Abstract

Aim of this pilot study was to investigate in asthmatic children whether treatment with laser acupuncture and probiotics according to Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM portends a clinical benefit to standard medical treatment performed according to pediatric guidelines. Seventeen children aged 612 years with intermittent or mild persistent asthma were enrolled. Eight patients received laser acupuncture for 10 weeks and probiotics Enterococcus faecalis for 7weeks. 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 FEV1 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 p0.034. No significant effect was detected for FEV1, 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, p0.18. 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 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.