Possible Symptoms of Food Allergies /Intolerances

Adverse reactions to foods or beverages can be as subtle as a runny nose or as dramatic as severe depression. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you may have a food allergy/intolerance. 

  • rapid pulse after eating
  • gas and bloating
  • abdominal discomfort
  • constipation
  • diarrhea
  • heartburn
  • weight gain
  • skin rashes, eczema, hives
  • tired after eating
  • swelling of body features
  • headache
  • insomnia
  • poor memory
  • irritability, nervousness, depression
  • hyperactivity
  • sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion
  • upper respiratory congestion
  • frequent clearing of throat
  • canker sores
  • ringing in ears
  • ear infections
  • hay fever
  • excessive mucous
  • recurrent ‘colds’
  • hot flashes
  • chronic infections
  • aches and pains for no reason
  • binge eating
  • if you have severe cravings for any type of food, you may be addicted to the food contributing to your condition

Food Allergy Testing (Vega testing)

VEGA TESTING – Frequently Asked Questions

Vega testing is a fast, safe, painless, and most importantly, accurate way of gathering information about your body. At the Macdonald Centre for Natural Medicine, we have used Vega testing extensively for 13 years and have found it to be a highly valuable tool for helping patients to understand the underlying causes of their health issues and achieve lasting improvements in their health. 

Vega testing is also called Electro Acupuncture, according to Voll or EAV testing. It uses the acupuncture points in the hands as access points to your body’s sensitive electromagnetic system. From there, the machine measures electromagnetic fluctuations in your body in response to testing various elements. Clinically relevant information can be attained from those measurements.

Naturopathic physicians also use conventional blood work, medical history and physical examination to assess their patients. Vega testing is one more tool in the quest to understand the keys to unlocking your health potential.

At the Macdonald Centre for Natural Medicine our technicians can perform the following tests: 

1) Food allergy testing: we test 90 common foods to see which ones may be disturbing your body and which ones are not. Patients consistently see clinical improvements when they eliminate or limit the foods that the Vega test identifies. Your naturopathic physician will coach you on what you CAN eat so that you can easily transition to the diet that is right for YOU. 

2) Organ Screen – we assess 67 different body parts on a three point scale: healthy, stressed, very stressed. The organ screen assesses organs such as the stomach, kidneys, lungs etc and other body parts like spinal segments, lymph nodes, eyes, diaphragm, adrenals and more. It is not a diagnostic test. Your naturopathic physician will use the results of this screen as clues to be investigated. Most times, patients report that the body parts that are flagged as stressed are the areas they are having trouble with. If new areas show up, it may give you and your doctor insight into your symptoms, or you both may decide to “watch and wait”. 

3) Intestinal Flora imbalance: One the keys to the healthy functioning of the body is the presence of adequate good bacteria in the lining of the intestine. If the good bacteria are not present then yeast (Candida albicans), fungus and other opportunistic organisms will colonize the intestine, creating problems. (See the Candida article for further reference). This test assesses the balance of intestinal flora and reports the degree of Candida yeast present on a scale from 0-10. Zero indicates a healthy balance of flora. Ten indicates a lack of good bacteria and an overgrowth of Candida and possibly other opportunistic organisms. If necessary, your naturopathic physician will discuss an intestinal cleansing program to reestablish the healthy bacterial flora. 

This test is included in the Food Allergy Profile

The advantages of Vega food allergy testing:

  • Results are far more accurate than scratch allergy testing and as accurate as the much more expensive blood tests.
  • The test is virtually painless. No scratching and no blood draw. o Most children and even infants can be tested.
  • We can retest you after some time to see if your food allergies have resolved or are persistent.
  • It is reasonably priced compared to blood tests. Blood tests are not covered by MSP unless there are exceptional circumstances like Autism.
  • Dietary food elimination and reintroduction require months of dietary restrictions that may not prove fruitful. With Vega testing, you can eliminate foods that have a much higher chance of making a clinical difference.
  • You get your results right away and can begin designing the dietary program that will lead you to greater health.

Water: Drink lots of water. Water assists the conductivity of the electromagnetic system. Your test will run more smoothly if you are very well hydrated. Please ensure that you drink abundant fluids the day before and the day of testing. 

