We have officially hit the season of Spring (or as some might dub it, allergy season) here in beautiful Brisbane and many of our acupuncture clients are already presenting with seasonal allergies!
What are the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis?
Conditions like Allergic Rhinitis can be seasonal or intermittent, but always quite inconvenient and annoying! Symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis may include sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and nose, which when severe can disrupt day to day activities leading to fatigue, poor concentration and interrupted sleep (1).
What is the research for Acupuncture for the treatment of Allergic Rhinitis?
A comparative literature review which provided an up-to-date comparative review of clinical and scientific evidence for acupuncture in the treatment of Allergic Rhinitis found acupuncture to have moderate to high quality evidence for the effectiveness and efficacy of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis (2).
The Acupuncture Evidence Project, included 12 randomised controlled trials in the comparative literature review, which delivered between 12 to 30 treatments at a frequency between two to five treatments per week, with temporary symptom relief and ongoing benefit for up to 3 months (3).
What is the underlying cause of Allergic Rhinitis?
When irritants enter the nasal passages, the immune system incorrectly identifies some irritants (allergens) as a "threat", triggering an immune response. This response triggers inflammatory mediators within the body, leading to the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis.
What is the mechanisms of action of Acupuncture for Allergic Rhinitis?
When measuring the effect of acupuncture on the immune response, there were reported reductions in inflammatory mediators including Substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, interleukin-4 and dust-mite specific IgE, which are thought to contribute to the inflammatory mediators released during an Allergic Rhinitis episode (4).
Please note: Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary from patient to patient based upon the circumstances of the patient’s specific situation. A result is not promised and/or guaranteed from the act of receiving a treatment.
Visit our Brisbane Clinic
Our Acupuncture clinic is located in Highgate Hill, Brisbane - 5 minutes away from both the Mater Hospital and Princess Alexandra Hospital. Our acupuncturists are focused on providing integrative and holistic care for your individual health journey. If you have any further enquires regarding Acupuncture and Allergic Rhinitis email us via info@langacupuncture.com today!
1) Seidman MD, Gurgel RK, Lin SY, Schwartz SR, Baroody FM, Bonner JR, et al. Clinical practice guideline: allergic rhinitis. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2015;152(1 Suppl):S1-S43.
2) McDonald JL, Janz, S. The Acupuncture Evidence Project: A Comparative Literature Review. www.acupuncture.org.au: Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association Ltd; 2017.
3) McDonald, J. Acupuncture for the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis: Evidence Based Acupuncture, 2018;1:1-8.
4) McDonald JL, Smith PK, Smith CA, Changli Xue C, Golianu B, Cripps AW. Effect of acupuncture on house dust mite specific IgE, substance P, and symptoms in persistent allergic rhinitis. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. 2016;116(6):497-505.
