Allergic Rhinitis Treated with Acupuncture

New Delhi, April 7, 2017: Allergic rhinitis is characterized by the hypersensitive response of nasal mucosa to certain allergens.  Antiallergic agents and steroids are usually prescribed, but often with unsatisfactory results and giving rise to side effects from time to time.  The following is a summary of the 76 cases under acupuncture treatment in Germany from 1995 to 1997.

All the 76 cases were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis by other hospitals in Germany using modern criteria and had proved refractory to antiallergic agents and steroids.   All of them received more than five acupuncture treatment in the clinic.  The age ranged from 9 to 72.  The course of disease ranged from 6 months to 26 years.  The chief symptoms included: nose itch, sneezing, nasal obstruction, and nasal discharge.  Other complaints included itching of the eye, headache,  coughing , asthma, reduced olfactory sensation.

Symptomatology of the 76 pateints.

Chief Symptoms:-

Itching of nose- 76

Sneezing- 76

Nasal Discharge- 76

Nasal obstruction – 40

Other Complaints:-

Itching of eyes- 32

Headache-11

Coughing -6

Asthma -22

Reduced olfactory sensation -1

Therapeutic scheme:-

Classical Acupuncture & Scalp Acupuncture were given and retain the needles for 30 minutes.

Therapeutic effects

Therapeutic criteria

Cure: Disappearance of all symptoms

Marked effect: Marked improvement of the symptoms

Improvement: Improvement of the symptoms

No effect: No change of the symptoms

Results:– Of the 76 cases treated, cure is observed in 38 cases ( 50%), marked effect in 26 ( 34%), and improvement in 12 ( 16%), for a total effective rate OF 100% and markedly effective rate of 84%.

Case Study 1:

Miss S., a 35 year old German woman  was presented for treatment on 8 january, 1996.  She complained of an itchy nose and frequent sneezing.  It was a condition she endured for the previous 4 years.  She explained that she would start sneezing at 4 a.m. and the sneezing would continue until noon or even into the evening.  She felt constant nasal obstruction and shortness of breath which often led to frontal headache.  The symptoms continued throughout the year.  After examination in a hospital, she was told she was allergic to pollens and animal dander.  Allergic rhinitis persisted, however, despite her effort to avoid contact with all suspected allergens.  She complained of lassitude and intolerance to cold.  Daily use of steroids produced no effect.  Examination revealed a pale face, a whitish tongue with white and greasy coat, and taut and feeble pulses.  She was identified as having qi insufficiency and yang insufficiency.  Acupuncture treatment was given and needles were retained for 30 minutes.  The treatment was performed twice a week.

All symptoms disappeared after 8 treatments and follow-up for a year revealed no relapse.

Comment

Through replenishing of Yin and Yang, Qi and Blood, and resolution of Phlegm, all measures based on Categorical identification, human resistance is enhanced and a new balance between Yin and Yang is established in the body, under such circumstances, nasal discharge may be resolved more readily and rehabilitation is accelerated.

The author is the head of the department of Acupuncture at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.