic, are not allergic to them but are intolerant or sensitive. They are able to tolerate a limited amount of the phenolic, but if the intake exceeds this then symptoms appear. It appears that the tolerance level reduces the more symptoms occur, but that if the phenolic is avoided the tolerance increases. The best practical policy is to be conscious not to eat too many foods that contain the offending phenolic during any 48-hour period.

Phenolic intolerances can be the explanation for symptoms that appear to have no trigger and which appear to recur randomly. This is particularly true for Nicotine and Tyramine phenolics, but can apply to all of them. The phenolics listed here are the most common in their impact on humans.

Acetyl – and Methyl -salicylic acid are contained in:
blackberry, blueberry, brussel sprouts, plum, strawberry

Methyl-salicylic acid and Acetyl-salicylic acid sensitivity is a frequent cause of hyperactivity and, in children, behavioural disorders.

CHOLINE is contained in: 
Milk (cows), Milk (goats), Oyster, Salmon, Shrimp

COUMARIN is contained in:
apple, banana, barley, beef, beer, beet, beet-sugar, celery, cheese, cottage cheese, chicken, cocoa, chocolate, corn, egg, lemon, lettuce, lime, cow’s and goat’s milk, mutton, oats, pea, peanut, peppercorn, sweet potato, rice, tomato, tuna, turkey, wheat, yeast

Coumarin is one of the most common to cause problems and is, unfortunately, one of the most widespread phenolics. It is often associated with respiratory conditions.

MALVIN is contained in:
apple, apricot, avocado, banana, beet, beet(sugar), blackberry,
blueberry, cabbage, cashew, cherry, corn, crab, fig, grape, honey,
olive, onion, pea, peach, pear, plum, rhubarb, strawberry, tomato, turnip, walnut, watermelon

Malvin (along with caffeic acid and coumarin) can aggravate asthma and eczema, and it appears be particularly important in learning disorders and dyslexia.

NICOTINE is contained in:
banana, beef, cheese, cottage cheese, cocoa, chocolate, malt, cow’s milk, potato, tomato, yeast
Nicotine is a migraine trigger in some people, as is Tyramine.

RUTIN is contained in:
almonds, apple, apricot, asparagus, barley, beans (lima, soya & pinto), beef, beer, beet, blackberry, buckwheat, cabbage, cauliflower, cheese, cottage cheese, chicken, cocoa, chocolate, coffee, corn, egg, grape, ham, honey, lettuce, malt cows and goats milk, mutton, oats, parsley, parsnip, pea, peach, peanut, pear, peppercorn, green and red pepper, pineapple, plum, pork, potato, sweet potato, prune, pumpkin, raisin, rhubarb, rye, spinach, strawberry, tomato, turkey, turnip, watermelon, wheat, yeast

TYRAMINE is contained in:
banana, bass, bean(soya), beef, beer, cheese, cottage cheese, chicken, cocoa, chocolate, egg, oyster, pea, plum, pork, potato, sweet potato, prune, raisin, spinach, tomato, walnut, yeast

Tyramine is a common trigger for migraine and other headaches. Some people with migraine have a genetic deficiency of the enzyme, which metabolizes tyramine, and an excessive intake will trigger an attack. Broad spectrum and specific enzyme supplementation over a long enough period may therefore resolve this deficiency.

Dr. Grodski has been providing allergy testing and desensitization for patients from Surrey, Langley, Delta, Abbotsford, Aldergrove, Chilliwack, Blaine, and White Rock since 2007.

For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at #208 – 1676 Martin Dr., Surrey, BC V4A 6E7. We serve patients from Surrey BC, White Rock BC, Grandview Heights BC, Campbell Heights BC, Newton BC, Morgan Heights BC, and surrounding areas.