Alpha-Gal Syndrome: How Auricular Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Can Help

"My husband had alpha gal from a tick bite and couldn’t eat any dairy, beef, lamb or pork for several years and within a few months he has been totally cured of the alpha gal and can eat anything he wants again without having a reaction. I’m so grateful to Dr Joe for healing him!!!!" -Deena N.

Key Takeaways

• Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is a tick-induced allergy to red meat, dairy, and mammal-derived products.

• Symptoms can appear 2–12 hours after eating, often causing confusion and misdiagnosis.

• Western medicine focuses on strict avoidance and emergency management.

• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a broader approach to restoring immune balance.

• Auricular acupuncture (SAAT) and custom herbal protocols can help reduce reactivity, calm inflammation, and improve wellbeing.

What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

The Hidden Culprit: How Tick Bites Trigger Alpha-Gal Syndrome and What Acupuncture & TCM Can Do to Help

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is not your typical food allergy. It’s a delayed allergic reaction triggered by a bite from the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum). When this tick bites, it injects a sugar molecule called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) into the bloodstream. This molecule “trains” the immune system to see certain mammalian foods, like beef, pork, lamb, dairy, or gelatin, as foreign invaders.

Over time, the immune system may react with IgE-mediated allergic responses that range from mild to severe, and often appear hours after eating. Someone might enjoy a burger or ice cream and feel fine at first, only to wake up later with hives, stomach pain, joint aches, or even anaphylaxis.

That delayed reaction is part of what makes AGS so confusing and difficult to manage. The underlying cause, however, is simple: a tick bite that rewires the immune system to react to mammalian-derived foods and products.

The Western Medical Perspective

In Western medicine, AGS is classified as a nontraditional food allergy because it reacts to a carbohydrate rather than a protein and has delayed symptom onset. Common symptoms include:

• Rash, hives, itching

• Gastrointestinal distress (bloating, nausea, diarrhea)

• Fatigue and brain fog

• Respiratory difficulty or swelling

• Anaphylaxis in more severe cases

Standard care revolves around strict avoidance of mammal-derived ingredients, use of antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and in severe cases, carrying epinephrine. Some patients with AGS also experience overlapping Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), where mast cells release histamine and other inflammatory mediators without warning. This makes symptom patterns even more unpredictable and often multi-systemic.

But many patients still suffer despite following the rules. They avoid the right foods but still feel hypersensitive, inflamed, anxious, and limited. That’s where a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and integrative approach can offer a more complete picture.

A TCM Take on Alpha-Gal Syndrome

From a Chinese medicine perspective, AGS is not a new condition, it simply has a modern label. Tick bites represent the invasion of an external pathogenic factor. If the body's Wei Qi (defensive energy) is strong, the factor is repelled. But when the body is vulnerable, that external factor lodges deeper and becomes what we call a Lingering Pathogenic Factor (LPF).

In the case of AGS, the tick bite introduces a toxic substance into the system, creating a type of Damp-Heat with Toxin that the body struggles to eliminate. Over time, this becomes chronic and leads to a variety of systemic dysfunctions. The body becomes overly reactive to otherwise harmless substances, such as meat or gelatin, because the internal terrain is inflamed and unstable.

Gu Syndrome: Chronic Toxicity and Parasite-Linked Reactions

TCM texts also describe Gu Syndrome, a condition characterized by long-term, low-grade infections or immune irritants that lead to fatigue, emotional instability, digestive distress, and food sensitivities. This concept overlaps remarkably with what we now see in AGS.

Gu Syndrome involves multiple levels of dysfunction, including:

• Toxins and parasites

• Digestive stagnation and malabsorption

• Neuro-psycho-emotional disturbances

• Systemic hypersensitivity and immune dysregulation

AGS often shows signs of Spleen Qi deficiency, Liver Qi stagnation with Heat, and Kidney Essence deficiency. Patients might report bloating, brain fog, insomnia, histamine reactions, rashes, or joint pain.

• The Spleen governs digestion and immune clarity. When weak, it fails to transform food and fluids, leading to Dampness and internal accumulation.

• The Liver regulates Qi movement. When it becomes stagnant, often due to frustration, food restriction, or immune stress, it turns to Heat and contributes to inflammation and hypersensitivity.

