What is it?
Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI)
Low Dose Immunotherapy or LDI, is a specialized method of treating food and environmental allergies using homeopathic modalities. LDI works by providing a miniscule dose of antigens which stimulates the production of T-Regulator cells. These T-Reg cells calm the immune system and the body begins to build a tolerance to certain triggers. In a broad range of conditions, the immune system is “turned up” and treats healthy and normal proteins in the body as allergens. This is the start of autoimmune conditions.
LDI include allergens such as inhaled pollens, animal dander, dust mites, fungi, yeasts, molds, all foods, food additives, common chemicals, and perfumes. LDI has also been shown to help people with not only allergies but a number of autoimmune conditions. A small dose of drops (0.04ML) are given sublingual (under your tongue) every 7-10 days until the correct dose is uncovered. Once this is found, the dose is given every 7 weeks, slowly lengthening the time between doses. ​​​​​​​
How LDI Works
LDI is typically administered sublingually. Initially while we are titrating dosing, it can be taken every 7 days. Once we find the ideal dose, these are spread out every 7 weeks. As time goes on, the length of time between treatments becomes longer as the body builds immune function, eventually to the point that people no longer need any further treatment. People typically will notice some benefit immediately after taking a dose. There are no restrictions on who can receive these, anyone age 4 weeks and up and there are no health issue contraindications. They are considered a homeopathic treatment and are very safe. If you are unfamiliar with what homeopathy is I encourage you to check out this site to learn more about homeopathy
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This therapy is not approved by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
How well does LDI work?
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The effects of LDI can vary, with some patients experiencing immediate improvement, while others may require longer to see full benefits. Studies indicate that around 60% of patients report significant positive responses after the first treatment, with nearly all responding positively by the third treatment. Overall, the response rate for conditions treated with LDI ranges from 65% to 95%, depending on the specific condition.
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Study results for LDA, which is the predecessor treatment can be found here
Want more technical details - here you go!​
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LDI is a method of immunotherapy using miniscule doses of various allergens (10-6 to 10-17) and stimulates the production of T-suppressor cells, now called T Regulator (T Reg) cells. These cells actively "switch off" helper cells that are erroneously causing patients to be ill by misidentifying normal substances in the body to be allergens. T-cells may live for long periods of time in the bloodstream, so LDI needs to be administered only every 7 weeks, and then less often as time passes. The dosing of LDI is so small that is is considered homeopathic. LDI has been used safely on children as young as one month of age. It can not cause anaphylaxisis.
How is this different than Conventional Allergy Immunotherapy (aka “allergy shots”)?
Conventional immunotherapy starts the dose at 1 to 10,000 (10-4)and is increased over time to as high as 1 to 10 (101) for IgE mediated allergies. This works by causing the patient to produce an IgG “blocking antibody” which inhibits mast cells from releasing histamine. (Histamine produces the allergy symptoms.) The more blocking antibody that can be produced, the more successful is the treatment, but this requires very high doses of allergen. High doses of allergen often causes intolerable swelling and other side effects before the clinical effects can be seen, and can be dangerous due to the risk of severe reactions such as massive swelling, anaphylaxis, collapse and even death.
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Only inhalants – not foods or chemicals – are used in conventional immunotherapy. LDI immunotherapy, however, is cell-mediated and uses extremely low homeopathic doses. The very highest possible dose of LDI is at least a million times less than the standard dose for conventional immunotherapy.
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Conventional immunotherapy is generally administered twice per week for the first four to six months. Once the very high maintenance dose is reached, the treatment interval may be extended to once every two weeks or even monthly, but rarely less often without return of symptoms. Conventional immunotherapy cannot usually be stopped without the return of some or significant symptoms within 3 to 12 months of cessation. LDI is different in that it is given once every 7 weeks, or longer, once we find the proper dosing. Patients usually notice improvement within days of the correct dose. Many will need 1 year of treatment and then are able to either stop or decreasing dosing to several times per year, and eventually no longer need any treatments at all.
The Science behind LDI
Originally developed in the mid 1960's by a brilliant clinical and academic allergist, Leonard M. McEwen, M.D., in England, LDA (Low Dose Allergy Immunotherapy) injections helped thousands of people overcome their debilitating allergies and many other chronic, debilitating autoimmune conditions. This treatment involved a very strict diet and homeopathic injections given every 8 weeks. Over time, individuals could space these injections out and eventually would graduate and no longer require any treatment. Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) was discovered by Dr. Ty Vincent who took the concepts of LDA and improved them.
There is no special diet required when using LDI, it is administered as drops that are placed under the tongue (sublingual), and the dosing can be adjusted as frequently as every 7 days while trying to determine the target dose. It induces the production of T regulator cells (Tregs) which help increase elements of the immune system that are under-functioning and decrease aspects of the immune system that are over-functioning. The forumula is very dilute, at least 1000 times more dilute than a traditional allergy shot. The microbes in the homeopathic formulas are dead and can not produce or increase an infection in anyone.
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The key to LDI is finding the right concentration of the antigens for the individual patient. If the dose is too low, nothing happens. Too high, the patient feels worse. Just right and the patient feels better. As such we start with a very low dose with most patients and gradually increase the dose until a beneficial effect is seen. During this initial “find the right dose” phase, treatments are given every seven to ten days. Once the correct dose is found, treatments become less and less frequent as improvements last longer and longer. Eventually many people can go years without needing a dose.
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Lots more information on these can be found here
References can be found here and here
For more information on LDA including its history, see http://www.drshrader.com/lda_therapy.htm
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