Alternative/Integrative Medical Approaches in Allergy and Sleep: Basic Principles and Clinical Practice

There has been a significant increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in the United States, both in terms of public interest and practice. While drawing substantially on advances in the field of allergy/immunology for this review, there are additional vigorous research efforts on these and other sleep-compromising diseases, in Asia, Europe, and the United States. China, Korea, and India, to name just three countries, have adopted stringent standards for proof of efficacy and safety. They are isolating active ingredients and exploring the mechanisms by which the medicines work. The Chinese formulary is a vast resource that has been used to treat universal maladies, including itching, sneezing, wheezing, and disordered sleep. By combining these ancient methods with the methods of modern science, effective and safe integrative practices can be developed to help patients.