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 rh...
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Integrative Medicine Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422025000575 |
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| author | Ngoc-Chau Le Minh-Man Pham Bui Dieu-Thuong Thi Trinh |
| author_facet | Ngoc-Chau Le Minh-Man Pham Bui Dieu-Thuong Thi Trinh |
| author_sort | Ngoc-Chau Le |
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| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2213-4220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Integrative Medicine Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-619d619d1c2e4e11ac7525c2bc0d6e062025-06-29T04:51:56ZengElsevierIntegrative Medicine Research2213-42202025-09-01143101177Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trialNgoc-Chau Le0Minh-Man Pham Bui1Dieu-Thuong Thi Trinh2University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, VietnamUniversity of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, VietnamTraditional Medicine Administration, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam; Vietnam University of Traditional Medicine, Vietnam; Corresponding author at: Traditional Medicine Administration, Ministry of Health, 138A Giang Vo, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi City, Vietnam.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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422025000575Auricular acupressureAllergic rhinitisFluticasone propionate |
| spellingShingle | Ngoc-Chau Le Minh-Man Pham Bui Dieu-Thuong Thi Trinh Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial Integrative Medicine Research Auricular acupressure Allergic rhinitis Fluticasone propionate |
| title | Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_full | Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_short | Evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis: A randomized controlled trial |
| title_sort | evaluating efficacy and safety of auricular acupressure in treating allergic rhinitis a randomized controlled trial |
| topic | Auricular acupressure Allergic rhinitis Fluticasone propionate |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213422025000575 |
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