Chinese Herbal Formula to Protect Against Food Allergy Ready for Phase 2 FDA Trials

-
One of the most exciting recent developments in the treatment of food allergy is the development of Food Allergy Herbal Formula 2 (FAHF-2), a combination of nine herbs from traditional Chinese medicine.  The therapy is based on a traditional formula called Wu Mei Wan (used for gastrointestinal parasitosis), but has since been modified to remove some ingredients and add others, in an effort to improve the safety profile and increase effectiveness for food allergy. Wu Mei Wan is one of the classic herbal formulas taught to students of traditional Chinese medicine.  Over time, it has become apparent that the active ingredients may have utility beyond the original application.


Previous animal studies have demonstrated that FAHF-2 not only protects severely peanut-allergic mice from reactions during peanut challenge, but also that the beneficial effects may last for up to 6 months after discontinuing treatment.  Phase 1 human trials in the United States have shown promise that FAHF-2 will be both safe and effective as protection against severe food-allergy reactions, but longer trials with a larger number of subjects are needed to prove long-term safety and efficacy of the therapy.

To this end, the researchers are now enrolling patients in the phase 2 clinical trial.  This study will be conducted at Mount Sinai and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute (Little Rock). Participants, aged 12-45, with allergy to peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame, may be eligible. For more information, please write to: pediatricfoodallergyresearch@gmail.com.

What is most exciting to me about FAHF-2 is that it presents a scenario where we are utilizing a rigorous evidenced-based approach to evaluating traditional medicine's safety and effectiveness.  It is my hope that this scientific approach can be used to bring other alternative therapies into the mainstream, and create a truly complementary approach to healing.

My expectation is that pediatric trials will be next on the horizon.  This is good news, because the heart of a parent is where the deep-rooted desire for a safe treatment for severe food allergy is most fervent. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 27, 2010 at 9:39 AM

    When you say, "on the horizon," can you be a bit more specific? I'm not too familiar with the time-frame for drug trials, and this one is so promising at this point, I can't help but want to know more and more. What happens after Phase 2, if it's successful? How long do these trials usually take? Thank you so much for your insight!
    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sakina Bajowala, MDOctober 8, 2010 at 1:30 PM

    Amy, thanks for your question. Unfortunately, I think we're talking about years, rather than months. If you would like your child to have access to this treatment earlier, your best bet is contacting the researchers and seeing if your kiddo qualifies for inclusion in a study.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JenniferFebruary 6, 2012 at 11:27 AM

    This is really exciting! I wonder how if will help children that have eczema reactions to food allergies. Can't wait to see how it goes. I'll promote the clinical study on my blog.

    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to comment on this blog's posts! Let's keep the discussion engaging and free of frivolous advertising or vulgarity. It's a family show, folks!

Popular posts from this blog

The Grotesquely Swollen Apple of My Eye- What to do When Bugs Attack Your Child's Face

-
Image
Son #2 woke up this morning looking like a streetfighter! Dramatic swelling of the eye(s) such as this can occur for a variety of reasons: 1. Allergic reaction to ingested food or drug (generally affects both eyes) 2. Direct contact with environmental allergen or food allergen (can affect one or both eyes) 3. Hereditary or acquired angioedema (can affect one or both eyes) 4. Injury (usually affects one eye) 5. Low protein levels (generally affects both eyes) 6. Infection (generally affects one eye) 7. Insect bite (can affect one or both eyes) In this case, my little one endured a mosquito bite at the outer corner of his left eye yesterday afternoon.  It was mildly swollen at the time, and became progressively worse as the night wore on. Does this mean he has a mosquito allergy? Actually, no more than anyone else.  Certain areas of skin, such as around the eyes and on the lips, are more loosely attached to underlying tissues and muscles than skin elsewhere on the body.  Thi
Read more

Why Drug Allergies Matter (Or Why Penicillin Allergy is Responsible for My Son's Lopsided Neck)

-
Image
My 6 year son old just got over a rite of passage - strep throat and scarlet fever. Unfortunately, before we could even celebrate his recovery, I noticed a swelling on the left side of his neck. It was red and tender, and it was GROWING. The pediatrician in me worried, "Damn. Lymphadenitis (infected lymph node)". No sooner had we finished one course of antibiotics than we were onto another, and the side effects were bad enough to keep him out of school for another three days. Why did my munchkin suffer so? My answer: Drug allergy. Group A streptococcal bacteria (the cause of strep throat and scarlet fever) is remarkably sensitive to penicillin. Penicillin is the first choice treatment for strep throat, and has been proven to reduce the risk of developing rheumatic fever, a post-infectious complication which can result in chronic heart disease. Problem is, my son is allergic to antibiotics in the penicillin family. At 11 months of age (8 days into his second ever co
Read more

Keratosis Pilaris - Or, Why My Kid Looks Like a Plucked Chicken

-
Image
The skin is the body's largest organ. The condition of the skin is, in many ways, a window into our internal health. Therefore, it is only natural that people become immediately concerned by rashes. We often neglect our own elevated blood pressure, achey joints, or other ailments. The onset of a new rash, on the other hand, can quickly lead to a call to the doctor. Interestingly, there is one rash I see in my practice which rarely causes alarm among patients and parents. In fact, it is common for a parent to state, "Oh, that? His sister has that too. In fact, so do I!" Keratosis Pilaris is a common, heritable disorder which results in small bumps consisting of accumulated skin cells and keratin at the sites of hair follicles. It is especially common in people who have a history of allergies. Although it can be mildly itchy, the rash generally does not cause discomfort. Commonly described as "gooseflesh", keratosis pilaris can be a concern cosmetically, lea
Read more