Innovative approaches to allergies

Food allergies among children are increasing at an alarming rate in the United States. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control, three million children in the United States had food or digestive allergies in 2007 -- an increase of 18 percent in a decade.

So researchers are taking on the allergies with new approaches -- including using Chinese herbs and dietary changes.

Children in the Duke study are treated with peanut proteins -- either in liquid or powdered form. The initial dose is only 1/1,000 of a peanut, but it is slowly increased to the equivalent of one peanut and more.

Four children who have completed years of the treatment are now able to tolerate 13 to 15 peanuts without showing even mild symptoms.

Posted by David on November 2, 2008 9:59 AM