ABSTRACT
[Objective] Although allergic rhinitis is the most common allergic inflammatory disease, and many sufferers seek acupuncture and moxibustion treatments, the evidence that acupuncture therapy alleviates allergic rhinitis is uncertain. Symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing and nasal obstruction are cardinal signs of chronic allergic rhinitis. Through a series of individual case studies, we investigated the clinical effects of acupuncture treatment on patients with chronic allergic rhinitis.<BR>[Method] Three patients with moderate to severe persistent allergic rhinitis eachreceived 8 sessions of acupuncture treatments (two times per week for 4 weeks). Evaluations were performed during each treatment period (`period B`) and before and after each treatment period (‘period A’) (ABA design). Acupuncture treatment was performed on GV23, LI20, LI4, ST36, GB20, BL13, and BL23. The effects of the acupuncture treatments were assessed by the degree of allergic rhinitis severity, according to nasal mucosa observation, subjective nasal obstruction, and allergic rhinitis indicators in the blood (eosinophilis and non specific immunoglobulion E). <BR>[Results] During period B, one patient showed a general improvement of allergic rhinitis severity, and all three patients showed an improvement of allergic rhinitis symptom severities, especially nasal obstruction. The improvement of severity wasconfirmed by observation of nasal mucosae and the grade of subjective nasal obstruction. But blood indicators did not show a significant change.<BR>[Conclusion] This study indicated that acupuncture treatment was effective for alleviating allergic rhinitis symptoms, especially nasal obstruction.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b>: Plasma cluster ions consist of positive and negative ions and are known to suppress the activity of total bacteria, mold fungi, viruses and allergens floating in the air. In terms of inactivating mite allergens, it was reported that plasma cluster ions suppressed the symptoms of atopic dermatitis in mice. In the present study we investigated the effect of plasma cluster ions on attenuating chronic allergic rhinitis and fatigue induced by mite allergens in humans.<br> <b>Design</b>: Sixteen subjects with specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) positive to <i>Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus</i>, who had symptoms of allergic rhinitis caused by house dust participated in a randomized double-blinded crossover trial. Subjects occupied a mite allergen challenge room and performed mental task for 4 hours with 25,000/cm<sup>3</sup> plasma cluster ions or without plasma cluster ions and rested for 2 hours outside of the room. We measured mite allergens (Der p1) on the floor using plastic dishes (90 mm diameter) placed at 5 points in the room. We also investigated the symptoms of allergic rhinitis using the Japanese Allergic Rhinitis Standard QOL Questionnaire (JRQLQ) during the 4-hour load and 2-hour rest and performance by Uchida-Kraepelin psychodiagnostic test during the 4-hour load.<br> <b>Result</b>: Plasma cluster ions inactivated 80–90% of Der p1 and attenuated the symptoms of nasal congestion in JRQLQ. Moreover, plasma cluster ions inhibited fatigue-induced impaired performance in Uchida-Kraepelin psychodiagnostic test compared to the case without the ions.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: Plasma cluster ions reduce mite allergens and are effective for attenuating chronic allergic rhinitis and fatigue.<br>