The Allergy Pattern

Purpose of the Technique:

“A periodically emotional state always appears together with a physical posture and a vegetative state that had previously been conditioned. Consequently, when an individual emotional complex is resolved, a specific individual body habit is simultaneously resolved.” – Moshe Feldenkrais This NLP format was developed by Robert Dilts. The pattern is designed to reduce or eliminate allergies. Please remember that NLP does not claim to cure allergies. NLP Master Trainer and creator of this pattern, Robert Dilts, worked with numerous people to develop a strategy to reduce allergy symptoms.

Step 1

Imagine being exposed to the allergen…
Recall what it's like to be exposed to the allergen. Try to elicit some of the symptoms. Find out which submodality changes lead to a change in the intensity of the symptoms.

Step 2

Anchor a symptom-free state!
Reach a state that is dissociated from the allergic state and anchor it. A good way to do this:

• Relax a bit, tilt your head and eyes upward. Now imagine there is a glass wall between you and the allergen. Visualize yourself floating upward, so you can observe yourself from above.
• When you’re free of the allergic response and truly relaxed, create a second, different anchor.

Step 3

Enhance the anchor!
Imagine a completely symptom-free state. Visualize the ideal way you would like to respond to the substance you’re usually allergic to. Imagine it in detail and describe it. Picture it from an associated perspective. Use the submodalities you identified—they are the key to building a new response pattern.

Step 4

Anchor various counterexamples based on your experiences!

• Associate into a memory.
• Recall a real memory where you were close to something very similar to the allergen, but didn’t experience symptoms. For example, if you’re allergic to cats, you might recall a clean, treated rabbit fur or a stuffed animal that didn’t trigger symptoms.
• To help break your frame around the allergy, do something that shows your immune system can tolerate the substance you’re supposedly allergic to. You can do this by thinking of substances that you believe are toxic but don’t trigger an allergic reaction. For someone allergic to perfume, this might be the smell of gasoline. (*Note: We strongly advise not to smell gasoline in real life—this is for mental visualization only.*)
• It may also help to find substances that are potentially even “more toxic” than your allergen, but to which your body has developed a more appropriate immune response.
• Make sure the physical state (physiology) you observe is appropriate before setting an anchor. It should match the desired state.
• Are there any ecological concerns or secondary gains connected to the allergic response?
• You can improve this state further by using a re-imprint, reframing, change of personal history, or by combining your three anchors with the resource.

Step 5

Fire the dissociated anchor!
Fire Anchor 1 (the dissociated state anchor), and have the person imagine being near or in direct contact with the allergen. Simultaneously, fire Anchor 2 and Anchor 3 for the desired state and the counterexample. Hold the anchors long enough to observe a shift in the person’s physiology away from the allergic response.

Step 6

Test
If there is no medical risk, expose the person to a small amount of the allergen. Gradually increase the amount. Repeat this procedure as needed until no allergic response is observed. Before each increase, activate Anchor 1 (the dissociated state anchor), followed by Anchor 2 and Anchor 3 (desired state and counterexample). You can amplify the new response using the critical submodalities identified in Step 1. Ensure the person stays in control of how they interact with the allergen. If there are any concerns, consult a medical professional. Always work within safe boundaries and eliminate risk. This pattern can have lasting effects. In some cases, it may be helpful to repeat the process to maintain the effect.