• The Kidneys store constitutional energy and govern long-term immune resilience. When deficient, the body cannot properly recover from insults like chronic inflammation, infections, or environmental toxins.

Pattern Differentiation and Treatment Approaches

TCM practitioners assess AGS patients through pattern differentiation, identifying imbalances such as:

Spleen Qi Deficiency with Dampness: Symptoms include bloating, loose stools, food sensitivities, and fatigue. The Spleen, responsible for digestion and energy production, struggles to process food efficiently, leading to excess Dampness and poor detoxification (Chen and Chen, 2004).

Liver Qi Stagnation with Heat: Symptoms include hives, itching, headaches, mood swings, and stress-related symptom exacerbation. The Liver plays a key role in regulating Qi and detoxifying the body. When the Liver’s function is impaired due to stagnation, excessive Heat builds up, leading to inflammatory reactions and hypersensitivity to triggers like mammalian products (Wu, 2014).

Blood Deficiency and Wind: Patients experiencing systemic reactions such as anaphylaxis, neurological symptoms, tingling, or dizziness may require therapies that nourish the Blood and calm Wind. Blood Deficiency weakens the body's ability to anchor and stabilize the nervous and immune systems, making it more susceptible to sudden, severe allergic reactions (Bensky et al., 2004).

Kidney Yang Deficiency: Some AGS patients, particularly those with cold intolerance, chronic fatigue, or long-standing illness, may exhibit Kidney Yang Deficiency. This pattern results in metabolic sluggishness, weakened detoxification, and systemic coldness, further exacerbating food sensitivities and immune imbalances.

How Mast Cells and Histamine Fit In

From a biomedical angle, AGS is often accompanied by mast cell activation, where mast cells release large amounts of histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes. This contributes to swelling, flushing, itching, and systemic inflammation. In TCM, this behavior corresponds with internal Wind, Dampness, and Heat toxins disrupting the proper circulation of Qi and Blood.

If the Liver and Spleen are not supporting proper flow, and Dampness is accumulating, this creates the perfect terrain for hyper-reactivity, a modern manifestation of Gu Syndrome.

SAAT Acupuncture for Alpha Gal Syndrome

• SAAT Acupuncture: SAAT is a specialized technique to address severe allergies and sensitivities. It involves a highly targeted, single-needle insertion in the auricle (outer ear) to modulate the immune system’s overactive response to specific allergens, such as alpha-gal.

  • The procedure begins with muscle testing or electro-dermal screening to identify the allergen's energetic imprint on the body. Once the allergen is pinpointed, a single acupuncture needle is placed in a precise auricular point that corresponds to immune regulation. This needle remains secured with medical adhesive tape for three to four weeks. During this time, the body recalibrates its immune response, gradually desensitizing the patient to the identified allergen.

  • SAAT is highly effective in reducing or eliminating allergic responses to alpha-gal, dairy, and other mammalian byproducts. Many AGS patients report significant relief from their symptoms following treatment, sometimes achieving long-term tolerance. This method offers a unique advantage by requiring only a single treatment per allergen, unlike traditional desensitization therapies that may require multiple sessions over months or years (Soliman, 2017).

• Traditional Body Acupuncture: Treatment focuses on strengthening digestion, improving immunity, and reducing inflammation. Research has shown that acupuncture can help stabilize mast cells, regulate histamine levels, and modulate inflammatory cytokines, which are critical factors in AGS symptom management (Deadman, Al-Khafaji, & Baker, 2007).

Why the ear? In Chinese medicine, the ear maps the entire body. Auricular therapy taps into the autonomic nervous system and can regulate both local and systemic functions. By keeping a needle in a very specific point, we’re essentially keeping the immune system calm and focused.

In practice, many patients notice a reduction in symptom severity, fewer food reactions, and more flexibility in their lifestyle after SAAT. It’s a non-invasive, drug-free option that works well alongside herbal support and dietary management.

