Applause for Ground Breaking Food Allergy Book

The reviews are flowing and there seems to be one consensus : Food Allergies: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science, and the Search for a Cure is a home run!  This book has been long-awaited as author, Henry Ehrlich (Asthma Allergies and Children), teased and tormented us with tidbits of information.  I was positive that during the 2013 Food Allergy Blogger Conference there was going to be a collective explosion of energy during Henry’s keynote speech.  A brilliant speech writer by trade, a conduit of science and practical life, Henry captured the crowd’s minds and hearts as he spoke of the ground breaking work of Dr. Xiu-Min Li.  At that moment, I realized that Food Allergies: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science, and the Search for a Cure, when published, is going to be food allergy bookshelf staple in homes and medical offices nationwide.

Henry arriving at the 2013 Food Allergy Blogger Conference

Words from previous reviews used to describe Food Allergies: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science, and the Search for a Cure: fascinating, masterful, page turner, gripping, hope for a cure, a must read and couldn’t put it down.

Henry masterfully weaves science, mystery and hope together as he explains, using simple and compelling words, how Dr. Li could be the Marie Curie of modern times.  Using her training and expertise in allergy, immunology, molecular biology and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Dr. Li has boldly pushed forward in our food allergy world. Dr. Li is putting ancient TCM formulas to the test through Western Clinical Trials–with current success.

Dr. Xiu-Min Li
Food Allergies: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science, and the Search for a Cure leads readers through the story of how Dr. Li arrived at this point of directing ground breaking clinical trials at one of the most respected leading Food Allergy Medical Centers of Excellence.  Henry begins this incredible story by describing our plight with allergies and the challenges that we face.  Superbly, he explains the science behind Dr. Li’s work in terms that an average everyday person like myself can understand and embrace.
This book left me feeling hopeful as Henry describes the future in the last chapters.  He examines the possibilities as he explains how clinical trials work and details real case studies of patients and their current status.  Peering into the lives of families suffering through the trauma of allergies and anaphylaxis and reading of their changes almost brought me to tears.
I had been curious about Dr. Li’s work for years and was intrigued when I learned Henry was writing about her work.  I first learned of Dr. Li’s work years ago, when Zac Chelini, the young man featured in, “More than that Peanut Guy Video”, nervously flew across the United States to be seen by Dr. Li.  Zac’s food allergies had escalated to the point of airborne with constant multiple life threatening reactions that left him with a diminishing quality of life.  His family questioned if this very active, social and athletic young man would need to cease all activities to be home schooled.  His mother was convinced he could die from an allergic reaction without new interventions.  Since being under Dr. Li’s care, Zac was able to complete high school and is a thriving college Sophomore, attending school out-of-state and advocating for food allergy education.
As parents, we understand the past and live in the confusing and often difficult here and now of food allergies, our eyes though, remain on the future.  We pray for cures, hope for therapies and work tirelessly for food allergy education as we fight for laws to protect our children.  We need the future.  We need stories of pushing the envelope and of hope.

Thank you Henry for demystifying Dr. Li’s work, TCM and sharing a story of strength and hope.  Thank you Dr. Li for your amazing stamina, strength and dedication to find a cure.

Current accolades and book reviews for Food Allergies: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Science, and the Search for a Cure
Learning to Eat Allergy Free
Amazing and Atopic
Food Allergy Sleuth
Susan Weissman
Nut Free Wok
Living Without Magazine
Allergic Living Magazine
Allergy Bites Video interview with Henry Ehrlich