Food: Just eat what you normally eat. If you are avoiding a certain food and have done so for a long time, then that food will not likely show up on the Vega food allergy testing. It is difficult for any test, including blood tests, to identify food allergies in foods you are not eating. 

Medications: If you are taking anti-histamines or oral steroids, these medications may mask results. 

Fatigue: Extreme fatigue or extreme stress can affect the testing. Try to ensure that you arrive at the test as well rested as possible.

1) You will be seated in a chair at a desk. You will be asked to hold a metal rod that is connected to the machine via a wire.

2) The test will be conducted by one of our trained Vega technicians: a. Debbie – registered nurse and laser technician with 11 years of experience b. Sue Zonneveld – laser technician with 7 years of experience

3) A probe will be gently applied to your hand by the technician. It doesn’t hurt.

4) You will receive a copy of your results immediately after your testing.

5) At an appointment with your naturopathic physician, you can discuss the significance of the results and what treatments may be indicated. The Vega technician is not in a position to interpret results or advise you on treatments.

For forty years, Vega testing has been used in clinics throughout Europe and North America. The concept that the body is a bio-regulatory mechanism under electro-magnetic control is not new. The Chinese developed a sophisticated theory of energy (chi) and bio-electrical control through the acupuncture meridian system of the body. The Indians developed an analogous system based on breath energy (prana) and electro-magnetic control points called chakras. It was not until the early 1950’s that a German medical doctor found that he could accurately locate acupuncture points using a simple electrical measuring device. He found that acupuncture points had a uniquely different electrical resistance (lower) than the tissues immediately adjacent to them. Dr. Voll mapped the entire body using his device which he called the DERMATRON. He also discovered a method of testing the allergic response of substance using the Dermatron without physically introducing the material into the patient. 

Dr. Voll’s technique involved a lengthy testing session with the patient to measure hundreds of points all over the body and resulted in a prescription involving several dozen homeopathic and herbal remedies. 

In the early 1970’s, another German, Dr. Schimmell, a dentist, simplified Dr. Voll’s technique by inventing another electrodermal diagnostic device called the VEGATEST. Dr. Schimmell took all measurements on one acupuncture point on the finger and varied which organ system was being measured by putting a homeopathic dilution of it into a metal honeycomb on the machine. Much research continues into the technique in Germany, and the method has more recently become completely computerized and automated through a device called the Segmentalelectrogram (Seg). 

Dr. Julian Kenyon has done considerable clinical research in the application of the Vega technology to the field of clinical ecology at the Centre for the Study of Alternative Therapies in England.

At least three double-blind studies have been published on electrodermal allergy testing. Dr. Ali found a 73% concordance between electrodermal testing and ELISA IgE antibody levels for a variety of pollens and moulds. vii Dr. Kiop in Toronto found a 66% correspondence in identifying the neutralization sublingual dose for a variety of foods, chemicals and inhalants between the electrodermal test and intradermal sublingual testing. 

In 1984, a University of Hawaii research team compared six different diagnostic modalities for assessing food allergies including history, food challenge, skin, RAST, IgE antibodies, and electrodermal. ix In over 300 tests, electrodermal testing matched the history 74%, the food challenge test 77%, skin testing 71%, and RAST testing 69%. This research group, which has already published several research studies, is embarking on an extensive fiveyear study on the efficacy of the electrodermal testing procedure in medical practice. 

i cure, vol. 3, 7-17, 1975.



ii Fehrenbach, J., Noll, H., Nolte, H.G. & Schimmell, H.: Short Manuel of the VEGATEST method. Vega Grieshaber, 1981.



iii Kenyon, J. : Modern Techniques of Acupuncture, vol. 3, Thorsons, 1985.



iv Lewith, G. & Kenyons, J. : Clinical Ecology, Thorsons, 1985



v Kenyon, J. : “Diagnostic Techniques of the Future: Bioenergic Regulatory Medicine”, Journal of Alternative Medicine, vol. 12, December 1985.



vi Kenyon, J. : Twentieth Century Medicine, Thorsons, 1986.



vii Ali, M. : “Correlation of IgE antibodies with specificity for pollen and mould allergy with changes in electrodermal skin responses following exposure to allergens”, American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 91:357, 1989.



viii Kiop, J., Swierczek, J., Wood, A. : “Comparison of Ecological Testing with the Vega Test Method in Identifying Sensitivities to Chemicals, Foods and Inhalants”, American Journal of Acupuncture, 13:253-59, 1985.



ix Lam, F., Tsuei, J., : “Case Findings from a Family Practitioners Office Using Electroacupuncture According to Voll”, American Journal of Acupuncture, vol. 11, 23-29, 1983.



