Presentation summary

Primary prevention already starts pre-, peri- and postpartally. In addition to the pivotal role of microbial diversity at the mucosal epithelial barriers for the development of a Th1/Th2-balance in early infancy, allergists recently detected mechanisms of viruses to activate inappropriate Th2-biased immune responses via “common colds”.

Rhinovirus was demonstrated not only to be a risk-factor for subsequent wheezing and asthma predisposinginfants to primary sensitization and development of allergic diseases but also associated with exacerbation ofpre-existing allergic airway diseases, followed by enhanced IL-4- and IL-13- and reduced Th1- responses inatopic individuals with increasing susceptibility to further viral infections.

Therefore Allergy-Associations focus worldwide on research to reduce acute exacerbations- as secondary andtertiary prevention of respiratory allergies and initiated task-forces to investigate the potential of anti-infectives against rhinoviruses and therapies targeting the host-immune response, e.g. activating IFN secretion. Efficient therapies are still desperately required.

Exactly at this point TCM might provide solutions : Herbs like Ginger or Liquorice but also formulas from the classical textbook “Shānghán zábìng lùn” from 200 C.E. activate Th1- immune responses via enhanced secretion of IFN-γ and IFN-β by the host organism. Simultaneously those herbs have the capacity to reduceTh2 cytokines IL-4, IL -5 and IgE and thus, to reconstruct a dysbalanced Th1/Th2.

This lecture will demonstrate 2 case reports of successful prevention of allergic diseases.