Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial

Background

Allergic rhinitis significantly impacts health and quality of life, and symptom management remains a considerable challenge. This study aims to compare the treatment efficacy of auricular acupressure combined with fluticasone propionate versus fluticasone propionate alone for allergic rhinitis.

Methods

A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial study was conducted with 90 patients diagnosed with allergic rhinitis according to ARIA 2008 guidelines. The control group (n = 45) received standard treatment, including fluticasone propionate, and sham auricular acupressure (SA), performed four times over four weeks. The intervention group (n = 45) received standard treatment with actual auricular acupressure (AA), performed four times over four weeks. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) weekly and after four weeks of treatment, along with monitoring for adverse effects of auricular acupressure.

Results

After four weeks, the reduction in VAS scores for individual symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, blocked nose, and itchy nose, showed mean differences between the control and intervention groups of 17.71 (95 % CI, 10.60–24.82); 22.73 (95 % CI, 15.71–29.76); 22.33 (95 % CI, 15.30–29.37); and 21.29 (95 % CI, 14.27–28.31) points, respectively (p < 0.0001). The RQLQ score, medication usage decreased significantly more in the intervention group than in the control group. Adverse effects were reported in 11.11 % of cases, mostly mild, transient, and not requiring additional treatment.

Conclusions

Auricular acupressure combined with fluticasone propionate provides effective and safe treatment for allergic rhinitis patients. Further interventional studies based on the classification of clinical syndromes in traditional medicine are warranted.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06323304.