Almost half of all Americans suffer from food allergies and intolerances, and many people are misdiagnosed. Complaints such as headaches, upset stomach, asthma and fatigue are often due to the body's overactive immune system that is being triggered by certain foods. Food allergies also cause conditions like eczema, hives, anxiety, diarrhea and mental confusion. Determining which foods you are allergic to and avoiding those foods is one way of resolving this problem. However, in most cases, your body will become allergic to the same foods again when they are introduced back into your diet, or you may become allergic to other foods that you eat more frequently. This is because you have not addressed the root cause of the problem, which is the weakened digestive and immune systems.

John is well know for his usage of both western and eastern diagnostic tools to determine your food allergy profile. Once he determines what types of foods you are allergic to, he will tailor a treatment plan to manage your allergies while supporting your immune and digestive systems.

Only a few years ago medical "authorities" said that only 1 in 10,000 Americans suffered from allergies or intolerances to the proteins found in wheat. Now, the estimate by the same authorities, is 1 in 33. This is quite a disturbing difference, but the problem is even more severe. The figure of 1 in 33 is determined only by looking at the major immunoglobulin response, which represents only about 20% of the immune responses in the gut. Testing for both immunoglobulins brings the number to about 1 in 7 Americans. This is about what John experiences in clinical practice, which is a far cry from 1 in 10,000.

Chinese Medicine views food allergies as resulting from Spleen, Liver, Large Intestine and Lung imbalances. The Spleen is in charge of the digestive system and converts food into Qi. When the Spleen is weak, food is not broken down properly. In consequence, it weakens the body's defense system by compromising the function of the other organs in the body. The Lungs are paired with the Large Intestine. Symptoms such as asthma, nasal congestion and skin conditions are due to imbalance in the Lung/Large Intestine. Finally, the Liver easily becomes overwhelmed with stress and toxins. Poor digestion will cause more phlegm, dampness and heat to stagnate within the body and overheat the Liver. Symptoms such as headaches, itchy eyes and mood swings are direct consequence of a Liver imbalance. Avoiding allergenic foods such as wheat, corn and sugar while receiving acupuncture and Chinese herbs to detoxify the body and build the digestive system is a comprehensive approach to ending the cycle of food allergies.