Traditional Chinese Medicine and Immune Regulation
Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology, 08/01/2012
Ma HD et al. – This review highlights studies focusing on the immunomodulatory effects of Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), describing their stimulatory effect on immune cells, immune organs, cytokine production, tumorigenesis, as well as their inhibitory function on inflammation, allergy, autoimmune disease, and graft rejection. Components of both innate and adaptive immunity may be modulated by specific TCMs. TCMs may also have antitumor effects and may play a role in regulating apoptosis. Immunomodulatory effects of TCMs may lead to new medications to treat allergic and autoimmune diseases. More high quality studies are needed to achieve scientific validity to these potential treatments.
