Treating Allergies With Acupuncture or Herbal MedicineI have an increasing number of patients choosing to treat their allergies with acupuncture or herbal medicine instead of suffering or using conventional medicine. According to Chinese medical theory, allergies primarily result from a weakness in constitution, primarily in the digestive, respiratory, endocrine, and immune systems. Diet Research done with cats by an American physician named Francis Pottenger supports this position. Pottenger demonstrated that cats raised on poor quality diets consisting of processed foods and foods inappropriate for cats (e.g. pasteurized milk) developed allergies, and their offspring had even greater susceptibility to allergies. To learn about this, read Pottenger's Cats: A Study in Nutrition Deficient prenatal and infancy nutrition result in weakness of the digestive, respiratory, immune, and endocrine (particularly adrenal) functions that remain with an individual to some extent for life. Consumption of certain foods rich in lectins can cause increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut) which increases the antigen load on the immune system. Then, when you get exposed to pollen, dander, or other aerosol proteins, your immune system over responds, producing the symptoms of allergies. Once you acheive adulthood, you can alleviate and reduce your susceptibility to allergic reactions by using acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition. Acute and Chronic Treatment During the acute phase, when you are suffering the symptoms of sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, ithing eyes, and so on, acupuncture and herbal medicine treatment aims at reducing the inflammation and histamine response. If you have chronic, perennial allergies, you will benefit from an extended course of treatment with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and dietary changes to fortify your constitution and reduce the hypersensitivity of the immune system. Treatment focuses on fortifying the respiratory, endocrine (adrenal), and immune functions. Acupuncture Although acupuncture has not received much high quality research attention, a review study published in the Annals of Allergy Asthma and Immunology [2009 Apr;102(4):269-79; quiz 279-81, 307] reported: "Three RCTs failed to show superiority of acupuncture for treating or preventing symptoms for seasonal AR compared with placebo acupuncture. For perennial AR, 1 study reported favorable effects of acupuncture on a rhinitis symptoms score and 1 found positive results for a nasal symptoms score compared with placebo acupuncture (n = 152; standard mean difference, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.78; P = .006; heterogeneity: chi2 = 0.45, P = .50, I2 = 0%). Two RCTs compared acupuncture with oral pharmacologic medications. Their results were in favor of acupuncture. This means: 1. Placebo and real acupuncture appear equally effective for seasonal AR (allergic rhinitis). Most acupuncturists including myself are skeptical of "placebo acupuncture" because we have experience that what researchers call "placebo acupuncture" may provide enough stimulus to influence body functions. 2. For perennial rhinitis, acupuncture reduced symptoms by an average of 55% compared to placebo. 3. Acupuncture may provide more relief than pharmacological medicines without their associated side-effects. Herbal Medicine Studies on Chinese herbal remedies for allergic rhinitis (respiratory allergies) tend to show that they work well and have long term effects. For example:
RESULTS: The trial outcomes evaluated by four instruments showed a statistically significant improvement in some of the symptoms of AR, whereas others exhibited a positive trend that did not reach statistical significance. Followup 1 year after completion of the trial suggested that benefit of the treatment persisted. A pilot dose-response study showed both half and full strengths were effective. Total serum immunoglobulin E was reduced after the herbal treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the Biminne formulation is effective in treatment of perennial AR. Its mode of action is unknown. Treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis using Shi-Bi-Lin, a Chinese herbal formula. This study used Cang Er Zi San, the basic formula in the herbal combinations I most frequently use for rhinitis and sinusitis. "AIM OF THE STUDY: Shi-Bi-Lin (SBL) is modified from the classic formula Cang-Er-Zi-San which has been used to treat chronic rhinitis, paranasal sinusitis and allergic rhinitis by herbal practitioners. The present study aimed at patients with moderate to severe perennial allergic rhinitis. SBL which has been shown effective in treating a guinea-pig model of allergic rhinitis, was evaluated for its efficacy and safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 126 allergic rhinitis patients were recruited in a double-blind randomized control trial. Half of the patients received SBL capsules and the others half received placebo for 4 weeks. Symptoms scores, physician's evaluation, nose examination, quality of life, adverse effects, serum cytokines were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: SBL was found to be safe and effective in relieving some symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis, improving the nose condition, and enhancing some domains of quality of life when compare to placebo, (p<0.05). In the 2 weeks follow up after treatment completion, the SBL enjoyed a prolongation of symptom control (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: SBL relieved symptoms of nose blockage among patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, and some aspects of the quality of life were also improved. The improvement was sustained for at least 2 weeks after treatment. No serious adverse events were encountered." |
. Although done on cats, the same principles apply to humans. Pottenger showed that allergies result from deficient developmental nutrition or toxic components found in processed foods. 