Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: Complementary treatments for the 21st century

Current Allergy and Asthma Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Even in the 21st century, some seeds of tradition remain firmly grounded regardless of the technological advancements of humankind. One such “tradition” involves using unconventional means—including mental healing, herbal formulas, and healing hand therapies such as acupuncture—to treat chronic illnesses. Although mental healing is unproven and energy therapy is not completely understood, acupuncture, herbal therapy, and sublingual immunotherapy have been described more extensively with mixed results that lack consistency and high-quality scientific data. Researchers are working to modernize these traditional therapies in the treatment of allergic disorders and using advanced technology to alter what some call “the earth’s natural healing power” in hopes of developing a new, integrative form of medicine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Cushman LF, Wade C, Factor-Litvak P, et al.: Use of complementary and alternative medicine among African- American and Hispanic women in New York City: a pilot study. J Am Med Womens Assoc 1999, 54: 193–195.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wiesendanger H, Werthmuller L, Reuter K, Walach H: Chronically ill patients treated by spiritual healing improve in quality of life: results of a randomized waiting-list controlled study. J Altern Complement Med 2001, 7:45–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Grzywacz JG, Lang W, Suerken C, et al.: Age, race, and ethnicity in the use of complementary and alternative medicine for health self-management: evidence from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. J Aging Health 2005, 17: 547–572.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Cherniack EP, Ceron-Fuentes J, Florez H, et al.: Influence of race and ethnicity on alternative medicine as a selftreatment preference for common medical conditions in a population of multi-ethnic urban elderly. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2008, 14: 116–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Jackson CM, Lee DK, Lipworth BJ: The effects of butterbur on the histamine and allergen cutaneous response. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2004, 92:250–254.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lee DK, Carstairs IJ, Haggart K, et al.: Butterbur, a herbal remedy, attenuates adenosine monophosphate induced nasal responsiveness in seasonal allergic rhinitis. Clin Exp Allergy 2003, 33: 882–886.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schapowal A: Treating intermittent allergic rhinitis: a prospective, randomized, placebo and antihistamine-controlled study of butterbur extract Ze 339. Phytother Res 2005, 19:530–537.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gray RD, Haggart K, Lee DKC, et al.: Effects of butterbur treatment in intermittent allergic rhinitis: a placebo-controlled evaluation. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2004, 93: 56–60.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Urtica dioica; Urtica urens (nettle). Monograph. Altern Med Rev 2007, 12: 280–284.

