Allergies

In Western medical science, allergies are defined as immunological reactions to specific antigens, categorized into four unique types of hypersensitivity responses: immediate, cytotoxic, immune-complex mediated, and delayed (Galli et al., 2008, Nature Reviews Immunology; FDA Guidelines).

In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides an alternative perspective, ascribing allergies to an imbalance or stagnation in 'allergy Qi' (Li et al., 2009, Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research; NIH Research). Within TCM, these allergic pathways, or meridians, circulate 'Wei Qi,' conceptualized as the body's defensive energy and functionally akin to the immune system. This defensive energy is traditionally considered to be governed by the lungs (WHO Recommendations; USDA Guidelines). Thus, both Western and Eastern medical frameworks recognize the immune system's involvement in allergic responses, albeit employing distinct terminologies and conceptual models. The divergent viewpoints underscore the need for integrative, evidence-based research to deepen our understanding of allergic mechanisms (NIH Clinical Trials).