HOW HERBS CAN HELP TREAT ALLERGIES

Wouldn’t it be nice to use nature to combat nature? With TCM herbs, you may be able to find relief from your allergies using the gifts of the earth itself — gifts which sometimes feel like a curse as your nose is running and your eyes are itching.

A 2018 study in Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research, for example, reports that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) “appears to improve the quality of life of [allergic rhinitis] patients,” and CHM “was found to significantly enhance the quality of life compared with placebo.”

Furthermore, a 2018 meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials “suggests that CHM is more effective in treating allergic rhinitis in children compared with controls,” the authors, from Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, summarise. “CHM may also decrease the recurrence and level of immunoglobulin E, and improve symptoms such as sneezing, running nose, and nasal congestion, compared with controls.”

While the experienced practitioners at SITCM will work with people to help them develop personalized formulas, there are several herbal combinations that show particular promise. For example a 2017 review and meta analysis concluded that the “Chinese herbal medicine formula YPFS [Yu ping feng san] seems beneficial for adult [allergic rhinitis],” and called for additional randomized controlled trials.

Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan and You Gui Wan are two other commonly used formulas to resolve kidney-yang deficiencies, which can produce allergy symptoms. As published in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, one team of researchers used YouGui Soup to treat allergic rhinitis with kidney-yang deficiency and their results “showed that YouGui treatment had a remarkable effect on symptoms, and the total effective rate was 89.4%.”

Green tea fan? Researchers “have identified a compound in green tea that, in laboratory tests, blocks a key cell receptor involved in producing an allergic response.” Although further studies are needed to confirm its therapeutic effect on humans, Hirofumi Tachibana, the study’s chief investigator, argues, “If you have allergies, you should consider drinking it regularly.”

In addition to seasonal allergies, TCM herbs may have potential in helping with what causes food allergies because the healing comes from inside trying to fortify the immune system. The Food Allergy Herbal Formula (FAHF-2) is a Chinese herbal formula of which initial research shows significant reduction in peanut-induced anaphylaxis in mice, the ACAAI Integrative Medicine Committee reports.

Interested in digging deeper to bring relief to yourself and others? Enrol as a student at SITCM where you can work toward your goal of becoming a TCM practitioner. We offer a Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BTCM) which is accredited by TEQSA and approved by the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia (CMBA) for practitioner registration in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Dispensing and Chinese Herbal Medicine.

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