Three Knolls Media

Dr. David J. Friedman

 

by Kevin Boerup

 

 

For Dr. David J. Friedman, a middle linebacker turned immunologist, defense isn’t just a strategy on the football field — it’s the foundation of how he views the human immune system.

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From his days in medical school battling personal allergies and asthma, Dr. Friedman has developed a deeply personal, evidence-based approach to allergy and immunology care. He’s not interested in treating symptoms at face value or rushing patients through a standard protocol. Instead, he builds immunity from the inside out, challenging assumptions, questioning the status quo, and helping patients train their immune systems to respond — not overreact.

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His Tucson practice, “Your Opportunity for Better Immunity,” offers something few allergists do: time, education, and a layered understanding of how the immune system can be optimized, not just managed.

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Where Modern Medicine Went Sideways

One of the cornerstones of Dr. Friedman’s practice is a radical (but historically grounded) view on how we introduce allergens and vaccines into the body.

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He likens these immune sentinels to a middle linebacker reading the offense. “They determine whether something crossing the barrier is a run or a pass,” he says. “Is it dangerous or benign? Your body needs that training.”

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“Why do we continue to inject some vaccines into muscles when the pathogen crosses the body through skin and mucosal surfaces?” he asks. The architecture of the skin and mucus membranes (in the football analogy) is totally different versus the “line of scrimmage” that the muscles’ defense face.  Totally different. Injecting muscles for flu, covid, and RSV takes out many of our defensive players (like the linemen and linebackers) leaving only a safety on the defense.

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Friedman advocates for re-engaging the body’s natural immune intelligence — using intradermal allergy shots for  aeroallergens like grass or ragweed, methods that harness the rich network of dendritic cells in the skin.

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A Functional, Whole-Body Lens

Dr. Friedman’s approach goes beyond simply administering treatments. He spends time teaching patients how to make their immune systems more “trainable.” That includes improving gut health with dietary fiber, correcting vitamin D deficiencies, and incorporating fermented or cultured foods that promote probiotic diversity.

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While probiotics in capsule form are often overhyped, he says, the immune benefits of a healthy gut microbiome are not. He encourages patients to consider dietary changes that fuel their immunity — like increasing resistant starches and natural fiber — rather than focusing solely on what to avoid.

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He also isn’t shy about taking a critical view of headline-driven medicine. “I’ve seen patients panic over clickbait articles about melatonin or fiber because the headlines don’t match the science,” he says. “My job is to read past the headline and apply what’s actually useful.”

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No One-Size-Fits-All

Whether it’s environmental allergies, food allergies, or chronic inflammation, Friedman’s treatments aren’t cookie-cutter. We offer different routes to teach the immune system to appropriately protect one’s health.

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“I’m not just treating the allergen — I’m treating the person,” he says. “The goal is not lifelong avoidance. It’s helping the body learn to tolerate.”

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He also believes in exposing patients to low-level environmental challenges, not shielding them from every possible trigger. “Ultra-hygiene,” he warns, “can do more harm than good for a developing immune system.”

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In his office, he drinks from an unwashed glass of homemade kombucha — not as a gimmick, but as a live example of healthy microbial exposure. “We’ve over-sanitized our way into trouble,” he says.

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A Different Kind of Doctor

Dr. Friedman’s approach is not always embraced by the broader medical establishment. Some doctors see him as a “disrupter,” and he’s faced pushback for questioning conventional vaccine delivery methods or recommending treatments like Metformin for asthma — supported by medical studies, but outside typical protocols.

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But for patients who’ve been bounced around between providers without real answers, his method is a breath of fresh air. “I see people with complex cases — rashes, recurring sinus infections, food allergies — and help them not just manage but improve,” he says.

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The results speak for themselves: his patients see fewer asthma flares, improved sleep, better tolerance to allergens, and — in some cases — the freedom for a grandparent to visit their cat-owning children without a wheezing fit.

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A Silver Lining

Building a body with a better immunity repsonse involves several factors. Dr. Friedman practices what he preaches. Building stronger, healthier immune barriers, also known as silver linings, combined with the body’s gut health produce a smarter immune defense team.

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Bottom Line: Build a Smarter Defense

At the heart of Dr. Friedman’s philosophy is this: “You can’t control the world around you, but you can control how your body responds to it. His practice is about empowering patients with knowledge, choices, and strategies to make their immune system resilient.

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You Deserve Relief

He doesn’t promise quick fixes. He offers something better — a path to long-term immune health that’s thoughtful, grounded in science, and tailored to the individual.

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Or, as he puts it simply, “I help patients build a defense strong enough to enjoy life, whatever comes at ya.”

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Schedule Your Relief Today

Call the office at 520-492-3271 to schedule an appointment today.