What SAAT Is and Is Not: A Plain Look at the Research

SAAT, the Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment, is an ear acupuncture treatment used for alpha-gal syndrome, the tick-related allergy to red meat and other mammal products. It is not a cure, it does not replace your allergist, and it has not been studied much. The research so far is one early case series, so it is worth reading closely, limits included.

What SAAT is

SAAT was developed by Dr. Nader Soliman. It is a form of auricular acupuncture, which means it works with points on the ear. I am a trained and certified SAAT provider on Dr. Soliman's official practitioner list, and in my clinic I use it only for alpha-gal syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome.

At a visit, I review your reactions, triggers and test results. After a polarity reset to calm the nervous system, you hold a vial containing the allergen while I scan the ear and grade the active points with a high-precision point finder. Then 1 to 6 tiny needle implants, each 3 mm long, are placed almost flat in the skin of the right ear. They stay in for about three weeks while you go about your routine, and then they come out.

How SAAT works is not yet known. The authors of the published study say so themselves.

What SAAT is not

• It is not a cure, and no one can promise remission.
• It is not a replacement for your allergist. It is a drug-free addition to your allergist's care.
• It is not a reason to stop carrying epinephrine. Keep carrying it as prescribed.
• It is not a food test. Please do not test or reintroduce a trigger food on your own. Any food decision is made with your allergist or physician.
• It has not been studied in mast cell activation syndrome. There is no published MCAS research.

What the one published study did

The published evidence is a single case series by Bernal and colleagues, in the journal Medical Acupuncture in 2021. The team looked back at the records of 137 people with alpha-gal syndrome treated with SAAT at two clinics, one in Maryland and one in Kentucky.

The ear needle came out at a follow-up visit three weeks after treatment. Most people had one treatment. A small number had a second, only because the needle fell out before the three weeks were up. Patients with no history of anaphylaxis were told to slowly reintroduce mammal foods if they felt comfortable. Those with past anaphylaxis were advised not to.

At least nine months after treatment, 126 people could be reached. Of those, 121, or 96 percent, said their symptoms were in remission. No adverse reactions to the treatment were noted.

What the study could not show

Remission was what patients reported, by phone or in the clinic. Blood tests were not repeated, and lab values were not available for many patients.

There was no comparison group. The CDC notes that some people with alpha-gal syndrome who avoid more tick bites may be able to tolerate alpha-gal products again. Without a comparison group, a study cannot tell how much of the change came from the treatment and how much might have happened anyway.

Reactions are also hard to read. The CDC says people with alpha-gal syndrome might not react to every product containing alpha-gal. A few meals without a reaction do not prove the allergy is gone, which is one more reason no one should test foods on their own.

The review looked back at past records rather than following people forward from the start. The authors say how long the results last is unknown. Dr. Soliman, who developed SAAT, is one of the authors. The article reports no competing financial interests, but studies by independent teams would carry more weight.

My visits also add steps beyond the standard protocol, such as the polarity reset and repeated point grading. The study did not test those steps.

How I use this research

I tell every patient what the evidence does and does not show. The evidence is limited and early. Results vary from person to person.

Keep carrying your epinephrine as prescribed, and keep following your allergist's plan. If you have signs of a severe reaction, such as trouble breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or feeling faint, use your epinephrine and call 911. The alpha-gal syndrome page explains how I work alongside your allergist.