Insights & Discussion
Traditional Chinese Medicine, specifically acupuncture, demonstrates promising effects in managing allergic diseases like allergic rhinitis and asthma.
The methodology for this paper involved an extensive review of recent publications, predominantly those presenting randomized controlled trials, that assess the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in treating allergies. The focus was on the two most popular treatment modalities in TCM, Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Publications detailing the mechanisms by which TCM impacts allergic diseases, as well as literature in Chinese, were also examined.
The analysis of the results showed an increasing trend of using TCM, specifically Chinese herbal medicine, to manage allergic diseases. However, literature evidence was found lacking to conclusively establish its effectiveness. On the other hand, acupuncture showed more definitive evidence of its utility, especially when treating allergic rhinitis and asthma, either as a standalone intervention or alongside conventional western medication. Its effectiveness in treating atopic eczema and urticaria was less clear, nonetheless, it's recommended to be incorporated into the treatment of specific allergic diseases on a personalized basis.
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Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) improved AD symptoms but had no significant impact on patients' quality of life or IgE levels suggesting CHM's potential as an AD treatment with further research.
2022 Frontiers in Pharmacology Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for atopic dermatitis: Evidence from eight high-quality randomized placebo-controlled trials Cai X, Sun X, Liu L, Zhou Y, Hong S, Wang J, et al.
Systematic Review Eczema
CHM showed benefits in improving AD symptoms, such as itching and skin appearance, compared to placebos. However, it didn't significantly affect patients' quality of life or IgE levels. CHM was safe, with only minor side effects. These findings suggest CHM could be a useful treatment for AD, but more standard guidelines are needed due to variations in herbal ingredients and dosages in different studies.
Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis, significantly improving symptoms without needing relief medication or causing side effects.
2022 The American Journal of Chinese Medicine Effect of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Xue CC, English R, Zhang JJ, Da Costa C, Li CG
Randomised Controlled Trial Acupuncture
The study was a two-phase, single-blind, crossover clinical trial where randomly assigned subjects, split into two groups, were treated with either real or sham acupuncture. All participants received treatment thrice a week for four weeks straight before being flipped onto the other form of treatment for another four uninterrupted weeks without a washout period. The real acupuncture treatment plan was guided by Chinese Medicine Theory. The subjects' responses were measured at various stages - before, during, and after the trials.
In the study, significant improvement was marked in the subjective symptom scores, both nasal and non-nasal, between the group that received the genuine acupuncture and the sham treatment. It was noteworthy, however, that no marked differences were found in the relief medication scores between the two groups. There were also no recorded side effects from either the real or sham acupuncture groups. This suggests that acupuncture proves to be a safe and effective alternative for managing Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis.
Honey, traditionally a food item, exhibits therapeutic properties—anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and wound healing—showing promise in managing and preventing allergic diseases, as supported by scientific evidence and clinical studies.
2021 Frontiers in Pharmacology The Potential use of Honey as a Remedy for Allergic Diseases: A Mini Review Aw Yong PY, Islam F, Harith HH, Israf DA, Tan JW, Tham CL
Review Article Allergy Asthma Eczema
This mini review explores honey's transition from a conventional food to a potential treatment for allergic diseases. Emphasis is placed on its diverse therapeutic properties, particularly its ability to alleviate pathological conditions and regulate inflammatory cell recruitment in cellular and animal models.
Scientific evidence and clinical studies suggest that honey holds potential in relieving allergic symptoms, offering a promising treatment or preventive approach for allergic diseases such as anaphylaxis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. The review provides valuable insights for considering honey in clinical settings for allergic disease management.
Allergic rhinitis in children, according to traditional Chinese medicine, is interrelated with the functionality of lungs, spleen, and kidney and can be treated with combined Western and Chinese herbal medicines.
2021 Translational Pediatrics Current status of Chinese herbal medicine to treat allergic rhinitis in children: from the perspective of Western medicine—a narrative review Liang J, Gu Q
Review Article
The methodology of this study was based on a review of both traditional Chinese and Western medical theories and practices. Chinese theory postulates that BiQiu, or allergic rhinitis in children, is primarily related to a congenital deficiency in vital qi, dysfunction of the lungs inhibiting nose orifices, and a deficiency of spleen and kidney leading to lung qi deficiency. The review looked into herbal monomers and compounds of Chinese herbal medicines as potential treatments for allergic rhinitis, while also considering the impact of external factors like the cold and inadequate diet.
The review highlighted some of the effects and shortcomings of Chinese herbal medicines used alongside Western medicines for treating allergic rhinitis. Particularly, it focussed on how the unique perceptions of life science of the human body from both Eastern and Western cultures can be brought together for a comprehensive method of treatment. The study also outlined future trends of research to enhance this combined treatment approach.
Gui Zhi Decoction and associated formulas significantly improve the effectiveness of allergic rhinitis treatments when used alone or combined with Western medicine.
2021 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Efficacy and Safety of Guizhi Decoction AssociatedFormulas for Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review Yang S, Fu Q, Deng H, Wu J, Zhang Q, Wang L, et al.
Systematic Review Gui Zhi Gui Zhi Tang
The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Guizhi Decoction and associated formulas for treating allergic rhinitis. It included a comprehensive search of seven online databases for studies published until February 23, 2020. Each selected study's quality was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. The research used systematic reviews based on the Cochrane systematic review method, facilitated by RevMan 5.3 Software. Interventions in the study varied from using Guizhi Decoction and associated formulas alone to combining them with Western medicine, acupoint-based therapy, Chinese patent medicine, and placebo control.
Data from 23 trials involving 2281 participants were collected and systematically analysed. The results showed that Guizhi Decoction and associated formulas, either alone or in conjunction with Western medicine or acupoint-based therapies, exhibited higher efficacy compared to Western medicine alone. The study also reported that adding nasal traditional Chinese medicine fumigation therapy to the Guizhi Decoction formulations could further improve treatment effectiveness. Adverse events were primarily mild and primarily associated with the control groups that used Western medicine alone, requiring no specific medical intervention.
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