The newest guidelines issued in the US to help doctors diagnose and treat allergic rhinitis, say that acupuncture can be suggested to patients who would rather avoid drug treatment. The guidelines, issued by the Academy of Otolaryngology, are timely given that 1 in 6 Americans now suffer from some form of nasal allergy, from hayfever to pet allergy. “What we’re really talking about are allergies that are found all year-round and in every environment, whether urban or rural,” says guideline assistant chair Dr. Sandra Lin, an associate professor in the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.
Overall, the authors consider that acupuncture may help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life for people with perennial allergic rhinitis, and may also help with seasonal allergies, according to several studies.
(The US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health Medline Plus, on-line 2 February 2015.)