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31 The primary goal of NEFATC is to make patients, both children and adults, less allergic, significantly reducing the risk of an anaphylactic reaction upon accidental ingestion after the eight- to-twelve month treatment plan is complete. The physicians and nurses use a "low and slow" approach, in which patients are administered small doses of their allergen each day. The therapy begins with a miniscule dose, gradually increasing over time as tolerance builds, resulting in the body not seeing the allergen as a foreign substance. This is achieved via a combination of daily, at- home ingestion with bimonthly "updosing" that happens in-office under close monitoring. All treatments use real food without chemicals or drugs. Many allergies can be treated simultaneously. Dr. Vallen and her team deeply understand the emotions that can come with desensitization; ingesting foods that you have been told to avoid at all costs requires great trust. To help families through treatment in the most careful and comfortable way possible, the NEFATC team is on call 24/7. Moreover, therapy and dosing schedules are tailored to each individual patient -- there is no "one size fits all" approach. After treatment, 75-85% of patients are desensitized to their allergen and some may even get to the point where they can freely eat the foods they formerly had to avoid. The hope is that patients will no longer fear a serious reaction, alleviating social constraints and improving overall quality of life. Many allergists promote avoidance when it comes to food allergies, recommending that a patient who is sensitive to some nuts simply avoids all nuts. Dr. Vallen and her team review a patient's history and lab results to determine if a food challenge is warranted. Some children with egg or milk allergies may be able to ingest baked forms of these foods, and patients allergic to hazelnuts or cashews may be able to enjoy walnuts, almonds and almond-based products. For many people, this can open up a wide variety of food options, which helps with a child's nutrition as well as their quality of life. At Vallen Allergy and Asthma, more testing options are being offered than ever before at the practice, including penicillin skin testing, patch testing for contact dermatitis and oral food