Allergies affect over 50 million Americans each year. Not only are they an annoyance, but they can also be detrimental to one’s health. While there are already many different types of medications available for suppressing allergy symptoms, research is being done to find safe ways to prevent and possibly cure allergies altogether. In particular, recent studies are looking at using traditional Chinese medicine to treat food allergies as well as eczema, an itchy skin rash that can develop in the presence of allergens.
Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the oldest forms of pharmaceuticals, using herbs and other physical practices to remedy health problems. The primary herb formula analyzed in the study was Wu Mei Wan, a blend of ten herbs usually used to alleviate parasitic infections in the intestine and other gastrointestinal disorders. The researchers first altered the formula to remove any toxic elements, then purified the compounds to concentrate active ingredients and remove any non-medicinal components. Researchers named the new compound FAHF-2.
Traditional Chinese medicine may provide the key to preventing allergies!
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FAHF-2 was shown to protect mice with peanut allergies from oral anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic reaction) up to 6 months after treatment. Because of the promising results, researchers were able to test human patients using a further purified compound called “EBF2”. This compound was given to patients paired with oral immunotherapy, where a patient is fed increased amounts of an allergen to increase the allergen dosage that can be tolerated, and omalizumab, a medicine mainly used to treat asthma. When compared to a control in which patients were not given EBF2, patients had better results; after two years, the study found that patients became unresponsive to allergens after treatment with EBF2, meaning they no longer had allergic reactions to previously triggering irritants.
Allergies occur because allergens cause the immune system to make IgE, an antibody that attaches to and activates immune cells called mast cells and basophils. These immune cells in turn initiate an immune response, resulting in an allergic reaction. Researchers believe the reason FAHF-2 and EBF2 can reduce allergies is because they suppress IgE, mast cell, and basophil activation. For example, in FAHF-2, a compound called berberine inhibits the production of IgE by up to 50%. With fewer IgE antibodies in circulation, immune cells are less likely to be activated, thus preventing an allergic reaction.
As research on alternative forms of medicine continues, researchers are finding new compounds that are effective for helping symptoms of illnesses in ways that have not been done before. By using the latest medical achievements along with ancient medicines, scientists have opened the door to newer treatments.
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