Alpha-Gal Acupuncture • Ballina, NSW
Afraid of Red Meat and Dairy Reactions?
SAAT Treatment for Alpha Gal
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 alpha-gal, the sugar behind red meat and dairy reactions after a tick bite.
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 three weeks. The aim is to help the body respond less strongly to those triggers. Learn more about SAAT.
What is alpha-gal syndrome?
Alpha-gal syndrome is an allergy to a sugar molecule found in mammal meat, dairy and gelatin. It is believed to develop after a tick bite. Unlike most food allergies, reactions are often delayed by 2 to 8 hours, which makes the cause hard to spot. Symptoms can include hives, stomach pain, nausea, fatigue and, in some people, severe reactions. See the full list of alpha-gal symptoms or read the full alpha-gal guide.
How does SAAT work?
Assessment
Review history and perform allergen testing.
Treatment
A fine needle is placed in the ear for each allergen.
3 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.
Where Alpha-Gal Can Hide
Because reactions are often delayed, it can take a long time to work out what set one off. These are some of the sources and cofactors people commonly report.
At your first appointment we go through your history, do allergen testing and decide which allergens to focus on.
Foods
- Beef, pork, lamb, venison and other mammal meat
- Organ meats, bone broth and stock
- Dairy such as milk, cheese and butter (this varies from person to person)
- Animal fat such as lard and tallow
Gelatin
- Lollies, desserts and yoghurts
- Capsules, including some medicines and supplements
Products and medicines
- Some medicines, vaccines and supplements with mammal-derived ingredients. Ask your pharmacist, and never stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor
- Some personal care products
Things that can make reactions worse
- Alcohol
- Exercise
- Stress, heat or being unwell
- Further tick bites
Is SAAT right for me?
Good Candidates for SAAT
- Alpha-gal syndrome diagnosed by your GP or allergist
- Delayed reactions to red meat, dairy or gelatin after a tick bite
- Unexplained food or medicine reactions since a tick bite
- A complex pattern of sensitivities, for example alpha-gal alongside MCAS
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.
- If you get bit by a tick again it may come back.
- 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 three 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 three weeks
- At your free 3 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 three weeks, remove the needle and contact me.
How long do the needles stay in?
About three weeks. At the three-week mark we check in, in person or by phone or video, and the needles can be taken off at home.
What does the research say about SAAT for alpha-gal?
A published retrospective case series (Bernal et al., 2021) of people with alpha-gal syndrome treated with SAAT in the United States reported improvement and noted no adverse reactions. The results were self-reported, there was no control group, and the authors include the clinician who developed the technique, so they need to be read with care. The authors recommended further study. Everyone responds differently and I can't promise a particular outcome.
Can I eat red meat again after SAAT?
Not on your own. Keep avoiding mammalian foods and following your allergist's advice. Any reintroduction is gradual, and I give you detailed instructions at your appointment. If you have had an anaphylactic reaction to the allergen, do not reintroduce it, and keep carrying your auto-injector.
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, and keep your adrenaline auto-injector and emergency action plan with you, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Do I need a blood test before I book?
Alpha-gal syndrome is diagnosed by a doctor or allergist, usually from your history and a blood test. If you suspect it but haven't been tested, see your GP first. Bring any results to your appointment.
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.