Food Allergy "Diet" and supplementation

[ctmartin]

Hi, Everyone!

I just got back from a "meet the doctor" evening with a local pediatrician (not an allergist) who practices "integrative medicine."  While I haven't spoken in-depth with her about my daughter's specific situation (she is allergic to PN/sesame), she seems to have a protocol by which she "treats" food allergies through diet and supplementation (chinese herbal medicine) with the aim of strengthening the immune system.  Not sure what the result is supposed to be in regards to this treatment and her particular allergies (I don't think she is claiming a total cure ... maybe just a lessening of symptoms or raising of the threshold, although my daughter's threshold is pretty high anyway), but before I make an initial consultation with her I wanted to see if anyone out there has any experience with this or is currently undergoing "treatment" in this way?

Thanks!!

[LinksEtc]

There are a few threads on Chinese Herbal Medicine:

Chinese Herbal Medicine Study - Mt. Sinai

Chinese herbal formula for asthma and food allergy: looks promising

Re: Two more trial participants needed for FAHF-2 in Chicago!

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I would personally only go to an allergist for something like this.

[CMdeux]

One thing to note about the truly traditional Chinese formula (as opposed to the FAHF-2 which has been reformulated to exclude unnecessary components for U.S. trials)...

is that one of the herbal components has been linked to liver toxicity when taken long-term. 

That's not an unusual thing in traditional Chinese (or Ayruvedic) medical pharmacopaea, incidentally. 

I'm always a bit wary of practitioners who prominently expound "holistic" practice for chronic life-threatening conditions.  While in the strictest sense, that is of course the only way that management can actually work... they seem to be based more in a belief-based philosophy that the body can "heal itself" if "supportive" means are provided.    I (again, just personally) really don't buy into that kind of thinking as a general rule, because it's not evidence-based, and IS frequently associated with dubious medical practices from an ethical standpoint.

There is no evidence that any kind of IgE-mediated activity of an atopic nature is associated in any way with "weak" immune function.  Period.   Thus the phrase "strengthening the immune system" relative to allergies is a big huge, bright red flag.

There is very little causative/mechanistic research which supports immune modulation of any kind having a real and positive impact on IgE-mediated allergies.  And it isn't for lack of trying to find one, believe me.  Probiotics?  Hygeine hypothesis?  Supplements of any and all types? Deliberate TH1/TH2 switching?  Dietary modifications? All have come up missing that actual mechanistic "this actually works better than placebo" bit of things.


Even those which HAVE shown efficacy on a clinical side (Xolair, FAHF-2, etc) tend to have a LOT of unanswered questions associated, and often come with steep (and hidden) costs long-term.

Because the underlying mechanisms for "why does a person sensitize and anaphylax to a harmless protein to begin with?" are not very well understood, the "cure" for that is also elusive.  You can't fix what you don't fundamentally understand, other than by dumb luck, basically.  That's the larger problem facing allopaths and holistic practitioners alike-- hypotheses are great, but they are little more than educated (or not-so-educated) guesses at this point in time. 


If I were to work with such a practitioner, I'd ask what s/he was basing that kind of practice upon.  Is it personal belief?  Anecdotal patient care and history?  Is there any research that backs it up?    I really like the ideals behind integrative practice, and I do think that there is something to be gained from looking at a patient from a whole, lifestyle-inclusive, mind-body perspective...  it is just SO unfortunate that this kind of practice draws in such an abundance of practitioners that are unethical or so credible that they don't seem to see anything wrong with applying the placebo effect even when there are clear medical risks for doing so... or worse, don't seem to even notice the difference.     I mean, it's fine to THINK that taking echinacea and exercising will help protect you as much as a flu shot... but it is NOT fine to tell your high-risk patients such a thing if you have M.D. after your name.

[ctmartin]

Thanks for your replies!  CM-you and I are on the same page, I think, but seeing your response has helped me clarify my own feelings.  I am torn because overall I do tend toward "alternative" medicine (between my two girls, ages 7 and 4, we have filled TWO prescriptions for antibiotics, and even that, I feel, was excessive).  We basically try to stay healthy through proper nutrition, and if we do get sick, we just let our bodies do what they are meant to do, without much else involved.  So, I definitely agree with the theoretical *approach* this doctor espouses ...

There was a time shortly after my daughter was diagnosed with FA (almost 6 years ago ... can't believe it!) that I really thought I could do something about it.  First we started with the gurus (Mt. Sinai, Duke), then, and I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, I even tried NAET! (ugh ... felt totally silly as my daughter lifted bottles filled with sesame during the muscle "testing"  )

Lately, though, I have simply accepted it as a lifelong condition.  We faced our biggest fear last year (my daughter's 1st ana rx), and emerged stronger.  But that ole feeling has started to creep up again ...  guilt for idly sitting by, while somewhere out there perhaps is something  that would help her overcome this.

But I agree ... the research and theories are not definitive ... heck, there are some camps that believe that allergies are caused by an OVER active immune system, so strengthening, in that case, might even be counterintuitive.  SO ... while this pediatrician is an actual medical doctor, I am not sure I want to go down the path of lots of testing for vitamin deficiencies, etc., which insurance won't cover, I am sure,  and which I am certain will turn up all sorts of paths for potential "treatments"  (it almost sounds too NAET-y to me!). 

Just wanted to see if there was anyone who had a real life success story with something like this, before I started to seriously consider it.

[twinturbo]

Run from that doctor and never look back.

Look, I've been on herbs during pregnancy, most of my family has used it at some point but we don't do it blindly or stupidly. We have the ability to judge competency based on their credentials in China and in Chinese. We can read the labels and verify the ingredients ourselves. We also have primary care physicians and seek jobs largely in part of rockin' cadillac health insurance plans.

Chinese medicine is good for some stuff when it's a good problem for Chinese herbs in the first place AND you have verified the creds of the doctor and his supplies. You owe yourself and whomever you would seek herbs for the same due diligence as you would for any specialist you'd demand the equivalent board certification for.

Don't endanger yourself because it's a Western medicine doctor saying it's ok, don't fall for anyone dispensing herbs just because they're Asian. On the life threatening stuff you gotta place your bets carefully. I'm down with herbs, I'm down with integrated medicine but I'm no less cautious about it than I am using any other drug or medical advice.

For the record there are a lot of claims out there. Don't fall for it, especially in light of the fact that we have the benefit of a formula going through the rigors of the FDA approval process initiated by an individual who is a practicing board certified specialist in immunology and Chinese medicine equivalent to the quality of Mt. Sinai.

There's only one process I know of to obtain FAHF-2 that is currently under trial without participating in the trial and I went through it personally with the Mt. Sinai developer.

Be. Careful.