Laser acupuncture and probiotics in school age children with asthma: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study of therapy guided by principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Full Abstract

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) postulates an interaction between the lung as a Yin-organ and the large intestine as a Yang-organ. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate in asthmatic school age children whether treatment with laser acupuncture and probiotics according to TCM portends a clinical benefit to standard medical treatment performed according to pediatric guidelines. Seventeen children aged 6-12 yr with intermittent or mild persistent asthma were enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot study. Eight patients received laser acupuncture for 10 wk and probiotic treatment in the form of oral drops (living non-pathogenic Enterococcus faecalis) for 7 wk. Nine patients in the control group were treated with a laser pen which did not emit laser light and were given placebo drops. Peak flow variability (PFV) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) were measured and Quality of Life was assessed by a standardized questionnaire. Laser acupuncture and probiotics significantly decreased mean (standard deviation) weekly PFV as a measurement of bronchial hyperreactivity by -17.4% (14.2) in the TCM group vs. 2.2% (22.5) in the control group (p = 0.034). No significant effect was detected for FEV(1), Quality of Life criteria and additional medication. As an exploratory result, patients in the TCM group had fewer days of acute febrile infections when compared with the control group [1.14 (1.4) vs. 2.66 (2.5), p = 0.18]. In conclusion, this pilot study generates the hypothesis that the interactive treatment of lung and large intestine according to TCM by laser acupuncture and probiotics has a beneficial clinical effect on bronchial hyperreactivity in school age children with intermittent or mild persistent asthma and might be helpful in the prevention of acute respiratory exacerbations. These results should be confirmed by further studies.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Stockert, Karin (K); Schneider, Barbara (B); Porenta, Gerold (G); Rath, Regina (R); Nissel, Helmut (H); Eichler, Irmgard (I);

Affiliation: Austrian Society for Acupuncture, Huglgasse 1-3, Vienna, Austria. karin.stockert(-atsign-)gmx.at

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Pediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology (Pediatr Allergy Immunol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 18 (issue 2) : pp 160-6

Dates: Created 2007/03/06; Completed 2007/05/01; Revised 2008/05/28;

PMID: 17338790, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

ErratumIn: Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2007 May;18(3):272.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acupuncture Therapy - methods
Asthma - physiopathology; therapy
Child
Double-Blind Method
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Interleukin-12 - physiology

Interleukin-12 - physiology
Laser Therapy
Lung - physiopathology
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
Pilot Projects
Probiotics - therapeutic use
Quality of Life

Associated Chemicals: Interleukin-12 (187348-17-0)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

See 100+ related articles.