Abstract | PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The trend of increasing prevalence of allergic diseases in westernized countries poses a significant health problem and lasting cures for them are often not available. Many suffering from allergies and asthma seek alternative therapies including traditional Chinese medicines, fueling a surge in western interest in traditional Chinese herbal remedies. Information regarding the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese herbal remedies is scant but studies appearing in English language journals are on the rise. This review summarizes the important publications focusing on traditional Chinese medicine therapies for allergic disorders in the year 2005. RECENT FINDINGS: Very few studies describing well controlled clinical trials testing traditional Chinese herbal therapies for allergic diseases appeared in PubMed in 2005. Food allergy specifically does not seem to be a disorder traditionally recognized in the traditional Chinese medicine literature. Most in-vitro studies for anti-allergic properties of traditional Chinese herbs and formulas focus on mast cell inhibition. SUMMARY:
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Authors | Xiu-Min Li, Kamal Srivastava |
Journal | Current opinion in otolaryngology & head and neck surgery
(Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg)
Vol. 14
Issue 3
Pg. 191-6
(Jun 2006)
ISSN: 1531-6998 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 16728899
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
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Topics |
- Asthma
(drug therapy)
- Food Hypersensitivity
(drug therapy)
- Humans
- Hypersensitivity
(drug therapy, therapy)
- Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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