In one study, a team at Mount Sinai Medical Center, in New York City, led by Li Xiumin, M.D., studied the effects of an anti-asthma herbal medicine intervention (ASHMI), a 3-herb formulation that has been shown in laboratory tests to improve symptoms of asthma. ASHMI reduced total immunoglobulin (Ig)E levels in patients with allergic asthma, reported by other co-investigator. Laverne L. Brown, PhD, “We set out to determine the mechanisms by which the indivudual herbs exert their effects,” said by Dr. Brown.

Her team evaluated IgE suppression by each of the herbs on human myeloma B cells. The 3 components of ASHMI-Gancao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), Kushen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis), and Lingzhi (Lucid Ganoderma)- are most effective in a ration of 3:9:20, she said. The 3-herb combination lowered total IgE level, from approximately 850 to 500 KU/L. When the compound was fractionated by polarity and acidity, Kushen suppressed IgE production by approximately 95% in one analysis. “If we can find out what specific compounds in these herbs exert the greatest effect, we can isolate them and develop them for asthma. We wouldn’t have to give the whole herb or other compounds that may not have the effect we want, ”Dr. Brown explained.

International acupuncture education