Tick season in Florida
Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Florida Tick Season
Tick bites can lead to delayed, sometimes severe reactions to mammalian foods and products. Keep allergist-directed care. AWF can discuss SAAT's risks and limited evidence, not promise a cure.
As reported by
“6 Tick Infested Areas In Florida” — WorldAtlas
Six places, one statewide risk
Florida’s mix of swamp, forest, and prairie makes it one of the most active tick environments in the country year-round. The lone star tick — the species most linked to alpha-gal syndrome — is present in every location on the list.
The Everglades
1.5M acres of near-constant tick activity; lone star tick especially common along trails.
Ocala National Forest
385,000+ acres of pine flatwoods and hammocks with dense deer-driven tick populations.
Big Cypress Preserve
Seasonal flooding pushes wildlife — and ticks — onto the same raised trails hikers use.
Apalachicola National Forest
Florida's largest forest; stable, humid conditions sustain ticks nearly year-round.
Hillsborough River State Park
Tampa Bay's own entry on the list — shaded riverine trails popular with hikers and paddlers.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve
Open grassland exposure, with lone star ticks clustering along deer and turkey corridors.
What a single tick bite can actually cause
A bite from a lone star tick can trigger Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) — a delayed allergic reaction to a sugar molecule found in mammal meat and products.
- Reactions to beef, pork, lamb, and sometimes dairy or gelatin
- Symptoms often delayed 3–8 hours after eating, making the trigger hard to spot
- Ranges from hives and GI distress to severe, delayed anaphylaxis
- Care includes individualized trigger avoidance, tick prevention and an emergency plan
Questions about complementary care
At Acupuncture of West Florida we offer SAAT — Soliman Auricular Allergy Treatment, an ear-acupuncture protocol with limited evidence. Its mechanism is not established, and treatment does not prove that an allergen is safe.
Multiple visits may be needed. Before starting or arranging travel, ask about the planned number and spacing of visits, fees per visit, follow-up and estimated total cost.
Continue your allergist’s avoidance plan and prescribed emergency medication. Do not test or reintroduce foods because you received SAAT; any food challenge belongs with your allergist.
Why patients travel for this
Dr. Kim Windschauer is a certified SAAT provider in Clearwater
She trained directly under Dr. Nader Soliman, the founder of SAAT, and holds certified status in a protocol very few practitioners nationwide are trained to deliver. Patients from across Florida — and out of state — travel to Clearwater for this treatment because it isn’t widely available anywhere else.
What to expect
Three simple steps
Step 01
Consultation
We listen to your history, reactions, and testing, then tell you honestly whether SAAT is a fit.
Step 02
Your SAAT session
A precise auricular placement targeting alpha-gal — and any additional triggers found in your intake.
Step 03
Reassessment & ongoing care
Review symptoms and any further visits. The retained-needle period is not the whole treatment course. Food challenges remain with your allergist.
Evidence and safety
What early reports do not prove
A 2021 retrospective case series reported patient symptom changes after SAAT. It had no control group and cannot establish a cure, reliable success rate or predictable individual benefit. It is not evidence that you can safely eat a trigger food.
Read the original case series · CDC: managing Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Start with a free consultation
How your first visit works
The initial consultation is free; treatment is separate. We do not accept insurance. A superbill is available on request for possible insurance reimbursement, which is not guaranteed.
1. Tell us what's going on
Send the form or call 727-490-6060. We'll ask a few questions about your symptoms and history.
2. Free consultation
Talk with Dr. Kim in person or by phone at no charge to discuss whether acupuncture may be appropriate. A consultation is not a treatment visit.
3. Your first treatment
Treatment fees are individualized. The office will confirm your fee before treatment. Your plan depends on your needs and response; benefits are not guaranteed.
These are individual experiences, not evidence of a cure or a prediction of your results.
Start with medical assessment and an informed conversation
Suspected Alpha-Gal reactions need your physician or allergist's assessment. If you are considering SAAT alongside that care, request a consultation to discuss evidence, risks, visits and costs.