Allergist vs. Naturopath for food allergies - help me understand

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SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,671 Member
in Food and Nutrition
A few months ago I started having reactions to tree nuts. I went to my doctor who suggested I go to an allergist to be tested as apparently it is possible to develop allergies later in life. The allergist was quite backed up and it was going to be about 6 months for an appointment, so in the meantime I went to a naturopath to have blood tests done. She concluded that I have varying degrees of allergies to quite a few foods, and also have leaky gut syndrome. The way she explained it made a lot of sense. She suggested a specific type of cleanse (yes, I know, the dreaded cleanse), which sent up a red flag for me but I still purchased the supplements. They're still sitting on my counter because....cleanse.

Fast forward to my allergist appointment, who did the skin prick test and determined that in fact I am not allergic to any of the foods the naturopath says I am, including tree nuts.

So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?

Anyone out there a naturopath or allergist, or knowledgeable in this who could shed some light?
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Replies

  • pootle1972
    pootle1972 Posts: 579 Member
    edited March 2016
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    A naturopath isn't degree level educated. They are basically woo nutritionists. ....run run away and stick to your md approved specialists.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,671 Member
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    pootle1972 wrote: »
    A naturopath isn't degree level educated.

    I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    edited March 2016
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    Well, I consider Naturopaths to be complete woo so I would never take their advice. "Qualified Naturopath" is an oxymoron in my opinion as there is no such thing. I def wouldn't call them "professional". I am sure the Naturopath just wanted to sell you a bunch of tree bark and stuff to "help" you.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
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    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    A few months ago I started having reactions to tree nuts. I went to my doctor who suggested I go to an allergist to be tested as apparently it is possible to develop allergies later in life. The allergist was quite backed up and it was going to be about 6 months for an appointment, so in the meantime I went to a naturopath to have blood tests done. She concluded that I have varying degrees of allergies to quite a few foods, and also have leaky gut syndrome. The way she explained it made a lot of sense. She suggested a specific type of cleanse (yes, I know, the dreaded cleanse), which sent up a red flag for me but I still purchased the supplements. They're still sitting on my counter because....cleanse.

    Fast forward to my allergist appointment, who did the skin prick test and determined that in fact I am not allergic to any of the foods the naturopath says I am, including tree nuts.

    So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?

    Anyone out there a naturopath or allergist, or knowledgeable in this who could shed some light?

    Because one is a medical doctor, and the other hung a sign outside.
  • ahamm002
    ahamm002 Posts: 1,690 Member
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    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    So my question is....what the heck is going on? How can one professional say I'm allergic to a bunch of stuff and another tell me I'm not allergic to any of it? I have been avoiding some foods because I am afraid to have the reaction again but maybe it's all in my head?

    The naturopath is NOT a professional. They are a quack. Blood draws are not the proper way to test for food allergies.
  • pootle1972
    pootle1972 Posts: 579 Member
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    As i see it Blood tests tell you nothing about allergy....skin prick tests are the standard and only way to determine histological alergy
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
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    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    pootle1972 wrote: »
    A naturopath isn't degree level educated.

    I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.

    Allergists can run blood tests as well. My guess is that a naturopath will submit blood samples to a "lab"; different tests are being run. Last time I had a allergy test, they took blood because I was on antihistamines, which prevents/limits the skin reactions.
  • Malenurse51
    Malenurse51 Posts: 181 Member
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    As everyone has said, an "Allergist" is a Medical Doctor. A Naturopath is not. The only blood test that I'm aware of (and I'm not aware of ALL of them) is called a RAST Test that will test for allergens. I would put my money on the MD, IMHO.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
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    Serious question, as I'm not sure of the answer. Would a naturopath - who's not actually a medical doctor - legally be able to receive your results from a real-life accredited lab? My instinct is to think, "no."
  • pootle1972
    pootle1972 Posts: 579 Member
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    auddii wrote: »
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    pootle1972 wrote: »
    A naturopath isn't degree level educated.

    I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.

