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Effect of adding a Chinese herbal preparation
to acupuncture for seasonal allergic rhinitis: randomised double-blind
controlled trial
CCL Xue, FCK Thien, JJS zhang,
W Yang, C Da Costa, CG Li
RMIT Chinese Medicine Research Group, RMIT University, Bundoora
West Campus, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
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.
Hong Kong Med J 2003;9:427-34
Key words: Acupuncture; Clinical trials; Hay fever;
Medicine, traditinal; Treatment outcome
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