Alpha-Gal Syndrome in the Fall: Why Tick Exposure Still Matters After Summer

As summer comes to an end in Missouri, many people assume that tick season is over. Unfortunately, cooler weather does not mean that the risk of tick exposure suddenly disappears.

For people with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)—sometimes called mammalian meat allergy—preventing additional tick bites remains an important part of managing the condition.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that tick exposure can occur throughout the year, although ticks are generally most active during the warmer months. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), which is strongly associated with Alpha-Gal Syndrome in the United States, is widely distributed throughout the Midwest, South, and eastern United States.

That makes fall an important time to continue thinking about tick prevention, particularly for people who hunt, hike, work outdoors, rake leaves, clear brush, walk dogs, or spend significant time in wooded and grassy areas.

At Moreland Chiropractic Clinic in Rolla, Missouri, I see patients seeking information and supportive care for Alpha-Gal Syndrome. One of the most important messages I give patients is simple:

Do not assume that the arrival of fall means you can stop thinking about ticks.

What Is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Alpha-Gal Syndrome is an IgE-mediated allergy involving a carbohydrate called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, commonly shortened to alpha-gal.

Alpha-gal occurs naturally in most mammals but not in humans. In the United States, Alpha-Gal Syndrome is most commonly associated with bites from the lone star tick.

In susceptible individuals, a tick bite can stimulate the immune system to produce IgE antibodies directed against alpha-gal.

After sensitization develops, exposure to foods or products containing alpha-gal can cause an allergic reaction.

Common dietary sources may include:

Beef Pork Lamb Venison and other mammalian game Mammalian organ meats Gelatin Dairy products in some individuals

Certain medications and medical products can also contain mammalian-derived ingredients.

Not everyone with Alpha-Gal Syndrome reacts to the same products, and sensitivity can vary considerably from one patient to another.

Alpha-Gal Reactions Are Often Delayed

One of the unusual characteristics of Alpha-Gal Syndrome is the timing of the allergic reaction.

Unlike many traditional food allergies that may cause symptoms shortly after eating, Alpha-Gal reactions commonly occur approximately 2–6 hours after exposure.

This delay can make the condition difficult for patients to recognize.

Someone may eat a hamburger at dinner and wake several hours later with hives, abdominal pain, diarrhea, swelling, difficulty breathing, or another reaction without immediately connecting those symptoms to dinner.

Reported symptoms can include:

Hives or itching Swelling Abdominal pain or cramping Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Heartburn or indigestion Coughing or difficulty breathing Dizziness or fainting Low blood pressure Anaphylaxis

Gastrointestinal symptoms are particularly important. Some patients with Alpha-Gal Syndrome may experience predominantly gastrointestinal complaints rather than the classic hives that people associate with food allergy.

A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis found gastrointestinal symptoms were common among patients with AGS, further emphasizing that Alpha-Gal Syndrome does not always look like a typical food allergy.

Why Fall Tick Exposure Still Matters

September and October bring cooler temperatures, but many people also spend considerably more time outdoors.

Fall activities can include:

Deer hunting Hiking Camping Cutting firewood Clearing brush Raking leaves Working around farms and acreage Walking through tall grass Outdoor sporting activities

Those activities can place people directly into tick habitat.

The CDC notes that ticks commonly live in grassy, brushy and wooded environments, including areas around people's homes.

This is especially relevant here in south-central Missouri, where outdoor recreation, hunting, farming and wooded property are part of everyday life for many families.

Another Tick Bite May Be Important for Someone With Alpha-Gal

Preventing additional tick bites isn't only about preventing other tick-borne illnesses.

It can also be important in Alpha-Gal Syndrome itself.

The CDC specifically advises people diagnosed with AGS to prevent future tick bites because new tick bites may reactivate allergic reactions to alpha-gal.

Research has also found that alpha-gal IgE levels may decline over time in some individuals who successfully avoid additional tick bites, although the rate of decline varies considerably among patients.

That does not mean avoiding ticks guarantees that Alpha-Gal Syndrome will disappear.

It does mean that preventing additional tick exposure should be considered an important component of long-term management.

Fall Tick Prevention in Missouri

People with Alpha-Gal Syndrome should continue practicing tick prevention even after summer ends.

When spending time outdoors:

Avoid tall grass and heavy brush when practical. Walk near the center of maintained trails. Consider EPA-registered tick repellents. Clothing and outdoor equipment may be treated with products containing 0.5% permethrin according to product instructions. Check clothing after outdoor activities. Perform a thorough tick check after returning indoors. Shower after outdoor exposure when possible. Check pets that may carry ticks into the home.

Hunters should be particularly careful because they frequently spend extended periods in wooded and brushy environments.

Testing Matters: A Positive Alpha-Gal Test Is Not the Whole Diagnosis

This is an area where I believe patients deserve careful evaluation.

The primary laboratory test used when Alpha-Gal Syndrome is suspected measures alpha-gal-specific IgE (sIgE).

However, laboratory results should not be interpreted in isolation.

According to the CDC, a positive alpha-gal IgE blood test does not automatically mean that a person has Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

Some people can have detectable alpha-gal antibodies without experiencing clinical symptoms.

