How Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats food allergies

Condition analysis:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treats allergic disease by regulating the immune system to eliminate the root of the problem, whether the condition is respiratory, digestive or dermatologic. It is important to note that to "regulate the immune system" does not always mean to strengthen it - in most cases it is actually overly active and must be calmed, while in some cases it is indeed too weak and must be boosted with tonic herbs.

Instructions:
TCM Treatment is individualized for each patient, as the causes of digestive impairment are many. However they can broadly be split into three areas:

1. Weakness, or deficiency of Stomach and Spleen, from constitutional factors or lack of sufficient protein. In these cases the engine does not have enough fire to cook the food it receives, and there may be loose stools or undigested food in the stools. Strong tonics like astragalus or codonopsis, a type of ginseng, are used.

2. Liver Stagnation. Many irritable bowel cases fall into this category. This is not a situation of Liver toxicity, but rather a stress-based, functional impairment. Symptoms include bloating, pain, or gas which are often triggered by difficult emotions rather than any particular foods. This is bewildering for patients who cannot understand why they sometimes react to things like dairy, for instance, but other times they do not, and occasionally will react without any food at all. Treatment focuses on breaking up the stagnant, pent-up energy of the Liver, as well as de-stressing the system with herbs like white paeony root and bupleurum.

3. Mucus accumulation. This is called "dampness" in TCM. If food is not broken down properly over a long period of time, it will eventually cause the gastro-intestinal tract to become toxic. The tongue coating will be too thick. There may be constipation, mucus-streaked or burning stools, and hemorrhoids. Conditions such as Crohn’s disease or colitis may develop. Herbs with a cleansing, Dampness-draining and anti-inflammatory effect are used.