Impact of Acupuncture on Antihistamine Use

People who suffer from seasonal allergies, according to recent studies, can benefit from acupuncture. In total, about 50 million people in the United States have allergies, affecting as many as 30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Seasonal allergies in particular can be very frustrating to live with because they often require dependence on a daily medication to keep attacks at bay. What if there was a better option? There is.

In a recent study, it was found that about 18 percent of patients have tried to relieve their symptoms through acupuncture. The ACUSAR (ACUpuncture in Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis) study took a look at the effect of acupuncture on SAR, which revealed big improvements in rhinitis-specific rescue medication (RM) use.

For the study, patients (a total of 414) were placed into three groups: acupuncture and RM, sham acupuncture and RM, and just RM. Patients were asked to document their medication use within an eight-week period. The main outcome equaled the number of days with use of antihistamines.

The results found that the acupuncture group used antihistamines much less often than the other groups. About 38 percent of the acupuncture group refrained from antihistamine use compared with 16 percent in the RM group. Researchers concluded that the acupuncture patients had less of a need to use antihistamines to help with their symptoms, unlike the other groups that had to rely on medication more.

The conclusion of the study found that acupuncture significantly reduced the number of days that people suffering from allergies had to use antihistamines, showing that acupuncture can be a valuable, effective, complementary treatment option for patients with seasonal allergies.

Contact Metro Detroit Acupuncture

If you suffer from seasonal allergies and want to explore other relief options, contact Metro Detroit Acupuncture today at 248-432-2846. Clinically proven acupuncture can treat and relieve many common health problems, including the reduction and elimination of seasonal allergies. We would like to help you. Marino Moutafis, founder and owner of Metro Detroit Acupuncture, is a nationally certified acupuncturist and licensed by the Michigan Board of Acupuncture.