What food sensitivities are
Reactions to food come in very different kinds. Celiac disease is an autoimmune reaction to gluten that damages the small intestine and needs a medical diagnosis. A food allergy involves the immune system directly and can be dangerous; swelling of the lips or throat, trouble breathing or faintness after eating is an emergency, so call 911. Lactose intolerance is a shortage of the enzyme that digests milk sugar. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity and other food sensitivities are real experiences that are harder to pin down with tests.
About leaky gut
Many people find us after searching for "leaky gut". The gut lining is a barrier one cell thick, held together by tight junctions, and researchers study how its permeability changes in celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions. Whether a leaky gut drives symptoms on its own is still debated, and it is not a diagnosis your physician can confirm with a standard test. So we do not diagnose it. What we can read is the pattern in front of us.
How we work with it
A food and symptom diary is the backbone of the plan: what you ate, how it was cooked, when, and what followed. Patterns show up quickly, and they often point to cold, raw or rich food as much as to gluten or dairy. When skin flares or hay fever run alongside a weak surface, a practitioner might consider Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder, 玉屏風散); when heat or damp drives the reactions, a different approach instead.
A formula for your pattern and food advice usually lead, with acupuncture and Master Tung's points in support. Functional medicine here is read through the classical lens. We watch your diary together, looking at which foods still bother you, and how much.
Formulas here illustrate how pattern diagnosis shapes treatment. They are not recommendations; a practitioner selects and adjusts formulas for the individual.
Questions people ask
Do you treat leaky gut?
Leaky gut is not a recognized medical diagnosis, so we do not diagnose it. We treat the digestive pattern behind your symptoms, and we are happy to explain what research on the gut barrier does and does not show.
Should I go gluten-free before seeing my doctor?
Ask your physician about celiac testing first. The common blood tests are most reliable while gluten is still in your diet, and cutting it out beforehand can make the result harder to read.
Do you run food sensitivity tests?
No. We read your pattern from pulse, tongue and history, and from what a simple food and symptom diary shows. If you have had testing elsewhere, bring the results and we will talk them through as education.
Will I have to cut out lots of foods?
We try not to shrink your diet without reason. The advice usually centers on how food is cooked, the temperature of meals and eating rhythm, with any eliminations kept short and purposeful.
This is general wellness information, not medical advice.
