Principal Proposed Uses Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization (EPD)
is an alternative form of "allergy shot" originally popularized
in the UK in the 1960s by a man named Leonard McEwan. It
involves injection of very low levels of an allergen, combined
with the naturally occurring enzyme beta glucuronidase. EPD
proponents claim that this method gets to the root of allergy
problems, and produces permanent benefits by "retraining" the
immune system. Supposedly, it can successfully treat literally
hundreds of medical conditions, from rheumatoid arthritis to
epilepsy. However, the evidence used to support these assertions
falls considerably short of meaningful. For example, EPD
proponents cite "studies" that show EPD offers cure rates
approaching 85% for numerous illness. However, this body of
evidence is scientifically unreliable. The cited research was of
the type called an "open, uncontrolled" study. This means that
researchers (or practitioners) administered EPD to people and
then noted whether they saw benefit.