The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

  • Recent Posts

  • Recent Comments

    Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang treatment of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis

    It’s one of the most commonly prescribed herbal formulas in Chinese medicine.

    This study shows it has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces symptoms.

    First, the details.

    • 60 patients allergic to house dust mite allergen confirmed by skin test and MAST test participated in a 3-month study.
      • Multiple radioallergosorbent (MAST) Test measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) and is used detect inhaled allergens (eg, pollens, molds, dust, mites, animal dander), foods, insect stings, and other allergens (eg, drugs).
    • The participants were randomly assigned to treatment with bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang or a non-effective formula, which served as a control.

    And, the results.

    • The nasal symptom scores improved significantly after bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang treatment.
    • There was no change in the other group.
    • Blood levels of IgE were significantly lower in the bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang group vs the control group.
    • Production of IL-4 (interleukin-1; stimulates immune system cells that fight disease and is involved in inflammation) was significantly stimulated vs the control group.
    • Production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2; controls inflammation) and leukotriene C4 (LTC4; controls hypersensitivity and bronchoconstriction) were significantly suppressed by bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang vs the control group.
    • COX-2 mRNA expression (involved in allergic and inflammatory disease) in IL-4-stimulated white blood cells was also significantly suppressed after bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang treatment.

    The bottom line
    A very detailed study by Taiwanese researchers, which should stimulate more research and perhaps a more prominent role for bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang in the allopathic treatment of allergic rhinitis.

    Bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang is also known as Tonify the Middle and Benefit Qi Formula.

    1/20/08 21:04 JR

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