  10. Kobayashi S, Tanabe S: Evaluation of the anti-allergic activity of Citrus unshiu using rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells as well as basophils of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis to pollen. Int J Mol Med 2006, 17:511–515.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Shin TY, Kim SH, Suk K, et al.: Anti-allergic effects of Lycopus lucidus on mast cell-mediated allergy model. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2005, 209: 255–262.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Kim S-H, Lee S, Kim IK, et al.: Suppression of mast cell-mediated allergic reaction by Amomum xanthiodes. Food Chem Toxicol 2007, 45: 2138–2144.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bernstein DI, Bernstein CK, Deng C, et al.: Evaluation of the clinical efficacy and safety of grapeseed extract in the treatment of fall seasonal allergic rhinitis: a pilot study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2002, 88: 272–278.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Yoshimura M, Enomoto T, Dake Y, et al.: An evaluation of the clinical efficacy of tomato extract for perennial allergic rhinitis. Allergol Int 2007, 56: 225–230.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mao TK, Van de Water J, Gershwin ME: Effects of a Spirulina-based dietary supplement on cytokine production from allergic rhinitis patients. J Med Food 2005, 8:27–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Josling P, Steadman S: Use of cellulose powder for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Adv Ther 2003, 20:213–219.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Emberlin J, Lewis R: A double blind, placebo-controlled cross over trial of cellulose powder by nasal provocation with Der p1 and Der f1. Curr Med Res Opin 2007, 23:2423–2431.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Saxena VS, Venkateshwarlu K, Nadig P, et al.: Multicenter clinical trials on a novel polyherbal formulation in allergic rhinitis. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 2004, 24: 79–94.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pratibha N, Saxena VS, Amit A, et al.: Anti-inflammatory activities of Aller-7, a novel polyherbal formulation for allergic rhinitis. Int J Tissue React 2004, 26: 43–51.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Badar VA, Thawani VR, Wakode PT, et al.: Efficacy of Tinospora cordifolia in allergic rhinitis. J Ethnopharmacol 2005, 96: 445–449.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Hu G, Walls RS, Bass D, et al.: The Chinese herbal formulation biminne in management of perennial allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week clinical trial. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2002, 88: 478–487.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Yang SH, Yu CL: Antiinflammatory effects of Bu-zhongyi-qi-tang in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. J Ethnopharmacol 2008, 115:104–109.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhao Y, van Hasselt CA, Woo JK, et al.: Effects of the Chinese herbal formula shi-bi-lin on cytokine release from the human mast cell line. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2005, 95: 79–85.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ikeda Y, Kaneko A, Yamamoto M, et al.: Possible involvement of suppression of Th2 differentiation in the anti-allergic effect of Sho-seiryu-to in mice. Jpn J Pharmacol 2002, 90: 328–336.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Takano H, Osakabe N, Sanbongi C, et al.: Extract of Perilla frutescens enriched for rosmarinic acid, a polyphenolic phytochemical, inhibits seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in humans. Exp Biol Med 2004, 229: 247–254.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Xue CC, An X, Cheung TP, et al.: Acupuncture for persistent allergic rhinitis: a randomised, sham-controlled trial. Med J Aust 2007, 187: 337–341.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Xue CC, English R, Zhang JJ, et al.: Effect of acupuncture in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Am J Chin Med 2002, 30: 1–11.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Xue CC, Li CG, Hugel HM, Story DF: Does acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine have a role in the treatment of allergic rhinitis? Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2006, 6: 175–179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Ng DK, Chow PY, Ming SP, et al.: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture for the treatment of childhood persistent allergic rhinitis. Pediatrics 2004, 114: 1242–1247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Magnusson AL, Svensson RE, Leirvik C, Gunnarsson RK: The effect of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Am J Chin Med 2004, 32:105–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Chen KW, Turner FD: A case study of simultaneous recovery from multiple physical symptoms with medical qigong therapy. J Altern Complement Med 2004, 10:159–162.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Ventegodt S, Morad M, Merrick J, et al.: Clinical holistic medicine: classic art of healing or the therapeutic touch. ScientificWorldJournal 2004, 4: 134–147.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. van Wijk RG: Sublingual immunotherapy in children. Exp Opin Biol Ther 2008, 8:291–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Dahl R, Kapp A, Colombo G, et al.: Sublingual grass allergen tablet immunotherapy provides sustained clinical benefit with progressive immunologic changes over 2 years. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008, 121: 512.e2–518.e2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Tahamiler R, Saritzali G, Canakcioglu S, et al.: Comparison of the long-term efficacy of subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapies in perennial rhinitis. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol Relat Spec 2008, 70: 144–150.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Nuhoglu Y, Ozumut SS, Ozdemir C, et al.: Sublingual immunotherapy to house dust mite in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma: a retrospective analysis of clinical course over a 3-year follow-up period. J Invest Allergol Clin Immunol 2007, 17: 375–378.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Penagos M, Compalati E, Tarantini F, et al.: Efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in pediatric patients 3 to 18 years of age: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trials. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2006, 97: 141–148.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Rak S, Yang WH, Pedersen MR, Durham SR: Once-daily sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy improves quality of life in patients with grass pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: a double-blind, randomised study. Qual Life Res 2007, 16:191–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Didier A, Malling H-J, Worm M, et al.: Optimal dose, efficacy, and safety of once-daily sublingual immunotherapy with a 5-grass pollen tablet for seasonal allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2007, 120: 1338–1345.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Marogna M, Bruno M, Massolo A, Falagiani P: Long-lasting effects of sublingual immunotherapy for house dust mites in allergic rhinitis with bronchial hyperreactivity: a long-term (13-year) retrospective study in real life. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2007, 142:70–78.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Streitberger K, Kleinhenz J: Introducing a placebo needle into acupuncture research. Lancet 1998, 352:364–365.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Lau BH, Wong DS, Slater JM: Effect of acupuncture on allergic rhinitis: clinical and laboratory evaluations. Am J Chin Med 1975, 3:263–270.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Cox L: Sublingual immunotherapy and allergic rhinitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2008, 8:102–110.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Burastero SE, Mistrello G, Falagiani P, et al.: Effect of sublingual immunotherapy with grass monomeric allergoid on allergen-specific T-cell proliferation and interleukin 10 production. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008, 100: 343–350.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Savolainen J, Nieminen K, Laaksonen K, et al.: Allergeninduced in vitro expression of IL-18, SLAM and GATA-3 mRNA in PBMC during sublingual immunotherapy. Allergy 2007, 62: 949–953.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leonard Bielory.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kapoor, S., Bielory, L. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis: Complementary treatments for the 21st century. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 9, 121–127 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-009-0018-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-009-0018-1

Keywords

Navigation