Xiu-Min Li1, Laverne Brown. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although corticosteroids and beta(2)-agonists are effective in managing asthma symptoms, a curative therapy for asthma is lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), used in Asia for centuries, is beginning to play a role in Western health care as a complementary and alternative medicine modality. There is increasing scientific evidence supporting the use of TCM for asthma treatment. OBJECTIVE: This review article discusses promising TCM interventions for asthma and explores their possible mechanisms of action. METHODS: We first reviewed 5 clinical studies of antiasthma TCM herbal remedies published between 2005 and 2007. We then summarized possible mechanisms underlying their effects on the basis of data in the original articles, published abstracts, and available databases. Possible mechanisms include anti-inflammation, inhibition of airway smooth muscle contraction, and immunomodulation. Research on TCM herbal therapy for food allergy is rare, and we therefore focused on the effect and mechanism of action of food allergy herbal formula-2 on a murine model of peanut allergy and preliminary clinical study results. CONCLUSION: Evidence from clinical studies supports beneficial effects of TCM herbal therapy on asthma. A number of mechanisms may be responsible for efficacy of these agents. Strong preclinical study data suggest the potential efficacy of food allergy herbal formula-2 for food allergy.
BACKGROUND: Although corticosteroids and beta(2)-agonists are effective in managing asthma symptoms, a curative therapy for asthma is lacking. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), used in Asia for centuries, is beginning to play a role in Western health care as a complementary and alternative medicine modality. There is increasing scientific evidence supporting the use of TCM for asthma treatment. OBJECTIVE: This review article discusses promising TCM interventions for asthma and explores their possible mechanisms of action. METHODS: We first reviewed 5 clinical studies of antiasthma TCM herbal remedies published between 2005 and 2007. We then summarized possible mechanisms underlying their effects on the basis of data in the original articles, published abstracts, and available databases. Possible mechanisms include anti-inflammation, inhibition of airway smooth muscle contraction, and immunomodulation. Research on TCM herbal therapy for food allergy is rare, and we therefore focused on the effect and mechanism of action of food allergy herbal formula-2 on a murine model of peanut allergy and preliminary clinical study results. CONCLUSION: Evidence from clinical studies supports beneficial effects of TCM herbal therapy on asthma. A number of mechanisms may be responsible for efficacy of these agents. Strong preclinical study data suggest the potential efficacy of food allergy herbal formula-2 for food allergy.
Authors: Stanley Szefler; Scott Weiss; James Tonascia; N Franklin Adkinson; Bruce Bender; Reuben Cherniack; Michele Donithan; H William Kelly; Joseph Reisman; Gail G Shapiro; Alice L Sternberg; Robert Strunk; Virginia Taggart; Mark Van Natta; Robert Wise; Margaret Wu; Robert Zeiger Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2000-10-12 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: X M Li; T F Zhang; C K Huang; K Srivastava; A A Teper; L Zhang; B H Schofield; H A Sampson Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2001-10 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: X M Li; C K Huang; T F Zhang; A A Teper; K Srivastava; B H Schofield; H A Sampson Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2000-10 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Julie Wang; Sangita P Patil; Nan Yang; Jimmy Ko; Joohee Lee; Sally Noone; Hugh A Sampson; Xiu-Min Li Journal: Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 6.347