None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
There is evidence to suggest that acupuncture can modulate both non-specific and specific immunity. Published literature suggests that this modulation is most prominent in subjects with chronic inflammatory diseases including allergic rhinitis. Claims are also made regarding the “uniqueness” of acupuncture treatment in that it can have differing effects with an identical stimulus, depending on the starting state of the organism. The overall objective of this research is to investigate the effects of acupuncture on the mucosal immune response in the upper respiratory tract. We will study patients with allergic rhinitis where there is evidence that acupuncture treatment is clinically beneficial. We will also study healthy subjects without allergic disease to investigate any differences in effects that the same acupuncture treatment might have on mucosal immune responses compared to patients with allergic rhinitis.
Interventions
Each acupuncture session will last for approximately 30 minutes including 20 minutes of needle retention time between the insertion and withdrawal of the needles. These 30 minute sessions will occur twice weekly for 8 weeks.
Manipulation refers to a broad range of traditional Chinese acupuncture techniques. In this study the real acupuncture group will receive a manipulation known as “ping bu ping xie” (even supplementation and draining) which is a combination of simultaneous lift and thrust (ti
Each acupuncture session will last for approximately 30 minutes including 20 minutes of needle retention time between the insertion and withdrawal of the needles. These 30 minute sessions will occur twice weekly for 8 weeks. Manipulation refers to a broad range of traditional Chinese acupuncture techniques. In this study the real acupuncture group will receive a manipulation known as “ping bu ping xie” (even supplementation and draining) which is a combination of simultaneous lift and thrust (ti cha bu xie) and twist and rotate (nian zhuan bu xie). This technique involves minute changes to the depth of the needle combined with minute rotation of the needle handle (less than 180o). Manipulation does not refer to either the insertion or withdrawal of the needle, but is confined to techniques applied to the needle between insertion and withdrawal. The 8 sites for the real acupuncture group will be: GV 23, Yintang (both on the midline); LI 20, LI 4, ST 36 will be needled bilaterally. All real acupuncture points will be located according to the WHO Standard Acupuncture Point Locations in the Western Pacific Region published by the World Health Organisation, Western Pacific Regional Office.
Sponsors
Professor Allan Cripps
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Males or females aged 18-30 years with more than a 2 year history of moderate to severe allergic rhinitis, positive skin prick test and radio-allergosorbent test to Dermatophagoides. pteronyssinus or Bermunda grass.
Exclusion criteria
Non allergic rhinitis; negative on skin prick test and radioallergosorbent test to D. pteronyssinus or Bermuda grass; acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis or specific immunotherpy in the previous 2 years; respiratory diseases, such as asthma, nasal polyposis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; infectious diseases; medications which effect salivary flow and components such as systemic corticosteroids, diuretics and antidepressants.
Outcome results
None listed