Diagnosis therefore involves putting several pieces together:

Patient history + symptoms + timing of reactions + tick exposure + appropriate laboratory testing.

That distinction is important.

I do not believe that every person with a positive laboratory result should automatically be treated as though they have symptomatic Alpha-Gal Syndrome. Likewise, unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, hives, fatigue, flushing, or other complaints should not automatically be attributed to Alpha-Gal without considering other possible medical causes.

Good healthcare starts with trying to identify the correct problem.

Why I Ask Patients for Recent Alpha-Gal Blood Work

When someone comes to my Rolla office seeking acupuncture for Alpha-Gal Syndrome, I prefer to review appropriate recent laboratory testing.

This commonly includes the patient's alpha-gal-specific IgE results and other relevant laboratory information when available.

Blood testing provides objective information that can be considered alongside the patient's history and symptoms.

It can also help identify situations in which further evaluation by an allergist, primary-care physician, gastroenterologist, or another healthcare professional may be appropriate.

Alpha-Gal Syndrome can produce significant symptoms, but it isn't the only medical condition capable of causing gastrointestinal problems, hives, flushing, fatigue, abdominal pain, or unexplained reactions.

Patients deserve an evaluation based on evidence rather than assumptions.

Acupuncture and Alpha-Gal Syndrome

I have practiced acupuncture for more than 32 years and have developed considerable clinical experience working with patients who have Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

My approach may incorporate auricular acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment (SAAT) depending upon the individual patient.

It is important, however, to separate clinical experience from what has been established scientifically.

A published case series involving SAAT reported encouraging patient outcomes and no adverse reactions attributed to the auricular acupuncture treatment. However, the researchers themselves concluded that the method requires further investigation with prospective studies and laboratory confirmation.

That is an important distinction.

Acupuncture should not be advertised as a proven cure for Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

My goal is to provide responsible, individualized supportive care while monitoring symptoms and encouraging patients to maintain appropriate medical care with their allergist or primary-care provider.

Treatment Should Not Replace Appropriate Allergy Care

Alpha-Gal Syndrome can cause anaphylaxis and other serious allergic reactions.

Patients with known or suspected AGS should discuss their condition with an allergist or other qualified healthcare provider.

Some patients may be advised to carry epinephrine.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of a severe allergic reaction—including difficulty breathing, throat or tongue swelling, fainting, severe dizziness, or signs of anaphylaxis—should seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Acupuncture is not a substitute for emergency treatment of an allergic reaction.

Every Alpha-Gal Patient Is Different

One of the most challenging things about Alpha-Gal Syndrome is its variability.

One patient may tolerate dairy without difficulty while another cannot.

One person may primarily experience gastrointestinal symptoms, while another develops hives or a more serious systemic reaction.

Even the same person may not react identically after every exposure.

For this reason, Alpha-Gal Syndrome should not be approached with a one-size-fits-all protocol.

The patient's history, laboratory findings, symptoms, previous reactions, other medical conditions, and response to care should all be considered.

Fall Is a Good Time to Reevaluate Your Alpha-Gal Plan

The arrival of fall provides a good opportunity for patients with Alpha-Gal Syndrome to review several questions:

Have your symptoms changed?

Have you experienced additional tick bites?

Have you had unexplained reactions?

When was your last Alpha-Gal IgE test?

Are you avoiding foods unnecessarily—or exposing yourself to foods that have previously caused significant reactions?

Do you have an appropriate emergency plan if you experience a severe allergic reaction?

If something about your symptoms has changed, it may be time to discuss updated testing or further medical evaluation with your healthcare provider.

Alpha-Gal Care in Rolla, Missouri

At Moreland Chiropractic Clinic in Rolla, Missouri, I work with patients seeking acupuncture and supportive care for Alpha-Gal Syndrome.

My approach emphasizes appropriate testing, careful history, individualized treatment and collaboration with the patient's other healthcare providers when necessary.

After more than three decades of practicing acupuncture, I believe patients benefit most when traditional treatment approaches are combined with responsible evaluation and current medical evidence.

If you are considering acupuncture for Alpha-Gal Syndrome, bring your recent Alpha-Gal laboratory results with you so they can be reviewed as part of your evaluation.

And as we move into fall in Missouri, remember one of the simplest—but most important—parts of Alpha-Gal management:

Keep protecting yourself from ticks.

References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Alpha-gal Syndrome. Updated January 5, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Diagnosis and Testing: Alpha-gal Syndrome. Updated January 5, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of Alpha-gal Syndrome. Updated January 5, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Managing Alpha-gal Syndrome. Updated January 5, 2026. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Tick Bites. National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lone Star Tick Surveillance. Updated May 26, 2026. Rao S, et al. Understanding Alpha-Gal Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes. Neurogastroenterology & Motility. 2026. Wilson JM, Platts-Mills TAE. Diagnosis and Management of Patients with the α-Gal Syndrome. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2019. Liebel J, et al. Successful Treatment for Alpha Gal Mammal Product Allergy Using Auricular Acupuncture: A Case Series. Medical Acupuncture. 2021.