Even if you’re lucky enough to be one of the few not subject to food or environmental allergies, it’s likely you have someone in your circle suffering from debilitating seasonal allergies or double-checking ingredient lists to ensure they aren’t subject to a mid-meal allergic reaction.
Many people resign themselves to avoiding certain foods and activities, or to a lifetime of taking medications that never truly fix the problem, but bring with them a host of side effects, ranging from drowsiness to nausea. Others ease the symptoms with time-consuming bi-weekly shots.
Fortunately, Family Allergy Clinic and Wellness Center has a different approach. The practice provides sublingual immunotherapy in the form of an allergy serum taken under the tongue. The drops provide long-term relief that can eliminate allergies, are made from natural ingredients and are safer than shots—allowing patients to take them in the comfort of their own home.
Getting started is easy, too. Typically, just a skin prick test is required, with results becoming available the same day.
“We get the results, which gives us a good idea what they’re allergic to, and then we formulate allergy drops they take every day at home,” said Dr. Melissa Ferrell, a board certified nurse practitioner. “Most people feel relief in a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Eventually, the goal is to have a permanent desensitization, where your allergies go away and don’t come back.”
This approach isn’t just for seasonal or environmental allergies, either. The drops can reprogram patients’ bodies to end approximately 70 food allergies, too, ranging from milk to soy.
“A lot of times, kids have a really significant allergy to dairy, eggs and peanuts, where it’s hard to avoid,” said Dr. Ferrell. “Those are for whom our food allergy program is especially appropriate.”
Family Allergy Clinic and Wellness Center tests for penicillin allergies, too, realizing that while many are told, from childhood, they have a penicillin allergy, in reality, they won’t react significantly. These results allow patients to once again take penicillin, which is one of the safest and most effective antibiotics.
At the practice, helping patients reach optimal health is the top priority. This is why Dr. Ferrell continues to add new services to meet the needs of her clients, one of the most popular being bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
“As I started taking care of patients on a daily basis, with a lot of their complaints, I realized a lot of it was definitely allergies or thyroid, but there was something else going on,” said Dr. Ferrell. “It triggered me to do some research into bioidentical hormones. I started taking them, and it made a big difference in my life.”
Through implanted pellets or creams, Dr. Ferrell can help relieve both male and female patients of hormone imbalances that can lead to hot flashes, depression, weight gain, lack of energy and much more.
“So many people are really miserable, and they don’t know why,” said Dr. Ferrell. “They draw their labs and it’s not their thyroid, they’re not anemic, and they just can’t figure out why they can’t get going. Hormones can help.”
Family Allergy Clinic and Wellness Center is located at 7567 E. Eagle Crest Drive, Suite 201B. For more information, visit familyallergyclinic.com, or call (480) 827-9945.