Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine for Managing Allergic Rhinitis
Published on: December 20, 2024
Effect of adding a Chinese herbal preparation to acupuncture for seasonal allergic rhinitis: randomised double-blind
C C L Xue1, F C K Thien, J J S Zhang
1RMIT Chinese Medicine Research Group, RMIT University, Bundoora West Campus, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia. charlie.xue@rmit.edu.au
Objective:
To assess whether the addition of a Chinese herbal medicine formula to acupuncture affects the severity of symptoms and quality-of-life scores among patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Design:
Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
Setting:
University teaching and research clinic, Australia.
Participants:
Sixty-five patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, who were recruited through public media.
Intervention:
Between July and December 1999, patients received acupuncture twice a week for 8 weeks plus either a Chinese herbal drug formula (n=33) or placebo (n=32) at a dosage of four capsules, three times daily.
Main Outcome Measures:
The severity of nasal and non-nasal symptoms on a five-point scale, as assessed by both patients and an ear, nose, and throat specialist, and quality-of-life scores as measured by the Rhinoconjunctivitis and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Results:
Sixty-one patients completed the study (31 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group). After 8 weeks, no significant difference was found between the two groups in the severity of nasal and non-nasal symptoms and in the Rhinoconjunctivitis and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire scores. Intention-to-treat analysis of categorical variables showed moderate-to-marked improvement rates of 72.7% and 81.2% for intervention and control groups, respectively. Six patients reported mild adverse events-three from each of the study groups.
Conclusion:
The Chinese herbal formulation under investigation did not provide additional symptomatic relief or improvement in quality-of-life scores among patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis who were receiving acupuncture.
