Acupuncture is based on the belief that life energy, called qi, flows throughout the body along pathways called meridians. By inserting thin needles at specific points, practitioners seek to restore the flow of energy. Western medicine doesn’t accept the traditional explanation of acupuncture’s mechanism of action as there is no evidence that meridians exist, but does accept some of its therapeutic claims.
> acupuncture reduced seasonal hay fever symptoms over 2 months in some patients with eczema (University Medical Center, Berlin).
> several studies on bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis describe a modulating effect of acupuncture on the cytokine profile (cytokines are small proteins which influence the growth and activity of the immune system and blood cells), with simultaneous improvement in symptoms.
> acupuncture particularly increases anti-inflammatory IL-10, IL-2 and IFN-γ cytokines and reduces IgE (allergy antibody) concentrations in the blood.
> studies suggest that there is a connection between cytokine production and allergy symptoms.
> statistically significant improvement of quality of life in acupuncture patients, compared to symptomatic therapy (antihistamines) and “sham” acupuncture (ACUSAR (Acupuncture in seasonal allergic rhinitis) study, Germany).
Research
Jeong H.J. et al. (2002). ‘Regulatory effect of cytokine production in asthma patients by SOOJI CHIM.’ Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 24:265–74.
Hauswald B. et al. (2009). ‘Effects of acupuncture in treatment of perennieal allergic rhinitis in comparison to antihistaminic medication.’ Dt Ztschr f Akup. 52:31.
Rao Y.Q., Han N.Y. (2006). ‘Therapeutic effect of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis and its effects on immunologic function.’ Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 26:557–60.
Jianli C.J. (2006). ‘The effect of acupuncture on serum IgE level in patients with chronic urticaria.’ Tradit Chin Med. 26:189–90.
Mösges R., Klimek L. (2007). ‘Today's allergic rhinitis patients are different: new factors that may play a role.’ Allergy. 62:969–75.
Brinkhaus B. et al. (2013). ‘Acupuncture in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized trial.’ Ann Intern Med. 158:225–34.
He, M. et al. (2022). ‘Acupuncture for allergic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.’ Eur J Med Res 27, 58.
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