Acupuncture for Nasal Congestion in Allergic Rhinitis

Summary

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disorder that affects more than 500 million people worldwide. Nasal congestion is one of the most general and bothersome symptoms in rhinitis, which impacts the quality of life (QOL). Current medications are undesirable due to their side-effects and there are AR patients who perceive inadequate responses despite to advancements in conventional medicine. Acupuncture for AR in general can be considered as safe and can be seen as a potential therapeutic intervention for nasal congestion. Evidence supported that acupuncture is clinically used for signs and symptoms of nose disorders, such as nasal congestion, with effectiveness, but whether acupuncture has immediate, post-treatment and long-term effects on nasal congestion in AR is not verified by strictly designed clinical study. The ANCAR trial uses a standard treatment protocol with a fixed set of acupuncture points - to be as scientific as possible from Western medical viewpoint - to open the nose and affect underlying energetic imbalance and immunity at the same time, to maintain its nose opening effect. This novel acupuncture treatment protocol can be seen as a solid and profound approach from which every AR patient may benefit.

Timeline

Start

2023-04-20

Primary completion

2023-11-07

Completion

2023-12-22

Publications

• Background Guo R, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Herbal medicines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis: a systematic review. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2007 Dec;99(6):483-95. doi: 10.1016/S1081-1206(10)60375-4.
• Background Bousquet J, Khaltaev N, Cruz AA, Denburg J, Fokkens WJ, Togias A, Zuberbier T, Baena-Cagnani CE, Canonica GW, van Weel C, Agache I, Ait-Khaled N, Bachert C, Blaiss MS, Bonini S, Boulet LP, Bousquet PJ, Camargos P, Carlsen KH, Chen Y, Custovic A, Dahl R, Demoly P, Douagui H, Durham SR, van Wijk RG, Kalayci O, Kaliner MA, Kim YY, Kowalski ML, Kuna P, Le LT, Lemiere C, Li J, Lockey RF, Mavale-Manuel S, Meltzer EO, Mohammad Y, Mullol J, Naclerio R, O'Hehir RE, Ohta K, Ouedraogo S, Palkonen S, Papadopoulos N, Passalacqua G, Pawankar R, Popov TA, Rabe KF, Rosado-Pinto J, Scadding GK, Simons FE, Toskala E, Valovirta E, van Cauwenberge P, Wang DY, Wickman M, Yawn BP, Yorgancioglu A, Yusuf OM, Zar H, Annesi-Maesano I, Bateman ED, Ben Kheder A, Boakye DA, Bouchard J, Burney P, Busse WW, Chan-Yeung M, Chavannes NH, Chuchalin A, Dolen WK, Emuzyte R, Grouse L, Humbert M, Jackson C, Johnston SL, Keith PK, Kemp JP, Klossek JM, Larenas-Linnemann D, Lipworth B, Malo JL, Marshall GD, Naspitz C, Nekam K, Niggemann B, Nizankowska-Mogilnicka E, Okamoto Y, Orru MP, Potter P, Price D, Stoloff SW, Vandenplas O, Viegi G, Williams D; World Health Organization; GA(2)LEN; AllerGen. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 update (in collaboration with the World Health Organization, GA(2)LEN and AllerGen). Allergy. 2008 Apr;63 Suppl 86:8-160. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2007.01620.x. No abstract available.
• Background Kjaergaard T, Cvancarova M, Steinsvag SK. Nasal congestion index: A measure for nasal obstruction. Laryngoscope. 2009 Aug;119(8):1628-32. doi: 10.1002/lary.20505.
• Background Ichimura K. Mechanism of nasal obstruction in patients with allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy. 2010;10(1):20-27. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-9733.2010.01151.x.
• Background Lieberman P, Kaliner MA, Wheeler WJ. Open-label evaluation of azelastine nasal spray in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis. Curr Med Res Opin. 2005 Apr;21(4):611-8. doi: 10.1185/030079905X41408.
• Background Craig TJ, Sherkat A, Safaee S. Congestion and sleep impairment in allergic rhinitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2010 Mar;10(2):113-21. doi: 10.1007/s11882-010-0091-5.
• Background Skoner DP. Complications of allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2000 Jun;105(6 Pt 2):S605-9. doi: 10.1067/mai.2000.106150.
• Background Bousquet PJ, Demoly P, Devillier P, Mesbah K, Bousquet J. Impact of allergic rhinitis symptoms on quality of life in primary care. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2013;160(4):393-400. doi: 10.1159/000342991. Epub 2012 Nov 23.
• Background Law AW, Reed SD, Sundy JS, Schulman KA. Direct costs of allergic rhinitis in the United States: estimates from the 1996 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003 Feb;111(2):296-300. doi: 10.1067/mai.2003.68.
• Background Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore J, Cox L, Khan DA, Lang DM, Nicklas RA, Oppenheimer J, Portnoy JM, Randolph CC, Schuller D, Spector SL, Tilles SA; Joint Task Force on Practice; American Academy of Allergy; Asthma & Immunology; American College of Allergy; Asthma and Immunology; Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The diagnosis and management of rhinitis: an updated practice parameter. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008 Aug;122(2 Suppl):S1-84. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.06.003. No abstract available.
• Background Sertel S, Bergmann Z, Ratzlaff K, Baumann I, Greten HJ, Plinkert PK. Acupuncture for nasal congestion: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2009 Nov-Dec;23(6):e23-8. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2009.23.3380. Epub 2009 Sep 18.

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