Low Dose Allergen (LDA) Therapy
LDA (Low Dose Allergen) therapy—often called homeopathic allergy shots—is an advanced form of immunotherapy that helps retrain the immune system to be less reactive to allergens and sensitivities. It uses ultra-low doses of over 300 common allergens (foods, pollens, molds, chemicals, etc.) combined with a natural enzyme that enhances immune tolerance. Many patients who have done traditional allergy shots in the past without relief or a recurrence in symptoms, do much better with LDA therapy!
At Roots we are proud to be one of the only practices in South Carolina to offer this amazing therapy.
EDUCATION
Low-Dose Allergen Therapy is a gentle form of immune therapy used to help reduce allergies, sensitivities, and certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions. It’s sometimes described as a homeopathic-style allergy treatment, but more accurately, it works by retraining the immune system to tolerate things it currently overreacts to.
Unlike traditional allergy shots, which use increasing doses of allergens, LDA uses extremely tiny, diluted doses of over 300 common allergens — including foods, pollens, molds, chemicals, and environmental triggers — combined with a natural enzyme. This combination helps retrain a specific part of your immune system called regulatory T cells, or T-reg cells.
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You can think of T-reg cells as the “calm-down” cells of the immune system. Their job is to tell your body what is truly dangerous and what is not. In people with allergies, sensitivities, eczema, asthma, or chronic inflammation, these cells often aren’t doing their job well. The immune system starts reacting to harmless things like foods, pollen, or chemicals as if they’re threats.
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LDA works by gently exposing your immune system to tiny amounts of those triggers in a way that helps your T-reg cells reset and respond appropriately. Over time, this can reduce immune over-reactivity and help your body tolerate these triggers more normally.
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WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM LDA
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THERAPY?​
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LDA may be helpful for environmental allergies, food sensitivities and true food allergies, eczema, asthma, hives, sinus issues, IBS, chemical sensitivities, and other chronic inflammatory or immune-driven conditions. In some cases, it’s also used as supportive therapy for autoimmune-type issues. It’s important to know that LDA works best as part of a bigger picture plan, alongside addressing things like gut health, mold or yeast exposure, nutrient deficiencies, and overall immune balance.
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HOW IS IT ADMINISTERED?
Treatment is given either as a tiny intradermal injection on the inner forearm, similar to a TB test, or as drops placed under the tongue, called sublingual dosing. The method that’s best for you — or your child — is decided during your consultation. Treatments are typically given every 6 to 8 weeks, and immune retraining happens gradually and cumulatively. It is recommended to follow an "LDA diet" for the 3 critical days (day before, day of and day after) your injections for best results.
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Most patients notice some level of improvement early on — about 70 percent of people feel some improvement after their first treatment — and with each dose, those improvements tend to last longer. For best results, most patients commit to 12 months of treatment, although children often respond more quickly and may need fewer doses.​
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LDA is considered extremely safe because of the ultra-low dosing. Serious reactions have not been reported, even in highly allergic patients. Mild, temporary symptom flares or a small local skin reaction at the injection site can occur, and these are reviewed in detail during your consult.
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SCHEDULING & COSTS​
If you’re interested in LDA, the first step is an LDA consultation with our LDA trained provider, Mikayla Smith, FNP-C, which is $125. During that visit, we’ll review your health history, symptoms, medications, and goals to determine whether you’re a good candidate. We’ll also go over the treatment structure, costs, medication and supplement restrictions, and a short diet that must be followed around each treatment to ensure the best results.
If you’re approved for therapy, treatment costs depend on how many allergen panels are included, and everything is reviewed clearly before moving forward. Pricing ranges from $150-$350 per treatment. Injection or sublingual appointments themselves are quick, typically taking just a few minutes.
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We are one of only a small number of clinics in South Carolina offering LDA therapy. While the protocol itself is standardized, we’ve designed our program to be flexible, individualized, and financially accessible, with ongoing provider oversight and support.
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If you’d like to move forward or have additional questions, please contact our office to schedule an LDA consultation. We’re happy to help you decide if this therapy is the right next step for you.