Information about Vega testing:



1) The first step is to schedule an appointment for Vega testing.



2) The initial screen for food allergies is about a 40 minute procedure. You will receive your results immediately.



3) Vega testing is a safe, painless, non-invasive procedure. No blood draw, scratches or needles are involved.



4) Please ensure that you have an appointment booked to see Dr. Macdonald shortly after your Vega test to help you interpret the results and take appropriate action steps.



Food sensitivities testing (30 min)   Fee: $80 + G.S.T.



(94 foods) and candida yeast testing



Organ Screen (15 min)   Fee: $40 + G.S.T.



67 body parts are tested for their overall vitality including organs, nerves, hormone glands, vertebrae, digestive system and more



Follow-up testing allows us to monitor your progress and assess your program.



Re-test the: Candida yeast   Fee: $25 + G.S.T.



Previous food sensitivities



Previous organ sensitivities



PLEASE DRINK 2 GLASSES OF WATER PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT.



Please refrain from taking antihistamines and IF possible, steroid inhalers 24 hours prior to your testing.



Please allow 48 hours notice for any changes to your appointment. A $25 cancellation fee will be charged for those appointments cancelled without notice.

Allergy Skin Tests “Scratch Testing”

During an allergy skin test, your skin is exposed to allergy-causing substances (allergens) and then is observed for signs of a local allergic reaction, like redness and mild swelling.



Dr. Macdonald’s scratch allergy testing identifies allergies to cats, dogs, dust mites, mould, western tree mix, grass mix, weeds, feathers, horse epith and red alder.



Along with your medical history, allergy tests can confirm whether signs and symptoms, such as sneezing, wheezing and skin rashes, are caused by allergies. Allergy tests can also identify the specific substances that trigger allergic reactions. Information from allergy tests can help your doctor develop an allergy treatment plan that may include allergen avoidance, medications or allergy desensitization (immunotherapy).



Who is suited for scratch testing:



Allergy skin testing is widely used to diagnose allergic conditions such as:

  • Hay fever
  • Allergic asthma
  • Dermatitis/eczema (although food allergy testing is often more likely to find the underlying cause).

Skin testing is helpful for people who aren’t sure what they are allergic to. Identifying key triggers helps target avoidance efforts and possibly target desensitization techniques.



Who isn’t suited for scratch testing?



Skin testing can be used for people of all ages, including infants and older adults. Sometimes, however, skin tests aren’t recommended. Dr. Macdonald may advise against skin testing if you:

  • Take medications that interfere with test results. These include antihistamines, many antidepressants and some heartburn medications. We may determine that it’s better for you to continuer taking these medications than to temporarily discontinue them in preparation for a test. Because medications clear out of your system at different rates, you may need to stop taking certain medications for up to 3-7 days. Medications that can interfere with skin tests include:
    • Antihistamine, such as Allegra, Aerius and Reactin (Claritin, Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, Zyrtec, others)
    • Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, doxepin (Sinequan), and/or tryptaline
    • Heartburn medications, in the class called H2Blockers or the Histamine 2 Blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
    • Bronchodilators (salbutamol) for asthma do not affect the test. Short term low dose oral corticosteroids have no effect.
  • Have a severe skin disease. If conditions such as eczema or psoriasis affect large areas of skin on your arms and back – the usual testing sites – there may not be enough clear, uninvolved skin to do an effective test.
  • Are highly sensitive to suspected allergens. You may be so sensitive to certain substances that even the small amounts of them used in skin tests could trigger a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
  • Pregnant women should not be tested. Vega testing would be a better alternative.
  • Severely asthmatic patients can be tested but should have their asthma well under control before the visit, and should arrive with their blue inhaler (bronchodilator eg: salbutimol) for the visit.

