Allergy Actually: ILIT™ vs. Shots & Drops for Allergy Relief
Allergy shots. Allergy drops. They promise long-term relief, but the commitment can feel overwhelming –– years of weekly visits or daily doses. What if there was a faster, more convenient, and highly effective way to treat your allergies?
Today, I’m thrilled to share insights from a special cross-posting episode of Allergy Actually, my new platform with two of my favorite allergist best friends, Dr. Meagan Shepherd and Dr. Amber Patterson. We dive deep into the most natural ways to treat your allergies, comparing traditional shots, drops, and the revolutionary ILIT™ Protocol.
Meet the Allergy Actually Team!
Dr. Meagan Shepherd: Practices allergy and immunology in West Virginia, caring for both kids and adults. She also runs Allergy Aesthetic, helping people breathe better and live beautifully.
Dr. Amber Patterson: Based in Findlay, Ohio, Dr. Patterson is a world-leading expert in intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT), pioneering its future and expanding access across North America as the CEO and founder of the Auni® ILIT™ Learning Network.
Dr. Kara Wada (that’s me!): Board-certified allergist/immunologist and lifestyle/functional medicine physician, helping patients (and myself!) navigate complex immune conditions.
Why ILIT is a Game-Changer for Allergy Treatment
Allergy shots (SCIT) and drops (SLIT) are effective, but adherence is a challenge. As Dr. Shepherd notes, "People just don't have time." And as I’ve learned from my extensive experience with SLIT, it’s hard to remember a daily treatment for years! The simpler and less frequent a treatment, the higher the likelihood of completion. That’s where the ILIT™ Protocol shines!
What is the ILIT™ Protocol? The 3-Injection Protocol
For those unfamiliar, the ILIT™ Protocol (Intralymphatic Immunotherapy) is an innovative approach using FDA-approved allergen extracts, delivered with ultrasound guidance directly into a lymph node. It's a more efficient and precise way to retrain your immune system where the immune changes happen.
Efficiency & Speed: Instead of years of weekly shots, the ILIT™ Protocol typically involves just three injections, one every four weeks, over an eight-week period. You can complete the entire process in just two months, with improvements seen within a month of finishing!
Cost Savings: While currently not covered by insurance (due to regulatory definitions, not efficacy), for many, the out-of-pocket cost for the ILIT™ Protocol can be comparable to, or even less than, a three-to-five-year course of traditional shots. Flexible payment plans and using FSA/HSA funds can make it more accessible.
Adherence: We see nearly 100% adherence rates with the ILIT™ Protocol, largely thanks to the incredibly convenient schedule.
The Science Behind ILIT: Bypassing Mast Cells for Enhanced Safety
When it comes to safety, the ILIT™ Protocol offers distinct advantages:
Targeted Delivery: Traditional shots inject allergens into the subcutaneous tissue (just under the skin), where mast cells (the primary cells responsible for severe allergic reactions) are abundant. With the ILIT™ Protocol, the allergen is delivered directly into the lymph node, where mast cells are very few, if any.
Lower Allergen Dose: A significantly smaller amount of allergen is used in the ILIT™ Protocol compared to traditional shots.
These factors contribute to a more controlled and potentially safer treatment, especially for sensitive patients. As Dr. Shepherd points out, if a patient couldn’t tolerate SCIT due to large local reactions, the ILIT™ Protocol offers a powerful alternative.
Effectiveness: Lasting Relief in Less Time
The efficacy of the ILIT™ Protocol is backed by robust data. A pivotal study from the University of Zurich compared the ILIT™ Protocol to SCIT for grass pollen allergy over three years, with a 19-year follow-up. It demonstrated that the ILIT™ Protocol offers similar effectiveness and length of benefit to SCIT, but in a drastically reduced timeframe. It truly "rewrites the code" of your immune system.
Why Isn't the ILIT™ Protocol Everywhere? (The "Sloth" of Medical Education)
You might be wondering, "If it's so great, why isn't everyone doing it?" The answer is complex:
Slow Medical Education: As I often joke, medical education moves at the speed of a sloth! Cutting-edge developments take time to integrate into established protocols.
Specialized Training & Equipment: the ILIT™ Protocol requires specific training (like the Auni® ILIT™ Learning Network provides!) and ultrasound equipment, which not every allergy practice has.
Economic Factors: The traditional model of long-term treatment with frequent office visits is financially predictable for insurance-based practices. Treatments that work quickly don't always fit this model, and the FDA approval pathway for allergen extracts has become more costly.
However, forward-thinking physicians are rapidly adopting these approaches.
Your Path to Natural Allergy Relief: Finding an the ILIT™ Protocol Provider
Don't let outdated approaches keep you on the allergy treadmill. If you're looking for lasting, efficient, and natural allergy relief, explore the ILIT™ Protocol.
To find a qualified allergist: Check out the Auni® ILIT™ Learning Network (link below). Dr. Patterson has built an amazing network of experts who have invested in this advanced training and are helping contribute to the science.
Join the "Allergy Actually" Conversation!
If you enjoyed this conversation, hop over to the Allergy Actually channel on YouTube! Subscribe to catch all our upcoming episodes where we dive deep into allergies, how they affect our lives, and the latest science. We're excited to create high-quality, trusted educational resources for you!
What are your thoughts on ILIT? What questions do you have about comparing allergy treatments? Share your insights in the comments below!
