Acupuncture for seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial

Xue CC, Zhang AL, Zhang CS, DaCosta C, Story DF, Thien FC · Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology · 2015 October 11

DOI 10.1016/j.anai.2015.05.017

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 12 sessions of acupuncture treatment during 4 weeks for seasonal allergic rhinitis in a randomized, subject- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial conducted during the pollen seasons in 2009 through 2011 in Melbourne.

Conclusions

Four weeks of acupuncture treatment is a safe and effective option for clinical management of seasonal allergic rhinitis in the Melbourne area for patients' symptom relief and quality of life improvement.

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Insights

Four weeks of acupuncture treatment is a safe and effective option for clinical management of seasonal allergic rhinitis in the Melbourne area for patients' symptom relief and quality of life improvement.

A total of 175 participants were included in this trial. RA was significantly better than SA for decreasing SAR symptom severity (sneezing, mean difference −0.28, 95% confidence interval −0.51 to −0.05; itchiness of ears and palate, mean difference −0.40, 95% confidence interval −0.69 to −0.11) at the end of treatment and improving participants' QoL at the end of the treatment and follow-up phases. Furthermore, the acupuncture treatment was safe and well tolerated.