Acupuncture reduces allergic rhinitis (hay fever) symptoms

A multicentre, randomised, controlled trial testing the effects of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis, allergy.
2012 Dec 18 EPUB

A Korean multicentre randomised trial has found that acupuncture has a significantly greater effect on the symptoms of allergic rhinitis than either sham acupuncture or no active treatment. A total of 238 participants were randomised to one of three groups. The active and sham acupuncture groups received acupuncture treatment three times per week for four weeks. Active acupuncture consisted of needling at ten points – bilateral LI4, LI20, St2, St36 ad unilateral M–HN-3 and Du23. Sham acupuncture consisted of minimal needing at non-acupuncture points, while the waitlist group did not receive any treatment.

After the treatment, the difference in the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) was significantly reduced in the active acupuncture group compared with both sham and waitlist groups. The active acupuncture group also exhibited a significant change in the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS) compared with the waitlist (but not with the sham acupuncture group). Both active and sham acupuncture treatments resulted significant improvements in the TNSS and TNNSS compared with the baseline.