Hayfever
Research
Alternative
& Complementary Therapies
Acupuncture
& Hayfever
The effects of acupuncture on
hayfever symptoms were investigated in a
randomised, controlled, single blind study at three general practices in
rural (Oxfordshire), semi-rural (Lincolnshire) and urban (Peterborough).
102 patients aged 16 or over, all with moderate to severe hay fever
symptoms that had required continuous therapy for at least one month of
the year for three years or more, participated in the study.
The patients were divided into two groups; the first group received
standardised, Western acupuncture and the other group were used as
controls and given ‘sham’ acupuncture. All of the patients were
asked to keep a diary recording the amount of medication they required,
a daily symptom score and their assessment of the effect of the
acupuncture treatment on their hay fever symptoms.
Four weeks after the commencement of the study, 39 percent of the
treatment group and 45.2 percent of the ‘sham’ acupuncture group
reported remission of symptoms. 16 of the 43 patients in the treatment
group, and 14 of the 43 patients in the control group felt that their
treatment had had an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ effect on their
hay fever.
The researchers acknowledged that the results of their study are not
conclusive as the benefits could have been attributed to the placebo
effect as well as the acupuncture treatment or simply to a natural or
seasonal variation in what is obviously a fluctuating condition. More
research will therefore be needed in this field to confirm any
therapeutic benefits of acupuncture treatment for hay fever sufferers.
L. Williamson, P Yudkin, R Livingstone, K Prasad, A Fuller, M Lawrence.
Hay fever treatments in general practice: A randomised controlled trial
comparing standardised western acupuncture with sham acupuncture.
Acupuncture in Medicine. May 1996; 14:1, 6-10.
In another study to determine whether single point, Liver 3
(Taichong),
acupuncture is effective for hayfever prophylaxis in a dedicated general
practice clinic setting, 30 patients suffering from long-standing,
moderate to severe hayfever were randomised to acupuncture or conventional
therapy. Three, ten minute acupuncture treatments were given at weekly
intervals during April 1993. Four of the fifteen acupuncture patients had
complete remission of symptoms compared with none from the control group.
The rest of the acupuncture group had a variable response, but a small,
significant improvement in overall symptom score was demonstrated, as was
a shortening of duration of hayfever symptoms. The start of the hayfever
season for some patients was later than expected, which may have resulted
in reduced effectiveness of the acupuncture, thus treatment may be better
starting at the beginning of May to cover the peak of symptoms in early
June. The results of this pilot study have shown that single point (Liver
3) acupuncture given for hayfever prophylaxis in a clinic setting was
effective, safe, easily reproducible, acceptable and inexpensive (the
material cost of the treatment was less than 5Op per patient). The study
merits repeating on a larger scale.
Williamson L. Hayfever prophylaxis using single point acupuncture: a
pilot study. Acupuncture in Medicine 1994:12:84-87.
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Homoeopathy
& Hayfever
The assertion by sceptics that homoeopathic remedies are useful only as
placebos was to all intents and purposes refuted nearly ten years ago in a
randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 144 active hay fever
sufferers. Scientists compared the effects of a homoeopathic preparation
of mixed grass pollens with a placebo preparation.
The homoeopathically treated patients showed a significant reduction in
both patient and doctor assessed symptom scores, and the significance of
this response was increased when results were adjusted to take account for
pollen count.
Although more of the patients receiving the homoeopathic remedy
experienced initial aggravation of symptoms than those patients in the
placebo group, this was followed by a marked and sustained improvement
that led the researchers to conclude that homoeopathic remedies could
halve the need for antihistamines for hay fever sufferers.
Is homoeopathy a placebo
response? Controlled trial of homoeopathic potency, with pollen in
hayfever as model. Reilly DT; Taylor MA; McSharry C; Aitchison T Lancet
(ENGLAND) Oct 18 1986, 2 (8512) p881-6.
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New
homoeopathic remedy for hay fever
Researchers in Austria recently evaluated
the efficacy of homoeopathic preparation of Galphimia glauca compared to
placebo in the treatment of pollinosis (hay fever).
There have been 7 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trials and
4 further trials which were not placebo-controlled (1 was randomized and
controlled, 1 prospective and uncontrolled and 2 retrospective and
uncontrolled) performed between 1980 and 1989.
Exclusion and inclusion criteria were identical over all trials. In
total 1038 ambulatory patients who suffered from acute pollinosis (752 in
placebo-controlled trials) entered the analysis. The overall rate of
improved eye-symptoms was about between 1.09 and 1.43 times higher in the
treatment group than in the placebo group. Treatment success rate was
found to be on average 79.3% (74.1% to 85.0%.)
Across the single studies, the results were highly comparable (except
for one study which was run in 1985) and showed a significant superiority
of Galphimia glauca over placebo treatments. Estimates of treatment
success rates were found to be comparable with those of conventional
antihistamines, with the added advantage that no side effects occurred
when homeopathy was used.
Ludtke R; Wiesenauer M. (A meta-analysis of homoeopathic treatment of
pollinosis with Galphimia glauca) Eine Metaanalyse der homopathischen
Behandlung der Pollinosis mit Galphimia glauca. Wien Med Wochenschr
(Austria) 1997, 147 (14) p323-7
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Conventional
nasal spray versus homoeopathic Luffa comp in hay fever
German researchers compared the efficacy and tolerance of a homoeopathic
nasal spray for hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis) with conventional
intranasal cromolyn sodium therapy. 146 patients with hayfever symptoms
participated in the randomised, double-blind trial lasting 42 days. The
homoeopathic remedy (Luffa comp. – Heel trade mark Nasal Spray), 0.14 ml
per application, 4 times per day consisted of a fixed combination of Luffa
operculata, galphimia glauca, histamine and sulphur.
The homoeopathic treatment showed quick and
lasting effects. This effect was independent from the medication applied
and produced an almost complete remission of hay fever symptoms.
Furthermore, there were no major adverse side effects, although local,
minor adverse effects appeared in 3 of the patients. This results indicate
that the homoeopathic nasal spray is as efficient and well tolerated as
conventional therapy with cromolyn sodium for the treatment of hay fever,
with fewer side effects.
Weiser M et al. A randomized equivalence
trial comparing the efficacy and safety of Luffa comp.-Heel nasal
spray with cromolyn sodium spray in the treatment of seasonal
allergic rhinitis. Forshende Komplementaermedizin 6(3): 142-8 Jun
1999.
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Hypnosis
& Hayfever
Forty-seven subjects with known skin sensitivity to pollen and/or
house-dust were divided into five groups and tested with four strengths of
allergen. The prick-test method was employed. In the first part of the
investigation a group of unhypnotized subjects were compared with a group
who had suggestions made under hypnosis that their skin reactions to the
allergen would not occur when tested a second time. A significant
diminution in the size of the weal was obtained in the hypnosis group at
the lower two strengths of allergen. In the second part of the
investigation the subjects were divided into three groups. All were
hypnotized, no suggestions regarding skin reactions were given to one
group, the second group were given suggestions that only on one arm would
the skin reactions be less or not recur, and in the third group the
suggestion was made about the reactions on both arms. There was found to
be a similar decrease in the response to prick-tests after hypnosis in all
three groups.
Fry L. Mason AA Pearson RS. Effect of
hypnosis on allergic skin responses in asthma and hayfever. BMJ
1964:114S.1 148.
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