Safety:



Scratch testing rarely causes any kind of serious reaction. The most common unpleasant effect of skin testing is slightly swollen, red, itchy bumps (hives) at the sight of testing. Hives may be most noticeable during the test. They usually go away within a few hours, although they can persist for a day or two. (A mild over the counter cortisone cream can be applied to relieve the itching and redness if desired).



Very rarely, allergy skin tests can produce a severe, immediate allergic reaction. Dr. Macdonald’s office has appropriate emergency equipment and medications available. If you develop a severe allergic reaction in the days after a skin test, call Dr. Macdonald right away and/or visit the emergency room.



What to expect during your scratch test:



Dr. Macdonald will perform the test on your inner forearm for adults and on the back for children.
The new allergy tests aren’t painful. Because the needles used in these tests barely penetrate your skin’s surface, you won’t bleed or feel more than mild, momentary discomfort.



After cleaning the test site with alcohol, Dr. Macdonald draws small marks on your skin and applies a drop of allergen extract next to each mark. She then uses a tiny, thumb tack type of instrument to introduce the extracts into the skin’s surface. The drops are left on your skin for 15 minutes, and then Dr. Macdonald observes your skin for signs of allergic reactions.



To see if your skin is reacting the way it’s supposed to, the doctor introduces two additional substances into your skin’s surface:

  • Histamine. In almost everyone, this substance causes a skin response, so it’s used as a positive control. If you don’t react to histamine, the skin test may be difficult or impossible to interpret.
  • Glycerin or saline. In almost everyone, these substances cause no reaction. It is used as a negative control. If you react you may have sensitive skin, so your reactions to the allergen extracts will need to be interpreted with caution.

After the test



If an allergen causes an allergic reaction to a skin test, you’ll develop a raised, red, itchy bump that may look like a mosquito bite. Dr. Macdonald will then measure the bump’s size.



After she records the results, she will clean your skin with alcohol to remove the marks and allergen droplets. Together, you will discuss the results and possible treatment options.



Results



Before you leave the office, you’ll know the results of your scratch test.



A positive skin test means that you may be allergic to a particular substance. Usually, the bigger the bumps the greater the degree of sensitivity. A negative skin test means that you probably aren’t allergic to that particular allergen.



The accuracy of skin tests can vary. You may react differently to the same test performed at different times. Or you may react positively to a substance during a test but not react to it in everyday life. A correlation between your history of symptoms and the scratch test is essential.



In general, skin tests are most reliable for diagnosing allergies to airborne substances, such as pollen, pet dander and dust mites. It is not a good test for diagnosing food allergies – Vega testing or blood testing are the preferred methods.



Your allergy treatment plan may include natural and/or pharmaceutical antihistamine medications, allergy desensitization, environmental changes or dietary changes. With test results that identify your allergens and a treatment plan to help you take control, you’ll be able to reduce or eliminate allergy signs and symptoms.



Allergy desensitization options include:



1. Miller method – one or two time procedure done in Dr. Macdonald’s office. See the Miller Method handout. This technique effectively reduces or eliminates allergies in 70% of patients and it is inexpensive, very fast, safe and painless.



2. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)



This technique is gaining popularity among allergist (MD’s) and naturopathic physicians due to good scientific results, safety and ease of use. Daily oral drops given for 2 years result in full desensitization in 85% of patients.



Clinical experience with SLIT spans more than 30 years. In other parts of the world, especially in Europe, sublingual treatment has become increasingly commonplace. In 1998, the World Health Organization referred to it as a “viable alternative” to injection allergy desensitization therapy. Favorable results with more than 50 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

  • Cochrane Collaboration, the world’s most-trusted international healthcare organization, also concluded that allergy drops SLIT significantly reduce allergy symptoms and the use of allergy medications.
  • The safety profile for sublingual immunotherapy is superior to injection allergy desensitization done in MDs offices. Systemic adverse reactions are three times less likely with SLIT and no anaphylactic reaction (life threatening) have ever been recorded for over 30 plus years of sublingual treatment.
  • Dr. Macdonald dispenses SLIT (sublingual immune therapy) for patients wishing to try this method to gain freedom from their allergies.