Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

CAM Therapies Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique Acupuncture Chinese Medicine Chiropractic Clinical Ecology Homoeopathy Probiotics

 

Ginkgo Biloba

This herb is used for many different illnesses.  Traditional Chinese Medicine holds that this herb is helpful in suppressing wheezing and expelling phlegm.  Scientific study has shown that the active ingredient in this herb may antagonize platelet activating factor.  Most recently Xi-yan Lian reports Ginkgo Biloba's inhibiting effects on platelet activating factor in rats. Platelet activating factor has been shown to indirectly induce bronchoconstriction, one of the mechanisms for wheezing found in asthmatics.  Therefore, it is possible for this herb to benefit some asthma sufferers.  Like any drug, however, it is not without its side-effects (nausea, headache and diarrhea, to name a few). There has been extensive case reports by traditional Chinese doctors on the herb's success; however, it will be interesting to see if these results carry over to human trials.

Traditional Chinese Medicine views allergic symptoms as relating to the Wind. By this it is meant that the symptoms come and go rapidly thus make the individual wanting to avoid windy situations. This Wind coexists with a Protective (Wei Qi) deficiency. This means the individual has a weaken ability to resist colds and infections. Due to this deficiency, and the propensity towards suffering from the effects of the wind, these individual suffers from allergies during the Wind seasons of spring and fall. Therefore, the principle is to treat the whole person. Individual assessment of weaknesses and organ deficiencies determine exactly what treatment the person will need. Most commonly, Chinese Medicine finds Spleen, Kidney, and Lung signs that make the patient more vulnerable to the Wind. With appropriate therapy, the stronger organs will help to keep the Wind from causing severe symptoms. Treatments often include dietary modification, the use of specifically chosen herbal formulas, and acupuncture. There is not scientific evidence to support this line of diagnosis but science is attempting to determine the effectiveness of some of the modalities of treatment.

 

 

Ma Huang

This commonly used chinese herbal medicine is also known as ephedra. Ephedra, whether from a 'natural herb' or from a laboratory, is a compound -- a drug -- that activates the sympathetic nervous system.  By engaging these nerves, ephedra has the effect of opening airways and reducing secretions.  However, this is a very non-specific treatment that also has effects throughout the entire body, including the brain and the heart.  Ephedra, an amphetamine-like drug, has recently been linked to deaths in young athletes. On February 6, 2004, the FDA banned the sale of products containing ephedra. Therefore, if Ma Huang is somehow obtained, the individual must use extreme caution as side effects have been reported in seemingly healthy individuals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

ASHMI

In the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Li et al.  asthma herbal medicine intervention  (ASHMI)has shown benefit in mouse studies of asthma. Their herbal recipe is a simplified version of a 14 herbbased traditional Chinese medication used to treat asthma in a Beijing hospital. The key ingredients are Ling-Zhi (Ganoderma lucidum), Ku-Shen (Radix Sophora flavescentis) and Gan-Cao (Radix Glycyrrhiza uralensis). They have found that ASHMI significantly improves the lung functionin patients with moderate to severe asthma.  Upon further study they found that the results were comparable to those achieved with steroid drug therapy.  As Dr Xiu-Min Li stated, "This is the first well-controlled study in which an anti-asthma Chinese herbal medicine has been found to be as effective as a corticosteroid drug."

 

The study, published in September 2005, was conducted on over 90 patients who were given either oral ASHMI, prednisone, or placebo. After four weeks, the ASHMI and prednisone groups showed significant improvement in lung function. While there was a slightly greater improvement in the prednisone group, it was argued that the ASHMI preparation does not have the Adrenal side-effects.  This may be a good completment or potential alternative for those with asthma.

 

 

 

 

 

FAHF-2

In January of 2005, Srivastava et al. published an article in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology stating a simplified formula from 2 Chinese herbs is effective in the treatment of anaphylaxis. This preparation, Chinese herbal medicine formula (FAHF-2), was given to mice with peanut allergies. In those mice that received the twice daily treatment for seven weeks, the peanut specific IgE levels were considerably reduced, the body temperature was increased, and the plasma histamine levels were decreased when compared to the control mice. Therefore, it was concluded that the FAHF-2 treatment completely protected themice from anaphylaxis.

These results were attributed to suppression of Th2 lymphocyte responses to the FAHF-2 and the reduction of anti-peanut IgE antibody in the blood by FAHF-2. Further research suggests that a simplified formula is equally effective, and that the protective effects of treatment persist for at least five weeks after treatment is discontinued. Srivastava et al also reported that FAHF-2 has no obvious toxicity, even at doses well above the therapeutically effective dose. It will be important to see if similar effects are found to occur in humans. If the results are the same, FAHF-2 may be an effective treatment for persons with peanut allergy.