Wheat Allergy

An allergy to wheat is different than celiac disease and gluten intolerance. When someone is allergic to wheat, histamine is released in the body after ingestion, causing symptoms including:

• Swelling in the mouth or throat
• Itching and hives
• Stomach upset
• Headache
• Congestion

For some, reactions can be severe and may lead to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that requires immediate attention.

An exam, thorough history, and allergy testing can help to determine if a person is dealing with wheat allergy – compared to celiac or gluten intolerance. Knowing the cause of your symptoms is important to determine your lifestyle changes and potential treatment plan.

At AAOL, a blood test will discover if an allergy to wheat is present, and at what specific level. The results from this test are used to create a custom prescription for allergy drops following The La Crosse Method™ Protocol. Through a liquid dose taken under the tongue daily, a tiny amount of wheat allergen (and other identified food allergens) is introduced.

Over time, the prescription’s allergen strength is slowly increased until the body eventually learns to not react when exposed to wheat – and therefore, reactions are dramatically reduced, or even eliminated. After treatment, some people can ingest wheat and not experience a life-threatening reaction, and others are able to reintroduce wheat into their diet.

Until tolerance is built, avoiding wheat is key to avoiding reactions. Because it’s one of the Top Nine food allergies recognized by the FDA, wheat is required to be identified on food labels. In homemade dishes, avoid ingredients including, but not limited to: bulgur, couscous, durum, einkorn, wheat bran, wheat germ, and more if you experience related reactions to wheat.

Patient Success

As a child, Sabrina would itch herself until she bled from a variety of food allergies, including wheat. After successful treatment, she was able to add wheat back into her diet and explore so many new, delicious foods. Listen to her story here!