Interested in acupuncture for allergies? There are a number of factors you should consider, including cost and effectiveness. The TNSS and MiniRQLQ surveys provide an excellent way to gauge the efficacy of acupuncture for allergies. This article will explain these metrics and how to choose an acupuncturist for your needs. This article also covers other important factors, including a practitioner’s credentials and certification.
TNSS
Acupuncture has proven to be very effective at helping people manage their allergies. The treatments involve inserting thin needles into the body at strategic locations. They are relatively painless and can last anywhere from one to four sessions. Some practitioners use heat or electricity to stimulate the needles, while others may expose the patient to the allergen. In either case, the acupuncturist is trying to reprogram the body’s immune system to not produce an allergic response.
Acupuncture has been shown to reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies and also those caused by indoor allergens. It has also been shown to reduce the amount of nasal congestion and inflammation around the eyes. These results are incredibly promising for people with seasonal allergies. The treatments are particularly effective in treating symptoms of rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. However, more research is needed to determine the exact frequency and duration of these sessions.
A study of 422 allergy sufferers found that acupuncture can be highly effective in alleviating symptoms and relieving allergy medication. In the study, patients reported improved symptom scores and less antihistamine use. However, this effect did not last long. The effect of acupuncture for allergies likely improved by the time the patients reached week 16.
The study is conducted at three reputable research centers in South Korea. The Korean Institute of Oriental Medicine and Kyung-Hee University Medical Centre are the sites of the two studies. The study aims to compare the effects of acupuncture on nasal symptoms. A multi-centre randomised controlled trial (RCT) with large sample sizes. The primary outcome is change in the weekly average total nasal symptom score, which is measured by recording symptoms by the participants in a diary during the fourth week of the study.
MiniRQLQ
A study published in Annals of Allergy and Asthma examined the effects of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis in patients. They found that patients who received 15 sessions of acupuncture per month improved significantly on the quality of life questionnaire, known as the Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire, compared to patients who had received only routine medical care. This improvement was also seen six months after the treatment.
In a sub-study from the ACUSAR trial, acupuncture for allergies inhibited the production of nasal pro-inflammatory cytokines. This was not the case with sham acupuncture. This suggests that the efficacy of acupuncture for allergies is not due to a specific immunologic mechanism, but rather to an unspecific anti-inflammatory effect. In a subsequent study, Dr. Devi Nambudripad found that acupuncture treatment reduced the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and improved overall quality of life.
To conduct this study, researchers will use randomisation. The participants will not know which group they are in, but the assessors will not know which group they are in. The participants will also be blinded to which treatment group they are in, but the practitioners will not be. It is important to note that participants who have certain serious medical conditions will be excluded from the trial. These include uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes requiring insulin injection, a malignant tumour, and severe dyslipidemia (which can lead to liver or kidney dysfunction).
Aside from the anti-inflammatory effects of acupuncture, researchers found that a sub-study involving a controlled trial of miniRQLQ acupuncture for allergies also showed positive results in reducing nasal symptom scores. These findings are encouraging, but their clinical significance is uncertain. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that acupuncture for allergy improved nasal symptoms and reduced the need for rescue medication.
Efficacy
In western medicine, allergies are considered a disorder of the immune system that makes it more susceptible to allergy. This condition is caused by the immune system’s overactivity in attacking small particles of pollen in the body that trigger inflammation and allergies. Acupuncture works by stimulating nerve fibers in the body to restore the flow of defensive qi and thereby reduce allergy symptoms. This is because acupuncture helps normalize the immune system’s response and improves the production of messenger hormones, which calm the immune response.
Future studies on acupuncture and allergies may confirm the results of the current study. Further studies may determine if acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms caused by seasonal allergies. The researchers hope to see a significant reduction in the cost of antihistamines in the future. But this study only has limited data to date. This is because the treatment of allergies is not a simple process, and the effectiveness of acupuncture will be measured over time.
Researchers have found that acupuncture and moxibustion are effective for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, otherwise known as hay fever. A meta-analysis of 39 studies with a total of 3,433 patients found that all forms of acupuncture were more effective than the sham controls. Moreover, the combination of acupuncture and conventional medicine was more effective than either one on its own.
In addition to acupuncture, herbal supplements are an excellent complement to acupuncture for allergies. These supplements are an effective way to extend the acupuncture sessions and help you combat seasonal allergies. Many herbal formulas also work well with acupuncture and can create a one-two-punch treatment for your allergies. If you have a doctor who specializes in acupuncture and herbal medicine, it is best to schedule an appointment with an acupuncturist.
Cost
Acupuncture is an alternative medicine that uses thin needles in strategic points on the body. Each session lasts about 20 minutes. Some treatments use electricity or heat to stimulate the needles. In some cases, the acupuncturist will use a combination of acupuncture treatments and allergy medications to reduce the severity of the allergic reaction. Depending on the severity of the allergy and the individual’s response to acupuncture, patients may benefit from several sessions.
Various studies have investigated the cost effectiveness of acupuncture in seasonal allergic rhinitis. In one such study, Reinhold T. et al., examined the cost effectiveness of acupuncture in a clinical trial. In that study, acupuncture was twice as effective as a sham acupuncture treatment. However, the treatment was twice as expensive. Nonetheless, this treatment may still be an effective option for many people suffering from allergies.
Acupuncture can be expensive, but the benefits far outweigh the cost. Among the health benefits of acupuncture, it can significantly reduce symptoms of allergies. Studies show that a minimum of six acupuncture sessions can reduce the number of days a migraine can last. Moreover, some public and private insurance plans cover acupuncture treatment. Medicare Part B started covering acupuncture sessions in 2020 for chronic low-back pain. Medicare Part B covers six acupuncture sessions per year, but if the condition improves, it can cover eight more. Aetna added acupuncture as a standard benefit in 2022.
The risks of acupuncture treatment are relatively low if performed by a certified and competent practitioner. As long as the practitioner uses sterile needles, the risk of infection is very minimal. In addition, patients should discuss their medical history with the practitioner. The practitioner will also examine the patient’s pulse and tongue. A typical initial session lasts an hour, with follow-up visits lasting from thirty to forty minutes.
Side effects
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine that uses tiny, thin needles in strategic locations on the body. The sessions usually last 20 minutes, and there is minimal discomfort associated with them. In some cases, the practitioner will stimulate the needles with electricity or heat while the patient is exposed to the allergen in question. The aim is to reprogram the immune system so that the body no longer produces an allergic reaction.
The effectiveness of acupuncture has been determined in studies that tested the effectiveness of the treatment in people with persistent allergic rhinitis. The primary outcome measure is change in the total score for nasal symptoms, which includes sneezing, pain, and rhinorrhea. Secondary outcomes include eye drops. The effectiveness of acupuncture for allergies depends on the number of patients. Currently, there are few studies on the side effects of acupuncture for allergies.
In general, acupuncture for allergies can relieve the symptoms of seasonal allergies. It can even relieve nasal congestion and itchy eyes. Some patients also experience pain relief. In addition, acupuncture has been used for centuries to treat various types of allergies. For example, Chinese medicine uses Chinese herbs and acupuncture to relieve the symptoms of allergies. Acupuncture has a long history of use in treating nasal and sinus congestion and other symptoms associated with allergy.
Another study compared the effectiveness of acupuncture for allergies with the use of conventional medications. Researchers studied 422 people and divided them into three groups. One group underwent real acupuncture, while the other group received fake acupuncture. The third group merely received antihistamines to relieve the symptoms. The researchers found that those who had real acupuncture for their allergies were more likely to see significant improvement in their allergy symptoms than those in the other groups.