RE: Allergic conditions and modern pharm

[Guest guest]

Trevor,

 

 

 

I think this illustrates my point. There is no doubt that these medicinals

are helpful in chronic allergic conditions especially with qi xu. However,

it seems to go against CM principles to use them for (just any) acute

situations. Since these acute presentations are really where my question

lies, I will further clarify my question.

 

1) Is there any reference (besides modern research saying they are good for

allergic conditions) that supports these sour medicinals use in acute

situations.

 

 

 

2) For those that said they frequently use them, how do you justify this? Is

it purely on western pharmacology? The puzzling thing to me is a statement

like this herb is good for " allergic conditions " -

 

 

 

When one studies western medicine there are a whole host of mechanisms that

may contribute to the cause and the treatment of allergies. There are many

pathways that one may pharmacologically address to inhibit allergies.

Histamine, of course, is only one mechanism. Do we know what the mechanism

these herbs are acting on? Do we just throw them in because they are " anti

allergic " ??? Do we abandon basic CM principles to add a *new* western usage.

(BTW- the original rx was using these for any allergy acute, chronic, xu or

not) And finally, is it proven that the " anti allergy " effect (whatever that

may be) of these sours is any better than the seemingly more intelligent

choices such as bai ji li?

 

 

 

I find modern pharmacology interesting but severely limited as presented in

many books. Herbs will get attributed some function anti-inflammatory,

anti-allergic, cholesterol lowering, or whatever. However as mentioned above

there are so many pathways i.e. for inflammation. Does it inhibit cox-2,

cox-1? Does the cholesterol lowering drug inhibit the enzyme, HMG-CoA

reducatase? Does wu mei's ability to treat allergies just best for foods (as

alon mentions). Does it affect IgE, IgG? Really this is the information that

needs to be emphasized in classes and texts for it to really be useful.

Unless of course we just want a cursory overview. I think it is bordering on

malpractice to just throw herbs into formulas with such a general

understanding of the mechanisms. However, with such a practice, we end up

with superficial WM perspective and a compromised CM approach. Put this

together and what do we get, hhhmmm modern china?

 

 

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

-Jason

 

 

 

 

 

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On Behalf Of Trevor Erikson

Sunday, June 01, 2008 11:14 PM

 

Re: Allergic conditions

 

 

 

Jason,

 

Mazin Al Khafaji uses wu mei and wu wei zi quite alot for allergic

conditions, usually for allergic rhinnitis and uriticaria. Mazin really

stressed though that these sour medicinals are better used when the

lung Qi is very weak and needs to be astringed. Usually these

medicinals are used in the later stages when most of the wind and or

blood heat (yes blood heat can be a common cause of allergic rhinnitus,

ie. large doses of mu dan pi) have been cleared. Then the sour

medicinals can be used to consolidate the exterior for better long term

results.

 

On the other hand, sometimes when you have tried everything else, the

addition of these sour medicinals can be the make or break ingredients

for a successful outcome.

 

Trevor

 

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