Natural Tick Prevention

Since AGS starts with a tick bite, prevention is critical. I use and recommend a blend called BiteBlock, which contains:

• Geranium

• Cedarwood

• Thyme

• Garlic

• Lemongrass

• Oregano

• Eucalyptus Globulus

• Clove Bud

• Patchouli

• Vetiver

• Lemon Eucalyptus

• Citronella

• Neem

• Catnip

These essential oils are backed by studies for their repellent properties against ticks and mosquitoes. Catnip and lemon eucalyptus, in particular, have been shown to be as effective as DEET in some lab tests. I suggest applying it to ankles, socks, pant cuffs, and areas exposed to brush or tall grass.

Supporting Recovery with Integrative Tools

No two AGS cases are the same. That’s why I use a personalized protocol that includes:

• SAAT acupuncture to desensitize the immune system to alpha-gal

• Muscle testing to identify other potential allergens (gelatin, dairy, pork, medications, etc.)

• Herbal medicine to support the Spleen, clear Damp-Heat, and move Liver Qi

• Detox protocol

• Dietary education and help identifying hidden triggers

• Vegan DAO supplements when histamine load is high

These tools work together to calm inflammation, restore gut and immune function, and gradually rebuild tolerance.

A Real Case Snapshot

One patient came in after reacting to almost everything, red meat, dairy, even trace gelatin in supplements. She had fatigue, brain fog, rashes, and insomnia. After identifying her alpha-gal point, we began SAAT, layered in detox support, and added a custom herbal formula for Spleen deficiency and Damp-Heat.

Within six weeks, she could tolerate more foods, her energy improved, and her histamine reactions became far less severe. She went from fearing every meal to finally feeling like her body could handle everyday life again.

Final Thoughts

Alpha-Gal Syndrome can make people feel trapped. It's not just about meat, it's about living in a hyper-reactive state that affects the nervous system, digestion, energy, and mood. Western medicine offers the basics, but acupuncture, herbal medicine, SAAT, and detox protocols provide the roadmap for recovery.

When we support the Spleen to transform Dampness, move the Liver Qi to release Heat, and nourish the Kidneys to restore vitality, we’re not just treating AGS, we’re retraining the body to feel safe again.

Thank you for reading. If you relate to this experience or are navigating Alpha-Gal Syndrome, I’d be honored to guide and work with you on your healing journey. —Dr. Joe Phiakhamta, DAOM

References

Bensky, D., Clavey, S., & Stöger, E. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica (3rd ed.). Eastland Press.

Chen, J., & Chen, T. (2004). Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Art of Medicine Press.

Deadman, P., Al-Khafaji, M., & Baker, K. (2007). A Manual of Acupuncture. Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications.

Flaws, B. (2001). The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine: A Textbook & Clinical Manual. Blue Poppy Press.

He, J., Chen, H., Liu, H., & Zhang, Z. (2020). Gu Syndrome and Chronic Inflammatory Diseases. Journal of Chinese Medicine, 124(2), 15-28.

Pitchford, P. (2002). Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition (3rd ed.). North Atlantic Books.

Soliman, N. (2017). Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) for the Treatment of Food and Environmental Allergies. Journal of Alternative Medicine Research, 9(4), 245-252.

Wu, Y. (2014). Classical Chinese Medicine: Theory, Methodology, and Clinical Integration. Singing Dragon.

Commins, S. P. (2020). Alpha-gal syndrome: insights from recent studies. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 20(4), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-020-00908-3

He, Y., and Fruehauf, H. (2020). Classical Chinese Medicine: Gu Syndrome and the Treatment of Chronic Parasitism. Classical Pearls Press.

Martins, L. F., et al. (2023). The alpha-gal syndrome: A review of the literature. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 1335911. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1335911

Carroll, J. F., and Benante, J. P. (2020). Catnip oil and its major constituent, nepetalactone, repel mosquitoes and ticks. Journal of Medical Entomology, 57(6), 1762–1768. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjaa124

Yale Medicine. (2024). Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Retrieved from https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/alpha-gal-syndrome-ags

About Dr. Joe Phiakhamta, DAOM

Dr. Joe is a licensed acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine based at True Acupuncture and Wellness in Franklin, Tennessee. He specializes in chronic pain, allergies, tick-borne illnesses, immune system imbalances, and gut health issues. Dr. Joe integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine, SAAT acupuncture, and herbal medicine to provide personalized care that restores balance, enhances well-being, and offers lasting relief from complex and often misunderstood conditions.

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