    Allergists can run blood tests as well. My guess is that a naturopath will submit blood samples to a "lab"; different tests are being run. Last time I had a allergy test, they took blood because I was on antihistamines, which prevents/limits the skin reactions.

    I've only ever heard of skin tests but yeah I can see why blood woukd work...still wouldn't trust the woo peddler though...could have sent that blood to anywhere if infact she sent it at all.

  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
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    Naturopath: The Beachbody Coaches of the "medical" field (medical used VERY loosely). lol.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,671 Member
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    I was leery to go to the naturopath because of the lack of qualifications but I was desperate. Her results actually made a lot of sense in correlation to the issues I was experiencing so I sort of bought into it. And I keep in mind that Dr. Oz is also a doctor ;) I'm trying to remain objective, sort through the woo, and figure out what is truly going on.
    So I guess I should just go eat a peanut and see what happens :lol:
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
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    Are you asking a serious question, or merely being sarcastic?
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
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    pootle1972 wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    pootle1972 wrote: »
    A naturopath isn't degree level educated.

    I understand. But she took blood tests which were sent to a lab for analysis. I sort of assumed that a blood test would be more accurate than a skin-prick test.

    Allergists can run blood tests as well. My guess is that a naturopath will submit blood samples to a "lab"; different tests are being run. Last time I had a allergy test, they took blood because I was on antihistamines, which prevents/limits the skin reactions.

    I've only ever heard of skin tests but yeah I can see why blood woukd work...still wouldn't trust the woo peddler though...could have sent that blood to anywhere if infact she sent it at all.

    Oh I agree. Blood tests CAN be used (and if you don't tell your doctor you're on antihistamines, that would skew skin test results), but I still wouldn't trust the naturopath.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,671 Member
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    lithezebra wrote: »
    Are you asking a serious question, or merely being sarcastic?

    Serious question, for once. It doesn't happen often.
  • WMLizard
    WMLizard Posts: 22 Member
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    And apologies for stating something you might already know - but if you want to test your tree nut sensitivity, don't use a peanut. Totally different things. Almonds, pecans, almost any other nut is a tree nut. Not that I'm advocating testing that sort of thing on yourself, of course...
  • mburgess458
    mburgess458 Posts: 480 Member
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    I think that both results COULD be correct. The naturopath could be correct that certain foods like tree nuts cause inflammation for you... not full blown allergies, but maybe your body doesn't digest them well so you get some symptoms from eating them.

    The allergist is showing that you don't have a true allergy. Important to know, but if you feel better avoiding certain foods even without an allergy I would continue to avoid them.
  • mburgess458
    mburgess458 Posts: 480 Member
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    I should have said that the naturalist shouldn't have said you have allergies, just that you develop inflammation... not the same thing.
  • pootle1972
    pootle1972 Posts: 579 Member
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    Intolerance = unpleasant could lead to allergy
    Allergy = potential death....slight difference.
  • CharlieBeansmomTracey
    CharlieBeansmomTracey Posts: 7,682 Member
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    when my dad was younger he had allergy tests,they did it by blood test. this was before the pin prick test. it told him he was allergic to all kinds of things including camel hair(he had the test results all those years later),it said he was even allergic to potatoes,which he ate with no problems. some of the things they said he was allergic to would blow your mind because they were things not found normally in the US at the time.point is he had those tests and most of the things he was supposedly allergic to he wasnt. now when he was allergic to something he would break out in hives,or he would have difficulty breathing,etc. Im the same way when I have an allergy. I would go with an allergist and if you are having any signs of an allergy from a food stop eating it.also if you are allergic to some tree nuts that also can mean some fruits may cause you problems because they are in the tree nut family.(peaches are one). yes you can end up with allergies later in life.
    Its possible though the tree nuts could have been sprayed with something or had come into contact with something, and that could have caused an allergy as well.I used to be able to eat pecans and I cant eat any except for in very small doses.so if you feel a reaction coming on, cut that food out for several months and see how you feel. introduce it back into your diet later, unless the reaction is swelling of the tongue,throat,breathing problems then keep it out of your diet.

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