MCAS Acupuncture • Ballina, NSW
Help Your Body React Less to MCAS Triggers
Simple Natural Treatment
First Certified Provider of Soliman’s Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) in Australia.
SAAT is an ear acupuncture technique that aims to help the body respond less strongly to the triggers behind MCAS reactions.
What is SAAT?
SAAT is an ear acupuncture technique developed by Dr Nader Soliman, MD. A very fine needle is placed at a specific point on the ear for each allergen and autoimmune issue being addressed, and it stays in place for about four weeks. The aim is to help the body respond less strongly to those triggers.
What is MCAS?
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a condition in which mast cells, part of the immune system, release histamine and other chemicals too easily. Everyday triggers such as heat, stress, foods or fragrances can set off reactions that affect several areas at once, such as the skin, gut and airways.
How does SAAT work?
Assessment
Review history and perform allergen testing.
Treatment
A fine needle is placed in the ear for each allergen.
4 Weeks at Home
The needles stay in place and you go about your day.
Free Check-In
Come in for needle removal or take them out at home.
How much does SAAT cost?
SAAT Treatment
$750
• Includes your first allergen
• Up to 2 more treatments for same allergen within 3 months
• Money back guarantee
Additional Options
• Additional allergens: $50
• Up to 4 allergens (Up to $900 total)
• Herbal medicine: $55
SAAT Money Back Guarantee
Includes 2 free follow up treatments if not satisfied with results
Must request refund within 2 months of first treatment and had at least one free follow up treatment. Not valid if bitten by a tick after treatment, or previously had anaphylaxis.
Common MCAS triggers
MCAS looks different for everyone, and triggers can stack. A food that is fine on a calm, cool day may cause a reaction on a hot, stressful one. These are some of the triggers people commonly report. At your first appointment we go through your history and decide which ones to focus on.
Body and environment
- Heat, cold or sudden temperature changes
- Exercise and physical exertion
- Stress, anxiety and poor sleep
- Hormonal shifts
- Friction or pressure on the skin
Foods and drinks
- Alcohol, especially wine
- Aged cheese, cured meats and fermented foods
- Leftovers and long-stored food
- Additives, preservatives and colourings
- Histamine-rich foods such as tomato, spinach and smoked fish
Chemicals and air
- Perfumes and fragrances
- Cleaning products, smoke and fumes
- Mould and damp
- Dust, pollen and pet dander
Medicines, infections and bites
- Some medicines, such as anti-inflammatories and opioids. Never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor
- Infections
- Insect stings and tick bites
Keeping a simple diary of what you ate, where you were and how you felt can help when we look at your history together. MCAS is diagnosed by a doctor, and this list is a guide only.
Is SAAT right for me?
Good Candidates for SAAT
- Diagnosed with MCAS
- Reactions to certain foods or additives
- Mould-related sensitivities
- Unexplained reactions that don’t fit a clear diagnosis
Important to Know
- Available to age 4 year and above, contact me if you’re pregnant.
- Ongoing mould exposure or an active infection can limit results.
- Anaphylaxis patients still need emergency action plan and medications.
- SAAT complements, does not replace, care from your allergist or GP.
Preparing for your treatment and aftercare
Before your appointment
- Book at a time when you can keep your ear dry and clean for about four weeks, so avoid planning swimming or dusty, dirty work over that period.
- If you have seasonal allergies, it is best to book before your usual season starts rather than in the middle of it.
- Eat normally and stay well hydrated on the day.
- Keep taking any prescribed medication unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
While the needles are in
- Keep the area dry and clean. Use the ear cover when you shower and avoid swimming.
- Avoid your allergens. Stay away from food allergens and keep exposure to environmental allergens as low as you reasonably can.
- Keep your emergency plan. If you have had anaphylaxis, keep your adrenaline auto-injector and prescribed medication with you.
- Tell me if something isn’t right. If the area becomes painful, red, swollen or irritated, remove it and contact me.
- MRI scans. The needles must be removed before an MRI.
After four weeks
- At your free 4 week check-in we take the needle out
- If you are travelling from far away, you can have someone remove the needles at home
- If you have had an anaphylactic reaction to the allergen you are not to reintroduce the allergen and follow all recommendations from your allergist including carrying an auto-injector
- You can slowly introduce food back into your diet. More detailed instructions will be given at the appointment
Flying or Driving from NSW or Queensland?
Works for People Far Away
Many of my patients travel a long way, many drive six hours or more.
Treatment is a single appointment and the needles can be removed at home.
There are direct flights from Sydney to Ballina, and it is a 2 hour drive from Brisbane.
My Story with SAAT
I didn’t just study SAAT. I needed it.
In 2024, a patient told me ChatGPT had sent her. A tick bite had left her unable to eat red meat (alpha-gal syndrome), and she wanted SAAT. I’d never heard of either. I studied the research and did my best, but I couldn’t help her as much as I wanted to.
A year later, a tick bit me.
I became very sick. My search for answers took me through parasite and mould treatments, and finally to the inventor of SAAT himself.
Today I’m the first practitioner in Australia trained and certified by him.
I’ve been the one on the table, exhausted and searching. I know how hard this is.
Frequently asked questions
Does SAAT hurt?
Most people find the needle placement quick and comfortable, and once it's in place most people can't feel it. If you notice pain or irritation at the needle site during the four weeks, remove the needle and contact me.
How long do the needles stay in?
About four weeks. At the four-week mark we check in, in person or by phone or video, and the needles can be taken off at home.
How many treatments will I need?
The aim is one initial treatment for up to four allergens, with a free check-in at four weeks. Everyone responds differently, so I can't promise a particular outcome.
How is MCAS different from an allergy?
In MCAS, mast cells release histamine and other chemicals too easily, so many different triggers can set off reactions that affect several parts of the body. A classic allergy is a specific immune response to a particular allergen. Some people have both. Your GP or an immunologist can help work out which applies to you.
Is SAAT safe?
SAAT is generally considered low risk. A published case series of SAAT for alpha-gal syndrome noted no adverse reactions. Like any acupuncture, it can cause minor tenderness, redness or skin irritation at the needle site, and infection is rare. I use sterile, single-use needles. SAAT complements your medical care and doesn't replace it. Ask me about your own situation before you book.
Can I stop my medication or adrenaline auto-injector?
No. Keep taking your prescribed medication, including antihistamines and mast cell stabilisers, and keep your adrenaline auto-injector and emergency action plan with you, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Can I have SAAT if I've had anaphylaxis?
Possibly. I assess these cases with extra care, so please contact me before booking. Whatever the outcome, continue to follow the advice of your allergist or GP, including avoiding the trigger and carrying an auto-injector.
Book your SAAT appointment
SAAT is offered as a complementary therapy. It does not replace care from your allergist or GP, and you should continue to follow your emergency action plan and food-avoidance advice if you have anaphylaxis.