07/02/2026
⚠️ A Caution for My Alpha-Gal Clients Worth Sharing
My goal isn't simply to help my patients feel better—it's to help them stay better.
When someone experiences a return of symptoms after doing well, I don't just accept it. I consider it my responsibility to learn why. Together, we carefully review what has changed, looking for anything that may have triggered the flare-up.
By doing this, I've identified one significant recurring pattern: exposure to w**d spray.
In many of these cases, patients had no idea the exposure might be connected until we worked backward through their recent activities. As I began sharing this observation with new Alpha-Gal clients and encouraging them to avoid w**d spray, something interesting happened. Many later realized their own symptoms had started shortly after spraying w**ds or being around recently sprayed areas. They simply hadn't connected the two before.
Because I've now seen this pattern repeatedly, I believe it's important to share it so others can be proactive rather than reactive.
I can't say with certainty which ingredient is responsible, but I suspect the surfactant—the ingredient that helps the herbicide stick to surfaces and pe*****te the plant—may play a significant role. My working theory is that this component may further stimulate an already sensitive immune system in susceptible individuals, contributing to a temporary return or worsening of symptoms.
I can't say I understand exactly what's happening, but I've observed this pattern consistently enough that I believe it's worth taking seriously.
For that reason, I strongly encourage anyone living with Alpha-Gal Syndrome to avoid w**d spray exposure whenever possible. That includes:
• Spraying w**ds yourself
• Spending time in freshly sprayed areas
• Walking through recently treated grass, fields, or fence lines
• Exposure to spray drift from neighboring properties
I know avoiding these exposures isn't always convenient, but if it helps you avoid a setback, I believe it's well worth the extra precaution.
Please share this with anyone living with Alpha-Gal Syndrome. This is a clinical pattern I've recognized while caring for Alpha-Gal patients, and I hope it helps others avoid an unnecessary setback.
- Carrie Howard
Acupuncture Works, 918-418-9359
